The Week After...

This week has gone by in a flurry of activity and disbelief.  As I have yet to receive my official "letter" from the state bar, I keep having paranoid thoughts that maybe, there's been a mistake.  So I called yesterday just to make sure.  They said that I passed.  They said the letter was sent to my old address, which should eventually be forwarded to me at my new address.  But the bar has screwed me over enough times that my paranoia is not completely misplaced!  So, this Memorial Day weekend, I shall continue checking the mail...

However, based on my daily checks on the Calbar website, it appears that I did indeed pass. And it's the best feeling in the world.  I'll be driving in traffic, or wake up in the morning not wanting to go to work, and then I'll remember that I passed this exam, and it'll bring a smile to my face.  The first few nights, I didn't want to go to sleep for fear that this was all a dream!  And oddly, that first night last Friday, after seeing my name, my stomach completely cramped up for hours.  Maybe my body was just releasing all the stress and anxiety of the past year and a half.  And now, I feel like I've entered a new chapter in my life.  Although I love my current job and it's in the legal industry, I'm not practicing in the traditional sense.  I do have the opportunity to do in-house work though, which is great because a lot of attorneys covet in-house positions for their varied work and easier lifestyle.   For me, this bar exam was about seeing the process through.  If I don't practice, it's because I didn't want to, and not because they wouldn't let me!!  And most importantly, it was for my family, who wanted this so badly.  My grandma and mother cried when they heard the news - the only other time I have ever seen them cry was when my grandfather passed away.  Honestly, in that moment, it was worth it.  All of the pain and struggle were completely worth it.

I say this to encourage everyone who did not pass because I know exactly how it feels to be a repeater.  I know all of the inspirational quotes out there about there being different paths, God opening a window, never give up, blah blah blah.  I'm not trying to say they are trite and cliche (although some of them are!) but only that this experience really tests your sense of self.  You begin to question how smart you are, if you'll ever pass the exam, and how much more  money you should put into it.  If you give up now, will you always wonder if you could have beaten this thing?  I wondered that a lot.  I could tell myself I didn't care, I was going to move on with my life, but I hated the idea of walking away from it without beating it.  I'd rather not have gone to law school in the first place!  You also begin to dread the questions that well-meaning friends and family will ask about the exam.  I got very tired of acknowledging "good luck" and "I know you'll pass!" wishes.  I was also embarrassed when results came out and I had to tell people I did not pass.  The shock, sympathy, and then their embarrassed responses were, at times, humiliating.  

But you know what?  It's the failure that makes us savor the success even more now.  And it teaches a lesson in humility, empathy, and strength that you otherwise would not have had.  And in the end, it's worth it.  But it's only worth it if you eventually pass.  Otherwise, it becomes a bitter memory of a dark time and a permanent mark on your self esteem.  I encourage those taking the exam again to never give up and to see this through.  

I have come within points of passing every time I took this exam.  My problems with passing were mostly personal.  But during that time, I became intimately involved with all the bar programs/books out there.  I've heard of them all, researched them all, and at some point, used most of them.  In my next post, I'll list them and post my experience using them.  Others should benefit from the thousands and thousands of dollars I've poured into this process!    

I still cannot believe it...

I had neglected to update this blog in recent months for many reasons -- moving, new job, life changes (am now single), financial woes, and a general sense of despair that is often associated with the bar exam.  I continued to keep up to date on my fave bloggers out there though, and their words often gave me hope and made me smile.

Life has been going very well these last months, after the $%#!$ of 2007, and I suppose a part of me just wanted to get on with my life, with or without passing the CA bar exam.  For me, truly, this journey has been incredibly introspective as well as strengthening.  I had some major personal issues going on last year, and a life that was ignorantly, seemingly perfect kind of fell apart.  

For the first time, I faced my life, myself, and the decisions that had brought me to this point.  And I didn't like what I saw.  I saw a woman who had let life happen and had made decisions largely based on image and what I thought was expected of me rather than what I truly wanted.  I didn't face my shortcomings and blindly (and probably rather smugly) thought life generally went my way.  In the midst of all this inner conflict, the bar exam loomed, an ever-present source of stress and tension.  It weighed on me like nothing else -- even if something good happened, I couldn't really enjoy it, because it was always there; lurking like constant bad news.  I can honestly say that I don't remember the last time that I was really, completely, absolutely happy.  Which would surprise those who know me, because I'm seen as a generally optimistic, cheerful, and even perky person by almost everyone who meets me.  

