Now that October 30th is quickly approaching, no wonder you’re constantly considering “what ifs.”

My family and I got pizza for dinner on results day (which I couldn’t eat until way after results were out because I was far too nauseated) because either (a) it’s bad news and then pizza for consolation, or (b) it’s good news and then pizza for celebration! I highly recommend you do the same with the comfort food/activity/etc. of your choosing.

Even though the stakes are high, whatever the outcome is on results day, it does not define your worth, your intelligence, or your future in this profession. You are already part of this professional community because you have embodied the discipline, courage, and care required in the practice of law.

While you wait (and wait and wait and wait) for the results, let yourself rest and give yourself some credit. Go outside, enjoy every sip of a cup of coffee, listen to the birds, feel the fall breeze against your skin, wiggle your toes in some fuzzy socks—whatever you need that makes you feel a little more grounded.

You will meet the news, whatever it may be, with the same courage that got you here. Know that your mentors and friends are here to support you and celebrate you.

I have pride and faith in you. 🍕

Of course, it’s natural and normal to get nervous. But maybe there’s some excitement, too? Dare to think things like, “I can’t wait to show these bar examiners what I’m made of.” 💪

Although luck can certainly help (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you get essays for all your strongest subjects), that isn’t everything. You put in the hard work. You put in the time. You put in everything you’ve got. You made this happen for yourself. Luck doesn’t get much of the credit. Your effort gets the credit. I hope that can give you peace of mind on the days of the exam.

Soon you’ll be sipping summery beverages, sleeping in, and letting your brain chill. Send a postcard or email if you take a bar trip or from the comfort of your couch at home. It’s all in your very near future.

I will be thinking of you on the days of the exam! Remember:

• You are experienced enough to do this.

• You are knowledgeable enough to do this.

• You are brave enough to do this.

• You are prepared enough to do this.

Think of all that you’ve done to get to this point. The time has come. You are ready.

I know it feels like you’ve been climbing a mountain and that you are here…

If you’re anything like me, you’re also climbing another mountain at the same time, the mountain of self-doubt. And it takes a lot of energy to climb proverbial mountains.

Wherever you are on the mountain of self-doubt, I have an imaginary helicopter and outstretched hand. Let’s put you on the top of the mountain of self-doubt for now.

There. You’ve conquered it. Those thoughts of “what if I fail?” are now magically gone and get replaced with “I’m going to show the State Bar that I am ready to be a lawyer.” or “I’m so close to getting my license.” Now you get to focus on your bar exam mountain with all the confidence and zeal of a self-doubt-defeater.

Keep on climbing.

You are almost there.

You can do this.

But, for a moment, borrow my perspective. I’ve been interacting with many of you throughout this summer and I’ve had a front-row seat to your bar prep journeys. Now imagine asking me a simple question: Do you think I’ll pass?

What do you think I would say?

I wouldn’t be fixated on today’s score or this week’s weak subject. I would be looking at the whole summer. Heck, I would be looking at the years you’ve spent in law school. I wouldn’t answer you by talking about percentages or scores. I wouldn’t pull out a list of every question you missed.

Instead, I would talk about how much more quickly you’re identifying issues and recalling rules than you did two months ago. I would point out that you’ve built not only knowledge, but also judgment, endurance, and the ability to keep working through uncertainty and exhaustion.

I would remind you that I’m so proud of you and I believe in you. Not because every practice set was perfect. Not because you never struggled. But because you showed up, did the work, learned from your mistakes, adjusted, and persevered.

A week before the exam, you do not need to pretend that anxiety isn’t there. Of course it is. The stakes matter. But when your confidence starts to wobble, let yourself see what I see: a capable future lawyer who has spent months preparing for this moment.

Take this⬇︎ as your reminder that there is no statue of limitations in bar prep.

Demolish that statue and every limiting thought it represents.

Now don’t you feel better? There’s only room for statutes of limitations here.

Okay, no one said I was actually funny 😅

Remember, sometimes when it feels like you are buried, really you are just planted (and growing!!). Every little thing you do is a step forward. Believe in yourself! Trust the process!

First: breathe. I don’t want you to feel stuck in that panic.

Second: what if, instead of defaulting to panic, you choose resilience.

