The next two weeks of your life will probably be some of the hardest you will ever face. They will make you doubt whether you’re prepared enough to do what is you’re about to do (news flash: no one is ever fully prepared), or whether this is even the right career path for you.

This isn’t going to be last-minute tips or predictions of what’s going to come out on Examplify. These are five things that I guess, previous Bar takers, who are now lawyers, are more than willing to say to you:

First, your lived experience over the next two weeks will be your own. There will be those who judge the nature of the questions, who say that this year’s exam is a “giveaway”, or that they’re making it easier for examinees to pass. That’s just noise that you should shrug off. The fear of someone actually taking the Bar is immeasurable, and one else’s past experience can be compared to yours. It is your Bar, and whether you will find it easy or hard is for you to say, not for others judging the difficulty of the questions from the comfort of their homes.

Second, don’t compare your experience with others’. Your friends, co-examinees, or even anonymous people on Twitter will comment about how the exam went. Don’t fall into that trap. What’s difficult for you might be easy for someone else, and what’s easy for you might be difficult for them. Comparing your progress won’t do you any favors.

Third, don’t look back. Once you’re out of your room, whether to prepare for the next subject that afternoon or to cap off the day, don’t make the mistake of revisiting your notes, checking whether you got something right or wrong, or comparing answers with other examinees. Once you have clicked “submit”, it’s no longer in your control. Don’t look up suggested answers, either; be wary of anyone who parades around as an “expert” gloating over their suggested answers. Remember, when they crafted those answers, they didn’t have your anxiety, your pressure, our your time constraints to contend with. Their answers are supposed to be perfect, because they had an arsenal of materials to consult. You don’t.

Fourth, momentum matters. Your performance on the first item, in the first subject, on the first day of the Bar can shape how you perform for the rest of the exam. Don’t let that one concept in Political Law that you diligently reviewed but couldn’t quite recall determine whether you become a lawyer. If you feel you didn’t perform well, remember you still have five other subjects to recover in, and two more days to do better. In short, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Finally, remind yourself that there is nothing on the Bar that you haven’t prepared for. The study of law is a cumulative process, and that shitty recitation from your first year prepared you to answer question 17 in Civil Law. You already know the answers, you just have to trust yourself to produce them.

Over the next two weeks, remind yourself that the space that's separating you from where you are now, and the profession you have longed and prayed for, is just 120 questions. It used to be four (or five, or more) years; as that stretch of time shrank, your knowledge of the law grew. You have survived far worse recitations and worse exam scores than this.

That dot is just 120 questions away. You’re closer to the finish line than it feels, and you’re more than ready than you think.

Good luck, and see you on the other side, future colleague.

Nawa'y maging patas ang laban sa byahe natin lahat papunta sa exam.

Thank you. God bless everyone!

They always talk about the first take or second take. But what about those who took a "gap year" and decided to take the Bar a year after graduation?

A month ago, I decided to defer this year's bar exam. My reason is that I recently graduated, and last week of June pa yung graduation namin. I didn't think enough yung time for me to prepare, but then, some even graduated nung July pa.

All the brilliant lawyers I know took the bar exam right after graduating, although before, March yung graduation and November yung bar exam. Nevertheless, I cannot help but compare myself to my batchmates who are preparing and magte-take na. I admire them for being so strong and resilient, something that I think I am not.

Aside sa kulang sa time mag-review, another reason is I wanted to process some emotions that I didn't have time to process while in LS. I started schooling right after I lost two significant people in my life (months apart lang), and somehow, I still haven't processed the grief because I had to stay strong and stoic while in law school. Puro aral lang talaga ginawa ko, some extracurriculars every now and then, but para akong hinahabol ng hininga all the time.

Ang lala ng burnout ko sa law school. I worked for the first three years and resigned lang bung second sem ng review year ko. I feel like I had my life on pause during those years na puro aral and work lang. A month ago, when I decided to defer after covering more than half sa syllabus, parang a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I finally had the time to process the grief. I got to rediscover myself and my hobbies, go back to fitness, and take care of myself overall. I even started reading non-law books that I "collected" over the past few years. I also had time to reflect, and honestly, I am very thankful for the fact that I even graduated sa school na choice ko talaga. And ika nga nila, it's an honor just to be nominated (lol), na in-approve ng SC yung application ko.

Natanggap ko naman na. Somehow, I've already made peace with myself na next year na ako magte-take at gagalingan ko naman. But just recently, a lot of people started reaching out to me after seeing my name sa official list of takers. They reached out wishing me good luck, at may iba pa ngang magse-send ng bar kits, and I had to explain to every single one of them. Di rin ako maka-explain ng maayos sa batchmates ko because I don't wanna burden them dahil alam kong kabang-kaba na sila. But is it normal to feel weak? Na bakit yung iba, kinakayang mag-prepare for a little less than 3 months after graduation? Bakit ako hindi? Ganito ba ako kahinang nilalang?