To some extent, life is like that.  There are things that are truly out of our control and in the hands of fate and whim.  But mostly, life is what you made it.  And with that resolve, I set about to make changes for myself that were within my control.  After the exam, the bar result were not.  So I let it go.  I got myself a new apt, a great job, a fantastic gym membership, and just forged ahead.  I pulled it together in my personal life.  And when I least expected it, I passed the bar.

And now, I can't believe it.  I don't even know what it feels like to be completely happy anymore so now that, really, I am, the feeling is unfamiliar and awkward.  Life is amazingly versatile, complex, and rich.  And the journey is often fraught with unexpected twists and incredible difficulties.  But once you reach your destination (or at least one of the stopping points along the way!), you look at the road behind you and the satisfaction is all the more sweet because of it.  

The Name Above Appears On the Pass List for the February 2008 California Bar Examination!!!

I never thought I'd see those words.

And in complete honest truth, I didn't even check the results until curiosity overwhelmed me because I was so certain I was doomed to be a repeater. It's not that I gave up...I was just prepared.

And now...I simply cannot believe it and I'm so grateful, happy, and relieved. And it just goes to solidify my belief that this exam, really, is a complete crapshoot.

In the words of Kanye West...

"N-n-now Th-th-at don't kill me
Can only make me stronger..."

Oddly, these lyrics keep running in my head. Must've played it too many times on my iPod while running. My famed optimism has deserted me, and I am now just trying to stay calm.

Everyone has a different feeling. Some are actually excited -- like the last burst of energy before death (sorry for the pessimism), some can't wait to go in and take this thing. I get it -- you get your life back. Some are an anxiety-ridden mess. I fall somewhere in that spectrum, leaning towards the latter. I honestly don't know all the rules. Especially the new subjects. I can't differentiate things. And when I memorize one thing, I can swear I forget another.

I've been taking it fairly easy today, probably a total of 3-4 hours of studying. I'm just aimlessly going through essays and rules, trying to re-memorize stuff that doesn't come to me. My biggest problem is that I know it when I read it, but can't regurgitate it when I have to write an essay.

Oh God. After this, I have to go back to the life I've been pushing off these past couple months. Bills, jobs, apt, some random medical bill for $1000 that they just sent me yesterday (nice one, guys), loan repayments....UGH.

That being said, I am fully expecting a Civ Pro question this time around. And a Torts question. And of course, PR in some way. Wishing everyone the best of luck tomorrow!

Pure, Unadulterated Glee!

Coming my way on February 26, 2008. What, you guys aren't waiting with breathless anticipation for this glorious day to arrive? It's the day that Sophie Kinsella comes out with her new book, "Remember Me?" (and that other pesky, life-ruining thing I refuse to discuss right now)

I absolutely love her books, especially the Shopaholic series. They're filming it into a movie, called The Secret World of Shopaholics or something lame like that. It's also being shot in NYC, which is also kinda lame. But Isla Fisher is playing Becky Bloomwood! You know, the hilarious girl from Wedding Crashers -- "Cause I'd fiiind you!" aka The-One-Who-Married-Borat. And they're also making "Can You Keep a Secret?" into a movie, starring none other than Kate Hudson!

Much to look forward to this year.

This one is about a girl who has a loser BF, a going nowhere job (we can all relate), messed up teeth and bad hair. She gets amnesia in some entirely believable way and wakes up 3 years later remembering nothing. But, in a marvelous and quirky twist of fate, she wakes up to The Perfect Life. She has shiny, long tresses, a fab job, a rich, drop-dead gorgeous hubbie, great teeth, and the latest LV bag. I fully expect it meander along in this upbeat, charming way with obstacles, finding yourself, deep realizations about how the so-called perfect life can be...not so perfect...and ultimately, a happy ending. Who amongst us, choosing this career in law, has not come to the jarring realization that this is NOT the life we imagined, or thought we wanted? Right?

So, I'm ordering this book on Amazon, so that it arrives on my doorstep on the aforementioned date and I will have something to drown my depression in as soon as I return home on February 28. I think I'll write my own chick lit one day. And it's going to start, "The name above appears on the pass list for the California Bar Exam..."

Character Evidence, Lipstick Jungle & Hugs

I hate character evidence. It all makes sense when I read through it, but when I read a fact pattern concerning character evidence, my brain freezes. That said, I am determined to learn this one aspect of Evidence today. I will walk in on the 26th knowing this one thing, dammit!