• Resilience is telling yourself and the world that you are capable of withstanding this challenge.

• Resilience is reviewing the elements of issue preclusion…again.

• Resilience is turning thoughts like, “I’ll never get a 65 on a Con Law essay” into → “I didn’t get a 65 on this Con Law essay. I’ll review it tomorrow and try another hypo.”

• Resilience is being this tired and still showing up.

Reminder: you’re still becoming the lawyer you are meant to be. As Sia says, you’re unstoppable.

You have the power to choose your approach to this journey.

Choose resilience.

This process is so painful and draining.

That little mantra got me through the last few weeks of bar prep. Here’s a powerpoint version of it if you want to use your favorite color and font and print out a little poster to remind yourself of this. The blood, sweat, and tears are all temporary.

And in the meantime, here’s a picture of a cat that looks like actor Steve Buscemi because why not.

Yes, this is hard. But look at you! You’re already doing it!

I am rooting for you!

During my bar summer, my dad came into town to visit for my birthday. It was about a week before the exam. Before he left, although it was still Covid-lockdown times, we pulled our masks tight to our faces and hugged. And I just lost it. I could not stop crying. I skipped right over 🥹 and 🥺 and went straight to 😭. Can you tell I’m a cancer? ♋️

It meant so much to just hug a loved one and know that they believe in my abilities to get through the exam and be a lawyer. So maybe you need that right now. Hug a family member, a friend, a pet, a pillow, an acquaintance, a stranger, or yourself.

And then give yourself permission to take the next step even if you don’t have everything figured out.

→ Take the simulated exam if you haven’t yet.

→ Finish the practice set you’ve been avoiding.

→ Review the topic that’s been giving you trouble.

People often think the practice questions and simulated exam are meant to prove they’re ready, when they are really meant to show you what to do next. You don’t wait until you’re “ready” to do these things. Doing them is part of becoming ready.

If you’re reeling from scores that you hoped would be higher, you are not alone. Take some deep breaths and maybe a quick break. It’s just one data point. Use it as information to focus on your weakest spots. Like you’re trying to fill up a bucket with water, but it’s full of holes. Plug the biggest holes first (I see you, Mortgages). That’s what this practice is for.

Stay the course. You’re nearly there.

So you’re behind on your bar prep course? First of all, you are not alone. Falling behind does not mean that you can’t do this. It means you’re human and this process is A LOT. Here, have some complimentary bread, courtesy of The New Yorker.

Second, real talk: your preparation for this exam matters. Staying on track and completing your bar course are indicators of passing the exam! So let’s get you back on track.

Some questions you should ask yourself:

1. Why am I behind and how might I catch up?

   Are you avoiding a task because it is daunting or boring (or both)? Not all “procrastination” is laziness. Sometimes your brain is trying to protect you from burnout or overwhelm. Name what’s blocking you—knowing why can help you move forward.

2. Do I actually put in the time and effort I need to each day?

   Be honest with yourself about how you’ve spent your time each day. Is your 10-minute Instagram break turning into an hour or more of scrolling and online shopping?

3. Am I trying to do this alone when I really need support, structure, or just someone to vent to who gets it?

   Needing help does not mean you are weak. In my eyes, recognizing it and seeking the help you need is a sign of strength and wisdom. You don’t have to do this solo dolo. Your loved ones and all of us at UC Law SF are here for you.

Passing the bar is not a legal impossibility, but stealing a balloon on Free Balloon Day is. 😏 #MakeCrimMakeSense

You: I’m hanging in there. How are you?

Friend: I’m great! So happy it’s summer! Finally get to relax!

You: Love that for you…

Friend: Didn’t you just graduate from law school? What are you up to this summer?

You: I’m studying for the bar exam so I can afford therapy after studying for the bar exam.

Friend: Nice. How’s it going?

In your mind:

You: Fine.

Friend: Cool! You want to go to that music festival this weekend?

You:

One time, at about 2 pm that day, I conceded that I would “rest my eyes” for just a few minutes. Some facts you need to know that will help paint the picture here:

• I actually slept for a few hours. SMH

• My partner and I live in a studio apartment.

• This was COVID-lockdown times and he was working remotely and on Zoom calls regularly.

• I snore under normal circumstances.

