Law School Academic Support Blog

Staying energized for the last two weeks of bar study

What an emotional roller coaster bar study can be! It seems like many bar-studiers I am coaching have followed something like this emotional trajectory:

Week 1 and 2: Excited and confident

Week 3: Nervous

Week 4 and 5: Overwhelmed

Week 6, 7, and 8: Exhausted but resigned

Week 9, and 10: ??

So much of our success in life depends on our attitude, and a lot of that comes down to our choices. What an incredible sense of strength and power that is, knowing that our experience is largely up to us!

Remember how (comparatively) easy bar review felt in the first two weeks, because you were so excited and energized for this next great adventure? As we wrap up Week 8 and move into Week 9, I encourage you to decide what kind of energy you want to bring these last two weeks. Maybe this weekend you can reflect on what it will take to reenergize yourself, and finish as strong as you started. Some ideas to get you thinking:

1. Find a dedicated study partner who will hold you accountable (meet and study together daily or a few days per week, or even just do nightly Zoom check-ins);
2. Buy a set of glitter gel pens in fun colors (bonus: I've found that for me, making notes in various colors of ink helps me remember the material better);
3. Find a new study location;
4. Study at a coffee shop every morning starting at 8:30 AM. If you have worked hard and accomplished a lot by 10 AM, treat yourself to a daily fancy coffee;
5. Buy a four pack of the mini champagne bottles and you and a friend or partner can toast yourselves with a mini bottle of champagne (or sparkling apple juice) each Friday evening between now and the bar exam; or
6. Whatever it is that brings you joy!

These are silly little things, but it might just be what gets you excited enough to finish out as strong.

If you feel like your energy and motivation could use a little boost, print the attached calendar, and mark it up. Note the energy you plan to bring each day (for example, "motivated" "excited" "blessed" "privileged" "confident"). Mark the rewards or incentives you have planned to remind yourself of what you're working for (this is an excellent use for those new glitter gel pens!). Stick it on your fridge and ask members of your household (or friends or loved ones) to take turns cheering you on each day.

Most importantly, if you feel down or low, remember that your feelings are natural because bar review is unreasonably difficult. Far too much is being asked of you. If it feels difficult, that's because it is. But, you can do difficult things. Say it out loud: "This is hard, but I can do hard things." Stick a note on your bathroom mirror: “I can do hard things.”

You can do hard things. And you just have to do it for two and a half more weeks. You've got this!

(Lisa DeLaTorre)

What Goes Around, Comes Around

 

In the past week, the United States Supreme Court has solidified and endorsed institutional racism and the exclusion of LGBTQIA+ people from places of public accommodation. The 14^th Amendment that the majority cited to end Affirmative Action is the same one that they failed to use in allowing a web designer to not only refuse to serve same sex couples, but to literally put up a sign telling them that are not welcome and why. We have seen these signs before. I actually googled some to post with this blog entry, but I could not bring myself to add one here. You know the ones I mean.

These two decisions are the like the Wonder Twins of exclusion and privilege (remember when they would unite on Saturday morning TV?) If united, these decisions basically say you cannot consider race (or I suppose any protected class) in making decisions about admitting students to colleges and universities but you can consider sexual orientation (or I suppose any protected class) in determining if they can enter your business (if you claim you are in the business of “speech”).  So, the 14^th Amendment requires absolute neutrality…except when it doesn’t!? So currently, equal protection offers neither equality nor protection. Sigh. The dissents were personal, angry, and bleak.

When I was a teenager and my most difficult moments were when friends would suddenly exile me from the friend group (much more innocuous before social media, thankfully), my mother would comfort me by saying that what goes around comes around. I found this to be little comfort at the time -- most likely because it required patience, which I lacked (and still do).

And it does not solve the problems created last week by the Court either-but there is a little to it here: if we are all spending so much time and intellectual effort figuring out how to work around the Court’s decisions, then the result could be that the Court’s decisions will be less meaningful over time. Perhaps the six member majority has essentially (but not immediately) rendered the Court’s opinions superfluous. Have they relegated themselves to mere consultants about the law rather than the arbiter of what is essentially Constitutional--a power they claimed in Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803)? Will this impotence be what comes around?

I’m unwilling to be patient and just sit back and wait. I don’t need friends like the ones who signed on or concurred in those decisions.

(Liz Stillman)

Director of Academic Success at University of Houston

University of Houston seeks a Director of Academic Success.  The posting is here.

The Director leads the development and implementation of academic success programs designed specifically to address the educational needs of students in the Law Center. Evaluates counseling and advising activities and makes recommendations for new initiatives and/or enhancement to existing practices.