Character Evidence
Evidence of a person's character is inadmissible proof of the conduct of that person unless otherwise provided by law. This applies to criminal cases and civil cases only where character is directly in issue.

The Accused - "I'm a good guy!"
Only the accused can initiate character evidence through reputation or opinion testimony. The prosecution can rebut by cross-examining the witness OR by placing their own witness on the stand to testify about accused's bad reputation or to give their opinion of accused's bad character.

The Accused - "The Victim is the bad guy!"
Only the accused can initiate reputation or opinion testimony about the bad character trait of the victim. Prosecution can rebut by cross-examining the witness OR by placing theirown witness on the stand to testify about accused's bad reputation or opinion as to the SAME trait OR victim's good character.

Specific Acts of Misconduct
Generally, these prior bad acts are inadmissible unless they relate to motive, intent, mistake, identity, or common plan (MIMIC rule). Exceptions: prior sexual assaults or child molestation.

For some reason, it's difficult to get straight in my head! I think I confuse extrinsic evidence (which is not allowed) with specific acts....

But on to more exciting things. I finally finished watching the last episode of Lipstick Jungle. I gotta say, the more I watch it, the more I like it. I love the Victory Ford character's clothes! It's the first time I actually went on those "Seen On" sites to try and hunt down what she wore. In particular, I loved this cream, open necked coat she wore and this gigantic pearl drop earrings she had on. I've actually hunted down the designer and asked about buying them. Yes, I'm a little crazy. I've also been on the hunt for a comfortable (I'm allergic to wool), slouchy, mid-length neutral colored shrug/outerwear thing that's casual chic. Something that I can wrap around myself as I study, and something I can drag with me to the bar...basically, the clothing equivalent of a hug. I need a constant hug! God, at this point, who doesn't?? My gym carries this one: http://www.shopbop.com/kebun-cardigan-love-yaya/vp/v=1/845524441812421.htm?folderID=2534374302031126&fm=browse-brand-shopbysize in a cream/taupe color and I have a coupon...but it's kinda pricey for a hug.

But hey, this is LA. Even hugs come with a designer label!

Pepsi & BBQ Chips

Yum. I've been steadily munching through a bag of BBQ chips as I make my way through Torts. Yes, Torts. It pisses me off that this is supposed to be the "easy" topic and as I read through the outline, I think I understand it, but then my MBE scores are all over the freakin' place. PMBR says we should anticipate 13-14 negligence questions on the MBE, and that sounds like a solid amount. I mean, out of 200 questions, 10 are supposed to be "test" questions and if we can just nail negligence, we can get about 14 questions right! I mean, 14 right answers are huge! It's like, duty, breach, causation, damages! BOOM! Got it! And battery and assault? Puh-leez....the first torts I ever learned. Totally know them! Then I do the questions and Micromash is like, "Um, NO, you moron. You must know that "Kill the umpire" is a common baseball term and not likely to cause reasonable apprehension of bodily harm." Seriously? (Munching furiously through a fist full of BBQ chips) WTF?!

So I take a slug of Pepsi, wishing it were Goose, and continue. Defamation. Love it. Got it nailed. And then the question is like a defamatory statement made in the United Nations and people may or may not speak English. Hmm... These folks are really particular. This really sucks. And my brain hurts.

But you know what? I like defamation. I hope it's an essay question. And this is the format I would use:

Defamation
Elements: (1) A defamatory statement, (2) Of and concerning P, (3) Communicated to a 3rd party, (4) Damages (presumed if libel or slander per se)

In addition, if the the statement was of public concern, there are two constitutional elements that must be proven: (1) fault and (2) falsity (malice if public figure, negligence if private).

Defenses: Qualified privilege, Absolute privilege, Truth (if it is a private concern)

You know, something like that. I would plug in the facts and analyze away. And you know what's a weird little issue that for some reason, I always forget when it comes to defamation? Intentional infliction of emotional distress. I have a hard time with naturally coming up with this one because usually, the folks in the fact patterns are whiny b&*%#es and for some reason, my view of extreme and outrageous tends to be a lot more stringent than theirs.

In the world of law, I am not a reasonably prudent person.

A Change of Pace...

Remember how in the beginning, you used to go to the BarBri lectures, congratulate yourself after the 3 hour lectures because that time you spent listening, surfing the web, and daydreaming counted as "studying", went brain dead for a couple hours during lunch, then spent a couple hours working on beautiful, extensive outlines followed by some MBEs? And of course, we'd read Conviser. Remember that, way back when?

