The Bar Exam.

A couple weeks out from the bar exam, I cried every day.

I worked full time, as a law clerk, while studying.

Due to a last minute job change, I ended up in Wisconsin and sitting for the February bar.

Winter in Wisconsin isn’t for the faint of heart.

My first?

Their coldest in 40 years.

It started snowing before Halloween.

Lake Michigan froze.

I had never experienced a negative temperature.

I had never seen a frozen body of water.

And I had signed up, volunteered, for the Wisconsin bar exam.

I questioned everything and I cried, a lot.

I was still watching Barbri videos* two days out.

Leaving the bar?

I felt defeated.

I expected relief. Instead?

Full blown existential crisis about being in the great white tundra.

Weeks later, coming back from the grocery store, I checked my mail.

The letter arrived. I passed.

I’ll never forget that moment.

I think about that tribulation and relief every year, twice a year, at bar time.

It’s been 12.5 years since I took that gawd forsaken exam.

What I continue to hope will be my last standardized test.**

So, to all taking it this week: me and many others stand with you, you got this, and the test doesn’t define you or your career.

We look forward to welcoming you to the bar once you tackle this obstacle.

🔥✌🏻♥️

*The last video I watched was secured transactions. I got a ten out of ten on that handwritten*** essay. So, there’s something to be said for doing whatever you need to do to get through test prep. There’s no one right or only way.

**The reason I’ve never gone on to get my MBA? I refuse to take the GRE. Standardized tests are my nemesis. My other credentials and work ethic make up for that struggle, but they really shouldn’t require me to take this test to get into b-school. K? k.

***In all but one class in law school, I never used my laptop. I took all exams, including the bar, by hand. I’d do it the same today. I did school on the bubble. We had laptops from college on, but I’ve always learned best taking notes by hand. I’ve always done best taking exams by hand. The Internet is a strong, strong distraction for me. So, I have opinions about some of these new law school policies. One day I’ll share, but really: you should do what works best for you and stick with it at all costs.