• These were not normal circumstances; I was SO tired.

I learned later that evening that my partner was worried his coworkers could hear me through Zoom because I was snoring so loudly. Like a chorus of bears in hibernation. He actually said that.

Maybe I’m interpreting too much from this, but I took it to mean that I really, really needed that rest. Yes, it mattered that I worked hard and put in the hours. It also mattered that I took care of myself.

So take that nap, go on that run, see a friend or a therapist, take that bath, sit in the sun for a few minutes. Do what you need to fuel your body and trust that it knows what it needs.

If a spike of panic arises, that’s normal. It’s your brain acknowledging the stakes of this exam. You don’t have to fight the panic, just PIVOT.

Ways to PIVOT:

P – Pause for a shower and give your brain and body a reset.

I – Inhale for 4 counts, Hold your breath for 4 counts, Exhale for 4 counts.

V – Venture outside for a 5-minute walk.

O – Open a notebook and write down one thing you’re grateful for.

T – Tell yourself out loud, “I can do this.”

Taking a small, concrete action can help quiet the noise in your mind.

You’ve already built a solid foundation. You’re not in square one. You don’t need to start over. You need balance and consistency.

You can do this. Keep going.

Imagine your knowledge is a stack of Swiss cheese slices. Every time you encounter a rule—through a lecture, an outline, flashcards, practice MCQs, essays, or review—you add another slice to the stack.

The catch? Every slice has holes. On one pass, you understand conspiracy but forget accomplice liability. On another, you remember the rule but apply it incorrectly. On another, you spot the issue but can’t quite recall the elements. There are holes everywhere (!!).

But just because there are holes in a particular slice, that doesn’t mean you aren’t learning. The holes in one slice don’t perfectly line up with the holes in the next slice. Every pass covers something that a previous pass missed. Over time, your stack gets thicker and the gaps get smaller.

Eventually, if someone started dropping test points through your stack of Swiss cheese (bear with me), most of those points would get caught somewhere. Maybe not on the first layer. Maybe not on the second. But on one of them.

That’s why a disappointing score doesn’t tell the whole story.

Some of my MCQ practice sets were 12%, 18%, etc. Some of my essays were far below passing. Those scores felt awful and my brain immediately started drafting a dramatic resignation letter from the bar exam.

But what those scores didn’t show were how many holes I had already filled from previous attempts, how many rules I was starting to recognize, or how much stronger my overall stack was becoming.

Learning isn’t about creating a perfect slice. It’s about building enough layers that very few things slip all the way through.

So if your latest score has you spiraling, remember: a low score is just one slice of cheese.

Keep stacking. 🧀

Completing the PT with thorough, cogent analysis is something you must practice. So, quick gut check, answer this anonymous question honestly:

If you aren’t at the 3-4 or 5+, it’s time to give the PT the attention it deserves. The PT is a skill. And like any skill, it gets better with practice—especially practice under time pressure. Yeah, PTs hit like a truck the first few times. That’s the point. Getting wrecked now = being ready later.

On my first practice PT, I was so overwhelmed just looking at the file and the library that my brain kind of shut down. On my second, third, and fourth practices, I went far over the time limit. I found this in my notes to myself:

Need to go faster. I didn’t even finish the duty analysis and the question warranted an entire negligence analysis.

That’s how the first few are: messy, slow, chaotic, frustrating. Get the flops out of the way so on the real test you slay! [Yes, I did just rhyme bar prep advice.]

Commit to doing your next practice PT in the upcoming week. It can be part of your simulated exam! You won’t regret it.

Something about getting disappointing or mediocre scores on a simulated exam hits different. It exacerbated my discouragement, exhaustion, and fear of failure. Because the simulated exams are right around the corner, I want to acknowledge that so it doesn’t catch you off guard.

And yet, the fact that the simulated exams can be demoralizing is exactly why you should do them now and not wait. Wouldn’t you rather a practice test be demoralizing than the real one? Simulated exams feel brutal, but they’re actually your cheat code—they show you what to fix before it counts—especially if you do it in (as close to) real testing conditions as possible. That means:

• Timed

• Closed book

• Without music

• Without your cuddly dog, cat, iguana, or succulent

• With the correct number and length of breaks

• Maybe even with what you plan to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the real exam days

• Etc.