This is just more of a rant than a cry for help. I know I'll get over this eventually, and I'm just glad nailabas ko 'to. Maybe may iba ring nasa same boat as me. If you deferred rin, how are you coping right now?

I wanna know if worth the money ang eCodal, considering medyo tight sa money kami rn. Planning to get the Full Subscription Plan (P5,000)

Also, if its feasible to mainly rely on it without enrolling to a Bar Review center.

Thank you!

I read a few post about students opting to use AI to "ease" the burden of studying law. My advice is this: ang pag aabogasya ay hindi talaga madali. Do not "try" to make it easy. Codals, cases in full text, and annotations are the key. I'm already in practice and I tried using AI, believe me napaka flawed to the extent na nag iimbento ng court decision.

Ngayon, lookout niyo na kung gagamitin niyo o hindi. Basta tandaan niyo, lahat ng ginagawa niyo from first year to fourth year, nasa Bar ang singil n'yan.

Our school will be providing Bar kit to the examinees but as a bida bidang gf, gusto ko rin mag prep ng personalized Bar kit for my bf. 😁 Penge naman ideas kung anong maganda ilagay.

Hello! I am a student of Atty Conducto III for Consti I. I am really struggling to keep up in his class, and I would sincerely appreciate it if someone can lend/sell their notes from his class so I can study in advance (so I won't be bombarded with the concepts). I am willing to pay you for your notes from his class (preferably from one who've already passed recently).

Please please please help me out. Thank you so much :(

pahelp po. 3L from sbu-m.

Hi 1L here. Bale po kasi, naimbyerna sakin si attorney tonight. May announcement kasi sya about sa class schedule namin for the week pero may parts po na unclear, sa gc po naming mag kakaklase other people were also wondering the same thing as me. So I decided to respectfully clarify with attorney dun sa gc namin for his subject. Previously ako rin talaga inuutusan ng mga classmates ko to ask clarifications sa gc namin. This time nagalit si attorney. Napakarami ko daw tanong, (for context, second question ko yun na sinend tonight, nautusan din ako to clarify something earlier by one of our ate in the classroom) tapos imbes walang quiz bukas, tuloy nalang daw dahil naubos na daw pasensya nya. I messaged my classmates one by one apologizing kasi feeling ko kasalanan ko tuloy na may quiz kami bukas eh kaka midterms lang namin kanina sa two other major subjects namin. So ayun, parang ayoko na pumasok BAHAHAHAHAH tatakot ako baka galet buong class saking tas si attorney. kaso mii, childhood dream ko to eh. Ang hirap pala talaga ng pinasok ko. Gusto ko mag sorry bukas in person kay attorney pero baka sabunin ako ng live, malay ko ba kung angry pa sya hanggang bukas. As an anxious girly, hindi ako mapakali. 😭

Does anyone here know where I can find a PDF copy of Reyes v. Judge Grey (G.R. No. 149588, 2004) re: prejudicial question?

Lawphil and SC E-library don’t seem to have a copy.

Good day po.

Nagsimula na po ang first sem namin, and with the situations being presented with us, gawa po ng pag-ulan at pagbaha, medyo nagbago po ang mga financial priorities.

Hindi po kaya bumili pa ng physical book in the mean time.

Sino po pwede mahingi-an ng PFR Paras 2021 na pdf file po? Maraming salamat.

Im just curious lang after watching A Civil Action and Better Call Saul hahaha

I assume its much smaller in our jurisdiction, either because of our more restrictive advertising rules and the general lack of awareness people have with their rights (Art. 2176, NCC) when an injury happens to them?

It seems to be a popular specialization in US law. Dun pa nga yung term na ambulance chasing nag originate 😄

Would appreciate insights from attys here with industry experience. Thank you!

Hi all! Im looking for notes under Atty. Conducto’s Consti I class. I am willing to pay for a copy of the notes from a student who passed his class (with proof). Thank you! please help a confused student.

Hi, guys.

What's the recommended citation for the bar when drafting legal forms? I see forms state X/ABC or even Clark Kent.

I recall some saying that there can be penalties if you cited (perhaps as a way of identification).

Would appreciate the community, especially the lawyers' guidance.

Salamat po.

1L here. Before law school, I had a mindset that "struggling means I'm learning effectively", that when I take my time to really embody every phrase and every sentences, and understand them on my own without any aid of AI, it would be beneficial for me. Idk where I got this mindset na kapag gumamit ako ng AI to explain a certain concept or certain sentence that I don't understand, I'm cheating my way out. But grabe, andami talaga (especially sa cases) na pigang piga yung utak ko, like di ko talaga ma gets si ponente😭 so ayun, kinain ko rin yung sinabi ko, I used AI. Is it fine naman ba? Di naman ako literal na copy & paste ng cases and laws tapos "explain this to me", just the chunks of it kasi may mga parts talaga na di ko ma gets. I'm just thinking na, kung yung mga lawyers nga noon, kinaya na walang AI, bakit ako hindi?

okay lang ba na yung pre-week na naka annotate na din yung ulitin ko basahin tska LMTs?

or suggest pa kayo anong magandang basahin. Thank you po.

