Jacy, and other past bar takers

- 9 to 5? that seems like too short of time to spend studying because Barbri suggests studying 8 hours + lectures, and PMBR gave us a schedule to study until 10 p.m. Did you alter this, and did it work?

- How many essays should you do per subject during review? As many as assigned? or more?

Right now I am doing morning class then from 1-5 MBE, then Essays, and then writing flashcards from notes if until 11 p.m. Is this too much? It is the suggested schedule but seems like a good way to burn out.

I am studying for the CA exam, if anyone would like to send me some tips on schedules etc.  I would REALLY appreciate it. Oh and we only have like 10 days between Barbri ending and the bar. BARF.

Bar Bri alum and CA bar passer '06.  My schedule roughly mirrored yours.  I wasn't worried about burning out in two months, I was worried only about PASSING.  Three years law school v. two months bar prep? Big deal. The time goes by quickly and you'll be happy come the week of the exam that you invested it.  Keep up the suggested pace.  The only "shortcut" I took in the interest of saving time was outlining essays rather than writing them out.  My #1 tip would be to not overlook the performance exams.  Big points, but often given short shrift.  Practice, practice, practice.  The Bar Bri approach worked for me. Good luck.

Your life experience isn't worthless, but your opinion on the situation would be if you didn't have all the facts available to make a decision.  Another poster once mentioned a scholarship requirement of Top 10% to keep the money...if that was the requirement for ULV and McGeorge only required good standing, could you in good conscience recommend ULV particularly when the OP mentions wanting to limit debt?

Yes, because OP estimates he (or she) would come out of McGeorge w/ $130k in debt.  That's insane for a guy (or gal) who wants to work for the DA.  Even if he limped through his first year at ULV at 80% and lost his scholarship thereafter, he'd come out in a much better position financially.   

Family law attorney (and ULV grad!).  2-1/2 years.  Love it.  Wouldn't necessarily want to do anything else but, if I were to, it would be criminal.      

Going out a lot, studying during the weekdays, but not as much for a few classes.  Am I doing anything wrong?  I heard that 1L is supposed to be incredibly stressful and tough, but I'm not feeling much pressure at all.

Check in with us during exams... 

It is laughable to say I applied anything from law school here.

You learned a valuable lesson and you didn't even realize it.  The practice of law and the study of law are two different animals.  The mantra that "law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer" is true.  There's not a lot of practical application, largely because you spend the majority of your time in law school studying appellate cases and memorizing common law elements of causes of action.  Those of us in practice simply rely (at least for the most part) on the applicable code.  We keep busy trying to flush out facts (which are always given to you in law school.)  I have law clerks try to make fancy policy arguments to me all the time and I tell 'em the court just doesn't have time to hear that crap. 

And the above poster is correct re attitude.  If you really want to stand out in this business show up w/ a positive attitude and certainly don't be presumptuous enough to think you've got it all figured out.  None of us do.