It seems that most of the time was spent just learning this new, Bar exam way of looking at the subjects and most of the time was spent in preparation. We didn't feel comfortable doing essays when we didn't really know the rules, and there were lots of nice, passive ways to study.

Well, those days are gone. Now, we'd bore ourselves silly trying to do the outlines. We are forced to do the essays because we've done all that other crap. Which forces us into the arena of ACTIVE studying. Which my brain does not like.

To be honest, I've barely looked at my outlines. I listen to the Essay Advantage lectures on the subject for a brief overview and pretty much am down to trying to memorize the rules and going through essays trying to spot issues and bring up the correct rule statement. And applying the facts correctly. I know that my writing style doesn't suck, I've come too close and had too many people tell me that I'm writing the way they want me to. I just blank out and forget a couple key issues come game day. That, combined with a mediocre application of the facts to my analysis, brings me juuuuuuuuust....a......liiiiittttle..... shy of 1440.

Damn, that's discouraging. You'd think I'd be all gung-ho wanting to overshoot the whole exam and pass with a 2000, but no. I'm just trying to push myself over the edge a teeny bit and really, just need a bit of good luck. Again, just doin' what I can to squeak by! This is not a good philosophy in life.

And honestly, I just can't, simply can't, study for 8 hours a day. I mean, really. 8 hour days used to be combined with the aforementioned BarBri crap taking up half that time, leaving only a couple hours of real essay practice. Now, I'm expected to do 8 hours of active studying? I just can't. I try. But I can't. Someone please tell me some miracle bar exam stories. You know, the "I only studied for 3 weeks and went on a trip to Hawaii and still passed the CA bar exam" types...

Beautiful, Sunny Day!

So many options. Do flashcards at the pool while sunbathing? Do MBE's by the pool while sunbathing? Listen to PMBR lecture at the pool while sunbathing? Or....read romance novel by the pool by sunbathing?!

I love this sunshine. I'm going to go scare neighbors by flopping my pale, pasty body onto a lounge chair by the pool while muttering the elements of murder under my breath.

This. totally. sucks.

In an effort to remain sane this time around and not go around like an itchy, crazy zombie woman, I've pretty much....um....pretended like this hell isn't happening.

Not really the best study plan.

SIGH. I either study and go crazy or do other things and remain relatively sane. Is losing my sanity worth passing the bar? Perhaps, if it redeems my self-esteem. Today, I managed about 4-5 solid hours of reviewing Crimes. I drove around in traffic to buy used Adachi bar cards from a July 07 passer. I figure these cards will help me memorize the black letter law rules so that I can recall them with the greatest of ease on those 3 magical days. Anyone have any thoughts on these cards?

Tomorrow's plan: Bank, post office, study Crimes, pilates. I am fully stocked on food and really, have no reason to step outside of my insulated little study cave except to stand outside blinking at the sunshine and all the happy people outside who DON'Thave to take the CA bar. But I like to go outside and do something "normal" every day so I don't, again, go crazy...

Lipstick Jungle vs. Cashmere Mafia. Obama vs. Hillary.

So many things to ponder other than the bar. And yet, I am here in a time warp. It's like this whole last year has been a shrine to the myriad of ways I can ruin my life. Sense of self, money, career, love life...all down the drain. Even my hair. I cut it a while back and it looks like a mullet. That's really just the last damn straw.

It's perspective. If I think about it that way, I would get majorly depressed. On the other hand, I can be positive and think about the things that make me happy.

1. Family & Friends. Still got 'em.
2. LV Speedy bag. It's fabulous.
3. Overpriced gym membership. Keeps me in yoga and working out.
3. The return of sunshine here in LA.
4. The $300 in rent I saved this month due to my excellently drafted letter to my landlord regarding constructive eviction.
5. Freedom. In knowing that my life can be anything I want it to be and knowing that despite the trials, I have immense strength.

The Year of the Rat -- Sounds Icky.

Time to rally the troops. We're all lagging on the posts here. In a stark contrast to last summer, the old group of bar bloggers have dwindled to a mere few posts a month, if that... I'm hoping that it's because we're all busy studying, but if you're anything like me, that (unfortunately) is not the case.

UGH.

