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I'm sure many of the people are already in transit, holed up in hotels across this great country counting the hours to the beginning of the end. And so it begins, this bi-yearly ritual of lawyer hazing known as the Bar Exam. I've had more than my fair share of experiences with the event, and know that there's nothing that can be done now. Pack your quiet snacks, your earplugs, your highlighters, pens, and pencils in your Ziploc bag. Sleep well. You know what needs to be done, and gosh darn it, it can be done. I'm living proof. See you on the other side.Labels: Bar
I got curious yesterday and lobbed a couple phone calls into the firms where I interviewed earlier this month. The first firm seemed pleased that I called, and hasn't yet finished their interviewing process. I was told that I was not being ignored and that I should call back in two weeks if I haven't heard anything further. The second firm, the one that was all gung-ho about getting this whole new hire thing over quick...yeah, they didn't return my phone call. So either they hired and I'll see a ding letter sometime this millenia, or they're rethinking the whole new hire thing. Either way, not good. The third, I know they're still interviewing and I won't bug them for a while. In the meantime, I'll go about my work, hoping desperately that things change soon, and trying not to get chewed out. Maybe I need to take a wee vacation day or two.
For those of you who are up next on the Bar Exam pinwheel of fate, hold on kiddies...the fun ride is nearly at its end.Labels: Bar, job
There are certain things while studying for the Bar Exam that give a sense of calm once you learn them. I can't remember many of them now, but one that always made sense to me was Adverse Possession. It had to be hostile, lasting and continuous (time frame of 10 years), open and notorious. So what does New York State do 3 weeks before the Bar Exam this year? Change the rules to Adverse Possession. I about jumped out of my skin last night when I read that. You can't screw with the universe like that and not expect consequences. It can't be just a fence any more, or having mowed the lawn for 10 years, it's got to be a serious and important improvement. And of course, not being lawyers the journalists who covered this story gave the time period short shrift, so I was digging all over today trying to find if the time period changed. It didn't.
Now I don't mean to freak out the people studying for the Bar Exam, because by this point the exam questions have been written and printed, so it's not that big of a deal, but wow...going and messing with Adverse Possession just leaves me discomfited...and I'm not even a Real Estate attorney.Labels: Bar, law
Seems NY posts their bar results tomorrow. California posts Friday. When I learned this, my pulse quickened even though I have no dog in this fight. That's just the sort of response you get after you've lived through it. It's horrible. So I will cross my fingers and hope for all of you that I know who are suffering right now. It's nearly over. Don't pass out.Labels: Bar
I actually sat in my office this morning and said out loud, "I don't have to sit for the Bar Exam today." And that makes me very happy. Even though I'm past it, it still haunts me. It was like a long illness. And now, I watch other people suffer, and I truly feel bad for them. Though, for those of you who got away with only one bout, I don't feel as bad for them. You have no idea what it's like to do it twice, three times or more. As a result, I don't wish it on anyone. I bid you good luck today, tomorrow and Thursday.Labels: Bar
Next week it begins anew, the experience known as the BAR. This is the point in the process where the total panic sets in...I know it well. I wanted to write something uplifting, something inspirational for all you examinees. However, there's not much to say that hasn't been said. So instead, I'll drop a few motes of wisdom.
- If you're unfamiliar with the place in which you're taking the exam...do a dry run. Drive there and check it out. Figure out parking, traffic patterns, and the like.
- I'm not going to tell you not to study the morning of the exam, or even between the morning and afternoon sessions, because I did. In fact, something I read in my time-killingness between sessions that came in handy in the afternoon, and nearly did a dance in the exam room. Just don't kill yourself trying to cram.
- If you're in one of those states that lets you bring snacks, give some thought to this. You want quiet happy snacks. Remember, you'll be wearing earplugs, so chewing is deafening. My secret weapon? Cheese sticks. For some reason they made me happy. And it's calcium!
- Remember to bring ID. Passports work well for this.
- Remember your clear plastic bag for all your goodies. Ziplocs are your friend.
