Bar Exam Essentials

The bar exam only allows you to take in certain items.

I was allowed to bring in a clear plastic bag with just a few things – earplugs (ESSENTIAL), pens, laptop, and power cord.

I was seated at a long testing table, with students spaced out, and was trying to get in the testing zone. As I was attempting to calm my nerves, a hysterical woman was being escorted out by testing officials because she wanted to bring in a bag of highlighters. Her bag was a gallon Ziploc bag filled with highlighters, and she was panicking at not being able to keep her highlighters. It was quite the scene, and I felt so bad for her since I knew what was at stake. She kept saying, "I need them, please." I don’t know if she came back after getting escorted out.

Mind you, the bar examiners tell you multiple times before the test what you can bring in. However, having your entire legal career riding on one test is nerve-wracking. Weird things can happen, just as in life.

The thing that helped me is that the bar is a pass fail test. There are no grades. Just pass or fail. Just like a pass/fail course. Most people you are graduating with will pass the bar.

If you are taking the bar exam, don’t be highlighter girl.

Practice taking tests in exam-like conditions. If you are nervous, that’s totally normal.

YOU GOT THIS. Soon, this experience will be a distant memory.