There's a certain apathy that comes from this. Someone should have told me that law school is actually 4.5 years. I could blame it on the intense personal drama of the past year, but really, it's my laziness that's finally caught up to me. After a lifetime of overachieving through sheer luck and a degree of natural smarts, while deftly gauging procrastination vs. bare minimum effort, I've been found out for the fraud I actually am. I'm not a hard worker. I lack discipline. I tend to scrape by. Yes, we're all smart. At this stage, that's a given. But what separates the men from the boys now is our ability to put forth the grueling effort to surpass this. And as of yet, I haven't been able to do so.

I've taken time off of work, and excuse my few hours of studying per day by figuring that's how much the people who are working are studying, plus the mentality of "I already know this stuff."

UGH.

I am SUCH a moron. At this point, the only thing driving me is the desire to not humilate my parents and grandmother, plus the fact that I simply cannot afford NOT to pass, financially. I don't know if that's enough.

That being said, I'm remarkably sane these days. I'm going through and writing out the rules to the main topics on each subejct because I have a tendency to not be able to regurgitate the concepts even though I understand them when I'm reading them. So I try to say them out loud and write them down as a sort of cheat sheet to use before the exam. And I'm trying to boost up my MBEs. As of today, I've done about 100. This is not good.

It's crunch time.

New Year, New Bar!

It's been so long since I've posted that I forgot my password and was too lazy to bother. I know I dropped off the face of the earth for a while there, and many wondered if I simply fled after the monstrosity of bar results day.

Again, I came perilously close. Heaven forbid they actually pass me. Within about 12 points. Enough time has passed that I now accept my fate and am diligently studying for the February exam. I've taken time off work and enrolled in BarBri's Essay Advantage. I was also going through some sick personal issues last year that is now well on it's way to resolving itself, so hopefully, that helps... I kind of thought of waiting until July, but really, I'm too impatient. I just couldn't go another year without even trying!

I also have that monster cold that's been going around, so I've been wheezing my way through Property today and let me tell you, nothing is absorbing...motivation is low and attention span is low. Headache is going strong though!

So, I'm back. And I will be blogging. =) Hope everyone else is doing well in their studies and their lives! Let's get this party started one last time!!

No!

I don't think I passed. I can't believe it. I'm glad the waiting is over, but I'm feeling pretty miserable. This has NOT been a good year.

I hope many of you passed.

Feeling Sick

The anxiety is going to kill me. I tried to put it out of my mind all day, and now it's about 40 minutes until results...I've decided to just let the craziness flow free.

As Last Call said, third time's the charm!

A special good luck to my fellow bloggers out there, especially Grand Poobah, Blondie, Last Call, and Richard...your blogs kept me sane!!

How are you going to spend your day?

I (unfortunately) remember this day well. It felt surreal last time. I went to spa, got a massage, and tried to relax. It didn't work.

So this time, I'm not going to a spa. What's the point? I'm too anxious. Best to just go when I can thoroughly enjoy it, which is NOT now. So, in the morning, I'm taking the day off and going to get my teeth whitened after sleeping in as long as possible. I'm going to try Brite Smile. Then, I may do some boutique shopping along Robertson followed by yoga and running. I think subconsciously, the plan is to work on my physical appearance via beauty treatments, clothes, and exercise so as to have an alternative (aka become a stripper) should that-which-cannot-be-named happen. If using the brain doesn't work, I'm going to have to resort to baser measures.

This is a new low.

I don't even know what kind of nonsense I'm spewing. I've been like this all week, particularly today. I actually just want to shuffle out in my pjs to Blockbuster in the morning, rent some sappy DVDs, cover my windows, order a pizza, and zone out in front of my tv. I literally don't want to do anything except curl in my bed, eat, and watch tv. Tomorrow, I will be able to function again because this limbo will finally be OVER.

How are you guys holding up?

The Pass Rate for July 2007 in CA is 56.1%!!

OMG OMG OMG.

The pass rate is already out. You can check it out at http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/Pass_StatsSummary.pdf

The pass rate is higher than it has been since July 2001...this is either fantastic or dismal, depending on what end of the spectrum you end up on. I can't believe that these people have the results all ready, our letters printed out and ready to go, and yet....we have to wait until Friday at 6:00 to find out our fate.

As it is, I can't function this week. I'm exhausted and my eye is constantly twitching. I wish they'd just post it as soon as they're done grading, as they obviously are if they're sitting around playing with their calculators and compiling pdfs of stats.

Ahhh....if there's one thing I've learned this year, it's that we are a resilient group.

They're Baaaaaack....

