Should I Take Time Off Work to Study for the Bar Exam?

Should I Take Time Off Work to Study for the Bar Exam?

Studying for the bar exam is one of the most important things you will ever do in your professional career.  For this reason, it is critical that you put as much effort into it as possible and that you try to do it correctly.  Taking the bar is incredibly stressful and time consuming, which is all the more reason to do everything you can so that you only have to take it once!  Many people preparing for the exam also have a job, making wondering whether you should take time off work to study for the bar exam a very common question.

Should I Take Time Off Work to Study for the Bar Exam?

1. If you can take time off work to study for the bar exam, you should.

In general, yes, it is a very good idea to take time off work to study for the bar exam.  Something that can easily derail a bar study plan is a lot of distractions, and a job can certainly be described as a distraction in this sense.  Trying to keep up with your responsibilities at work and find the time to study will only increase your stress level.  Having a job in itself is stressful enough.  You never know when something will be demanded of you.  Removing these types of distractions from your life for the next few months will greatly increase the amount of effort you can put into the bar.  You don’t want to take the risk that your quality of work for either your job or bar prep will slip.  They are both too important!

2. Check with your employer to see if time off is feasible.

Most employers are completely understanding when their employees need to take time off work to study for the bar exam.  They realize how monumental of a moment this is and how valuable your study time is.  In fact, most legal employers have a vested interest in you passing the bar on your first try.  They want you to be a full attorney as soon as possible so that you can be of the most use to them.  Employers want you to succeed!

So, sit down with your employer sooner rather than later to discuss your options.  If they are unfamiliar with the bar, explain to them the significance of the exam and how rigorous the studying process needs to be.  Demonstrate that you are still committed to your work, but that it is very important to you to pass the bar on your first try so as to avoid the cloud of uncertainty.  Be willing to negotiate, and perhaps offer to work reduced hours instead.  Just make sure that you do what you need to do in order to have all the study time that you need.

3. If you cannot take time off work, it isn’t the end of the world!

Sometimes it might not be practical to take time off work to study for the bar.  That’s not the end of the world, there are still plenty of ways for you to succeed!  Becoming a lawyer is a significant financial burden. It is completely understandable that you need to maintain the income stream.  If you still need to work, see this post for some great tips on how to managing working and studying.

Some keys: start studying earlier than you would have if you weren’t working.  You won’t have as much time to devote to studying as you otherwise would have. Be efficient in your studying.  Don’t waste valuable time on study tactics that aren’t working for you.  And take care of your body.  Don’t overwork yourself and jeopardize your health.  You cannot work or study properly if you are sick or worn down!  Make still you’re still sleeping and eating properly.  Just buckle down for a few months – it can be done!

Laura Sigler, a  JD Advising bar exam essay grader, who graduated cum laude from Wayne State University Law School wrote this post.

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