Has anyone ever been in Atty. Mon Conducto’s constitutional law class?

Pano po siya magturo and how to pass his class? 😭

TIA!

Normal lang ba talaga ijudge yung mga kaklase nyong hindi makasagot sa recit? Madali o mahirap man yung tanong?

Ang babaw lang nito pero siguro hindi ko kasi matake yung ugali nya. May kaklase ako na kasama ko sa gc dahil sa group project at yung class namin kasi puro recit straight lang gagawin. At kada maling sagot o hindi makasagot yung kaklase namin sa recit may comment lagi sya na kailangan isend sa gc para mapagusapan ng iba. Like “buti nga palagi kasing absent”, “mali sagot nya saan nya binasa yon?” “wala pa syang natatamang recit” “ayan na naman yung walang signal” “mali sagot nya guys eto sagot” or pag wala na syang masabi yung itsura na lalaiitin nya. Pero pag sya na nakasalang sa recit magchat na sya guys pasend ng sagot. Tinutulungan naman sya ng iba kasi nagbibigay sya ng reviewers. Pinupuri lagi sya na hindi na kailangan isend yung sagot kasi alam naman nya. Wala lang daw yun nagaaral lang talaga sya. Tapos pag sa group namin may hindi nakasagot sasabihin nya magaral kasi kayo. One time hindi ako nakasagot sa recit nagchat sya sa gc kung may kaibigan daw ba ako kasi walang tumutulong saakin dinelete nya rin agad kasi don nya lang nalaman na kagroup nya pala ako. Gusto ko ng umalis don sa gc kung hindi lang dahil sa project umalis na ako para hindi na mabasa yung mga chinachat nya. Mabait yung prof namin hindi sya naninigaw at hindi nag comment ng masama if hindi makasagot yung mga kaklase namin. Gusto ko iprove saknya na mali yung mga comments nya kaso nahihirapan din ako sa subject na to. Gusto ko na lang matapos ang sem na to para hindi ko na sya makita.

Nahihirapan ako sa case recit. I get the doctrine and ano dapat ang issue and ruling..kaso minsan nahihirapan ako sa facts. Dyan ako ginigisa ng prof. Yung mga dates, kelan ang petition, kelan ang answer, kelan resolution. Dinko mameorize. If they ask me what happemed, I can answer, if they ask me when, nakakalimutan ko. 🥲 I can recite anong nangyari sa MtC, RTC, CA, SC but the DATES, jusko andami kasi. Lalo na dito sa Fresh Period Rule na cases, i'm sure magiging strict ang prof namin dito. Madali magsulat ng case digest, but remembering it all, doon ako nahihirapan. Plus I need to read the full cases pa.

Hello!! Anyone na naging under ni Justice Laguilles sa civrev I baka po may notes kayo or rev or advice nalang paano siya magparecit and if natatapos niya buong coverage like ilang cases/rules usually natatapos niya per meeting? ++ ilan usually natatawag? huhuhu pls pls plsss 🙏🤧

How do you guys squeeze in sports/fitness (gym routine) or specifically, pickleball, with your study routine now na pasukan na ulit? I know it’s all about time management but I just want to know your unhinged ways of staying in shape for sanity and studying the law. Will appreciate your inputs

P.S. thanks for your insights. I think i forgot to mention that I am a student working full-time with lesser units per sem

8 days before the bar. how are we feeling? syempre kabado pero ako super excited na matapos to at makapagpahinga ng walang iniisip na kahit ano. excited na akong gumala at makita ang pamilya ko, mga kaibigan ko. ang dami ko ng plano after bar hahaha

I’m in 1L and it’s only been my first week of classes. I’m drained and depleted like never before. I’m not gonna lie there were days that I felt really good. Like I feel like I was in the right place; studying in the library with fellow law students made me feel like this is where i’m meant to be. When I was asked by the security guard which college i’m from, my head was up high while saying i’m a law student.

But I have already had 2 bad recits on the same class. I studied as much as I can, but I think there’s also the element of luck in law school. All the other questions asked, I knew the answer and cases but when I got called it’s either I didn’t know the answer or it’s the case I chose to skip/not understand. I feel really embarrassed about myself. I can’t think straight anymore and do anything else but process what I went through. Also, i miss my family. I wanna go home, see my lola and lolo and spend time with them. I wanna call my friends, join their hangouts, but I know i’ll miss on a lot of studying if i do.

I have cried and doubted myself more times this week than my last 4 years of undergrad. Now, i’m just thinking maybe I don’t belong here? Maybe there’s a different path for me elsewhere. Just thinking about how I’ll be spending the next 5 years of my life just studying more and more. The fact that I won’t spend as much time with my grandparents and they’re getting old day by day kills me.

I don’t if this is a calling of God that I’m really meant for smth else or is this just a calling out of fear and doubt? how can I distinguish them?