I missed my old friends, Bar Exam Nightmares. The other day, I had my first nightmare about the exam since, well, the exam. Something about being out with friends, desperately needing to check the internet to find out if I passed, and being unable to say anything or actually check because I didn't want everyone to pay attention to whether I passed. It turns out I didn't, and I woke up in confused terror.

No matter how much I say that I'm at peace with this (because really, the first time you find out you didn't pass is the most terrible), I dread that feeling of complete despair that comes in the minutes following the news that one did not pass. It passes and you bounce back to pragmatic optimism, but those times are so dark that I'm actually scared.

For me, I just want to freakin' KNOW. One way or the other, so I can move on with my life. I think I've said it before, but it's the limbo that kills me. It makes me feel better if I can just make a plan for the next few months. I've already planned to take next Friday off from work, and so has the other law clerk anticipating results. We've agreed not to talk about it and to not check each other's names on the pass list. I think we're going to pretend like this hell never happened.

May the days pass quickly...

Honestly!

There is nothing going on. I'm starting to feel a little sick and once November hits, I will be in agony until D-day, at which point, I will be better. Pass or fail, at least I'll KNOW. This limbo is the absolute worst!!

I've been working at a different law firm literally minutes from my house since the exam. I'm liking it much better! I get to do a lot of research and writing, and also have client interaction. It's been very good practical experience for me and I'm seriously loving the commute. I'm working about 35 hours a week, which is also great, with sporadic 4 day weeks. Kinda nice. Since I'm in this limbo, I'm not working lawyer hours! I'll only work lawyer hours once I'm an actual lawyer!!

My fellow bloggers have said the same thing, it's hard to blog when there's nothing going on pertaining to the bar! I'm actually still enjoying the feeling of coming home from work and having no studying to do. I absolutely relish this!

Some peripheral things going on...
- Watching Planet in Peril on CNN mixed with Kimora Lee's Fab Life show. That about sums me up.

- Reading Love in the Time of Cholera. This book has been around for awhile, is being made into a movie, and has been hailed by Oprah as amazing! The greatest love story of all time, despite the 600+ affairs this man has. This, I gotta know. ;) And for those who've seen it, this is also the "fateful" book in the movie, Serendipity! Love that movie.

- Went to Vegas and had way too much alcohol. Also lost much money. My throat is sore and my nostrils and pores are filled with smoke. Ick.

- Currently loving Britney's "Gimme More" song and dancing to it in the car. I know, I know, the VMA performance was a wreck. The song has grown on me and though it doesn't have the deepest lyrics (uh...gimme gimme on repeat?), it's got a great beat to dance to!

- Just bought Mario Badescu's famous Drying Lotion for use on a massive pimple on my chin. This stuff has a cult following and it's my first time trying it! It's supposed to be incredible, so I'll let you know how that goes. =)

- Liking the fall season because there's stuff to watch on tv. I tend to watch it online now. I've seen Samantha Who, which is suprisingly funnier than it looks, and Private Practice, in which the people aren't that attractive and lacks chemistry but I watch because I'm curious about what happens to Addison.

Like I said, not much going on! Plan on watching Elizabeth in the theater soon, and going out on Saturday for Halloween. Other than that, just watching the clock ticking.

And you know what? I refuse to believe I failed, but I am prepared for the eventuality that I may have to take this test again. It's been a tough year, and I will cut myself a break. At this point, the part of the exam I'm most confident about are the PTs...I'm hoping for 65s on both...and maybe it'll pull me through!

Hope everyone else is hanging in there!

Fastest Bar Exam Results...

It's been forever since I last wrote! Alas, much drama in the land of me, but...still chugging along. =) At least I'm working!

For the most part, I (like everyone else) try not to think about the bar. This is difficult when I am working in a law firm and constantly reminded of it, but I usually manage. It helps to have other distractions. However, I've given some thought to taking the bar exam in other states, and possibly even two states come February if CA doesn't pull through for me this time. I'm considering moving out of the state anyway, and this way, I'd have some options. Anyway, I can always practice certain niches of law in CA as long as I'm licensed somewhere.

Sadly, when weighing my options, my primary concern has been how long before exams results are released!!! I mean, seriously, I just CANNOT WAIT ANYMORE. It's torture. North Carolina seems to take about a month, and Colorado about two and a half months. I can't seem to find a comprehensive list, so does anyone else have any stats?

This is what it's come down to -- four years of college, three years of law school, and now, I can't wait a couple extra months. This process breaks you, it really does! =)