And most importantly, remember that in your brain contains the wisdom of the universe...or at least the sliver of it that has been jammed in there over the last 2 months. Give it the opportunity to flourish on the page...within the time given. It can be done.Labels: Bar
And with a nod and a handshake it was done. I am now a lawyer in the great state of New York. To be honest, I feel no different than I did yesterday. I got all dressed up, waited for less than 5 minutes, did a very short interview about my current job and my prior experience as a game show contestant (which while on my resume, I wasn't aware I had submitted that...need to review the document stack when I return home). The interviewer told me I had glowing recommendations and had no reservations about my becoming an attorney. A paper was signed, I turned that in for a card which I signed, and poof. I did wait for the obligatory ceremony, which was being held conveniently every half-hour this morning. The whole thing was done by 9:40. So much for my plans for lunch. We went home, I changed my clothes (far too dressed up for work), grabbed my keys and went to work. All very anti-climactic if you ask me. But I got to change my .sig file at work to remove the "admission pending" bit. That made me happy.Labels: Bar, job
When 3L's thoughts turn to graduation and studying for the Bar Exam...when the trees bloom and the crazy red-wing blackbird outside my office window keeps screaming at his reflection. Me? I'm doing okay. Played golf over the weekend, sunburned myself, came back to work anyway. Hope your spring week is looking good. It's already Tuesday!Labels: Bar, job, spring
Seems this morning, about 20 minutes ago, the NY Bar results were released. I had no idea. In fact, because I run the versions of the browsers I do, I truly never saw the scroller that said they were being released today. Which means I never wished my friend good luck last night...because I didn't know. I feel really bad now. And since I haven't heard anything, I'm not holding out a lot of hope. That makes me feel worse. And yet, I feel good since I didn't have to suffer through it again. This in no way implies I support the concept or that anyone should be forced to go through what I did, rather it's just one of those events in my life that I look back at with loathing and contempt yet joy in that I did actually pass it. It's a very odd feeling. So instead, I'm here, wondering how all of you did who were out there slogging in February. I have a vested interest.Labels: Bar
I seemingly got on one of wild researching tangents this morning, all spawning from a question asked about Louisiana Civil Law. Before it was all over, I had learned more than I needed to know about the Louisiana Bar Exam. The highlights: it's three days; those three days are non-consecutive; you must create a pseudonym in order to take the test. The last point is the best one. Instead of something normal like a social security number, the failing and conditional (those who are allowed to retake the few sections they failed...it's not an all or nothing thing in Louisiana) lists are published using pseudonyms. These lists can be found here. If nothing else, these people should get bonus points for creativity of naming. Only in Louisiana could Jimmy Neutron, Pope John Paul, and Miss Piggy all be taking the Bar Exam.Labels: Bar
Well, it seems my paperwork was not in vain after all. The state has deigned to allow me to swear in, provided that I pay them handsomely and interview nicely. Come May 23, if I don't come off like a total lunatic I too will have the privilege of calling myself a lawyer. I sent in the check already...don't want that to hold things up...especially since it's already taken far too long. That's the great thing about me not having to be in court. Heck, I never even meet our clients in person. It brings a smile to my face to know that I'm actually going to be a lawyer after all.Labels: Bar, job
For those Bar takers on a Tuesday-Wednesday schedule, it's over in about 4 hours. And personally I always found the second day harder from a stamina perspective. 200 questions make you question your sanity as well as your ability to be a lawyer. I'm think about you all...and thanking my lucky stars it's not me there with you. In fact, I sent in my full set of Bar paperwork yesterday to finally get sworn in. Unlike a lot of other states, New York makes you do the fitness and character paperwork after taking the Bar, not while applying to take it. And being the fatalist that I am, I waited to hear that I passed first before putting together all my papers. And no, I'm not that much of a procrastinator, I actually had to wait on receipt of affidavits from former employers before sending the packet in. I received the last one on Friday. But the best part...trying to get a readable copy of my passing notice. It's one of those mass-created slips that has a built in carbon paper section, which makes the actual notice look like a rubbing from a gravestone. 5 scans and 3 printouts later, I had something where you could actually decipher a whole name and social security number. Hopefully it doesn't look fake to the examiners.Labels: Bar
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