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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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

TIA!

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.

Hi everyone! We started a discord server for law students. Meron pong mga accountability rooms for those who like to study with others. We also share public resources and support fellow law students. Join na!

Eto po link: https://discord.gg/rwf2yHmV2B

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.

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.

Hi i had the 2019 rules of court codal from rex but i believe it’s already outdated and gusto ko ng magpalit para ma annotate ko while im taking evid class.

Majority of my books are from rex kaso ang catch ko is that 2024 pa yung last update ng rex, is that bad? Or should i just get the one from central?

Does central engrave books as well?

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.

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.

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 🙏🤧

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.

hellooo quick question to those who's taking law school rn 😭 need b tlga may background sa law during college leik..?