Focus on what’s within your control (e.g. practice test conditions ↑) and the lessons you can glean. You still have time. You still have improvement ahead.

I know the anxiety and overwhelm are big. Your courage and capability are bigger.

Dearest Gentle Reader,

In the glittering society of esteemed graduates, there exists a particular circle of industrious individuals that have recently captured the attention and intrigue of this author: those preparing to face the formidable engagement known as the bar examination. Hours at the pianoforte have been replaced with time spent on practice question sets; gentle promenades replaced with brisk, spirited exertion, undertaken not for leisure, but for fortitude. And yet, the determination on display rivals any debutante’s finest showing.

As the summer unfolds, a certain restlessness has entered the air. Some begin to wonder if they have studied enough, if others are somehow further along, if composure itself is slipping ever so slightly. One might even say the pressure has become unfashionably persistent.

Let this author be clear: this is no scandal. What we are witnessing across the Ton is not failure of nerve, but evidence of vigor. The long hours, the revisiting of rules, the occasional misstep on a practice question; these are not signs of inadequacy, but of preparation in its most honest form. Even the most accomplished among us must rehearse before the grandest occasions.

Indeed, this examination may present itself as an exacting gatekeeper. But it is not the final arbiter of worth, nor the sole measure of readiness. It is, at most, a single event—important, yes—but hardly the entirety of one’s story.

So to those who feel the pressure of the coming weeks: proceed indomitably. Refine your approach. Take rest when needed, for even the most disciplined mind requires it. And above all, resist the urge to measure your progress against whispers and speculation. Such comparisons have undone many an otherwise promising season.

If you remain steady and continue as you have done, with quiet diligence, this author expects you shall rise to the occasion most impressively.

Yours truly,

Lady Timmons-Pollock

Translate to Modern English

You aren’t going to remember everything you just watched in a lecture. But you don’t have to! Let it marinate for a bit and make connections with other parts of your life. In other words, don’t let bar prep stay in a silo; get yourself tangled up in it (on purpose).

🚶🏽‍♀️‍➡️ Walking around your neighborhood? Look for easements IRL.

🔍 Distracted by an item in your home? Determine whether it would be admissible evidence.

🏋️ Going to work out? Wonder what tort risks the gym might worry about.

🥡 Ordering takeout? Consider when the contract was actually formed and what its terms are.

It probably won’t surprise you that I did all of these and I still can’t walk by a shared driveway without thinking about easements. 🤓

Was it nerdy? YES. But did it work? YES.

Let the law live with you. Your brain will thank you later.

Would this Substack post survive a hearsay objection? I’m hoping the effect on the listener is good! 🤪

You might need to treat bar prep like that at times.

When you’re behind, your goal is not to consume every task before moving on. Your goal is to get the essential sustenance and get back in the fight.

For most subjects, that means:

🍜 Watch the substantive lecture
🍜 Complete the first multiple-choice set
🍜 Complete the first assigned essay

Once those three things are complete for Evidence, for example, you have enough of the foundation for practice questions that you should move on to the next subject until you’re current with the subject your bar course has planned for a given day. The remaining tasks aren’t gone forever—they can sit in a “parking lot” for later. When you have extra time, energy, or need additional practice, you can come back and tackle them.

The vicious cycle that a lot of folks get stuck in is trying to clear every single task before moving forward. Then one delayed subject becomes two. Then two become four.

So if you’re behind, don’t aim for perfection. Aim for momentum.

Get your sustenance and move on.

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There is a concept called “eating the frog” which means identifying the task that is the most difficult, unpleasant, or daunting and doing it first. Then the rest of your day is easier without that task looming.

You may have seen TikTok or similar videos like this race to put all the cups in the bucket, but you can only do one at at time. It’s the same idea! Almost always, the person who starts with the cup furthest from the bucket finishes first.

I know it feels good to work on your strongest subject and get good scores on a practice MBE set. We’re only human. Maybe you can make that your “treat” study task after the study task of [fill in the blank with your arch-nemesis subject].

Your worst subject might change as bar prep goes on, so rank the subjects (you could use this chart) from your weakest to strongest every couple of weeks. Stay agile.

Go eat that frog. You got this.

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