1. Plans, designs, and implements workshops and develops programming for students to enhance their test-taking and study skills, in collaboration with Law Center faculty.
2. Assesses and monitors student performance and provides guidance to students to assist with their progress in the academic program.
3. Collects and manages data and resources related to academic success and drafts reports regarding student performance.
4. Creates educational development plans for at-risk students, monitors and provides interventions, as needed.
5. Collaborates with internal and external partners to design comprehensive academic and bar support curriculum.
6. Works with JD students, and on occasion LL.M students, individually and in small groups to assist with individualized bar-preparation plans.
7. May participate in academic advising and career counseling.
8. Maintains knowledge of University of Houston campus resources and policy and procedures relating to academic success.
9. Integrates antiracism and diversity, equity and inclusion principles and practices in all plans, programs and practices.
10. Performs other job-related duties as assigned. 

Notes to Applicant: 

Relevant experience as an attorney may be considered in lieu of stated experience requirement. 

As one of the only two positions within Student Affairs designated for a J.D., other than the Assistant Dean position overseeing Student Affairs (“ADSA”), the position influences many student matters. Please see these pages for additional information: 

https://www.law.uh.edu/student/  
https://www.law.uh.edu/OSA/staff.asp  

This search is coordinated by the ADSA office. In addition to the formal application made in response to this posting, applicants should send the office a short email to Assistant Dean Monica Mensah, [email protected]. Please express your interest and attach a resume or curriculum vitae to that email. 

EEO/AA

Qualifications

Doctoral and 3 years experience

Education: Requires singular knowledge of a specialized advanced professional discipline or the highest level of general business knowledge, normally acquired through attainment of a directly job-related terminal degree or equivalent formal training in a recognized field of specialization that is directly related to the type of work being performed. J.D. required. Experience: Requires a minimum of three (3) years of directly job-related experience. Certification/Licensing: Requires professional licensing, certification or registration. Bar Membership required.

Director of Bar Success at Arkansas

The University of Arkansas School of Law is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for its Director of Bar Success.  Below you will find the Summary of Job; Qualifications; Assigned Duty Areas; Compensation Information; Required Application Documents; and the link to the University’s Career Opportunities site.  Please share this information with your constituents and colleagues.  Position is scheduled to close midnight Jun 28, 2023

Summary of Job

The Director of Bar Success leads the development and implementation of bar success programs designed specifically to address the educational needs of students at the University of Arkansas School of Law. The job expectations include developing strategies to provide individualized support to 1L and 3L law students to assess their preparation for the bar and Nex-Gen bar exams. Successful candidates will be able to implement and assess student process after the 1L year with the preliminary bar exam and provide in depth workshops and training for students to supplement commercial bar preparation programs. These workshops will focus on the UBE subjects for both the multistate bar examination, essay examination and MPT for both the February and July bar examinations. The ability to track student progress in both their commercial programs and in the supplemental program is of critical importance.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school

• At least 2 years’ experience in working with students on standardized testing; this could be the GRE, LSAT, or bar examination

• Demonstrated ability to create trainings regarding the bar examination for graduating law students

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in designing and implementing workshops for students pertaining the bar examinations in both February and July 

• Experience in working collaboratively and as a part of a diverse team

• Experience in assessing data related to the performance of students on practice bar examinations on the multistate, essay writing, and performance test

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proficient knowledge and skill using computers and software including Microsoft Office Suite

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Well-developed customer service skills

• Ability to establish and maintain electronic files and other record-keeping systems

• Ability to operate standard office equipment

• Highly organized with the ability to work on multiple tasks at any time

Assigned Duty Areas:

30% Collaborate with the Director of Academic Success regarding advising, workshops and other topics.

30% Work with “at risk” 3Ls and administer the preliminary bar examination after the 1L year.

40% Create and administer the Supplemental Bar Examination Program for February and July

Salary Information:

Commensurate with education and experience

Required Application Documents:

1) Cover Letter

2) Resume’

3) List of three professional references (name, email, business title)

4) If applicable – Proof of Veteran Status

To apply please go to the following link:

https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UASYS/details/Director-of-Bar-Success_R0032516?q=R0032516&locations=17a66cdad98201f7890cfb48ca00e249

Director of Bar Success at New Mexico School of Law

The Office of Student and Career Services at the UNM School of Law invites applicants for the position of Director of Bar Exam Success. Our dedicated team is committed to helping law students and graduates reach their full academic potential and employment goals. Main Duties: Designs, leads, coordinates, implements, and assesses integrated school wide academic programs aimed to increase law graduates' success on the bar exam through collaboration with faculty and administration. Teaches or assists in the coordination of for-credit bar strategies courses. Tracks all students' preparation for the bar exam and performance on the exam. Monitors bar exam developments in New Mexico and nationally. Evaluates new developments in the delivery of bar support by law schools. Has knowledge and understanding of multicultural and disability issues. Ability to build rapport with all students, especially at-risk students. JD strongly preferred. FBC: July 25, apply under job req25943 at UNMJobs.unm.edu job req25943. Please contact UNM Human Resources at [email protected] or (505) 277-4777 for assistance and questions about the application process.