On a seldomn personal note, I have passed the California February Bar Examination on the first try a semester early. My name "appears on the pass list." The overall pass rate for February was around 40% which is not even close to a fair representation since the pass rate of a first-time taker from an ABA Accredited California law school is 62%. The pass rate goes down from there: ABA non-california, non-ABA, unaccredited, first-timers, second-timers, etc.

Here is the press release: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10144&n=92142

If you are making the journey this July or have received good (or bad news) yesterday from California or earlier in other states, let me know in the comments.

There are always questions sent to me about what it is like in a typical day of a law student. I always respond by saying that law school is what you make of it, because there was hardly anything typical about my law student day.

To answer the question of what you would expect, just think of it as a 40 to 50 hour-a-week job OR... just see a day in the life of law student Jesse in this video after the jump.

This evening someone came to Pasha Law by searching "Law School Exam Cramming Advice." I'm sorry, but that's a little funny, you'd be surprised what people search for. Anyway, does anyone want to share their own cramming techniques? Use the comment link image below.

I remember my civil procedure professor describing horror stories of law students who wish to get a jump on their legal career by taking an opportunity in small claims court. A stern warning that there was no fury like "judges scorned by the presence of neophytes attempting to fine tune their litigation skills with frivolous lawsuits before graduation." For a short demonstration of possible fury, see the video on the people's court of a law student who crossed with Judge Milian. See the video after the jump.

Seems everyone is gearing in for a couple weeks of intense studying and test taking. Dealing with the stress can be rough, so here aer 8 ways to instantly relieve stress:

1. Chair Press-Up - flat feet, hands on arms of chair, deep breach and push up with your arms and feet as you exhale, then go limp

2. Breathing - strong slow inhale through nose, strong and steady exhale through mouth

3. Spread Legs - self explanatory

4. Slouch Slightly - lean back your head and slouch

5. Power Hands - elbows on table, steeple hands in front of face (like Mr. Burns)

6. Anchoring - think of something with strong emotional connectinos - family, friends, wedding, etc.

7.Kill Internal Dialogue

8. Picture Method - find picture that calms you down, and stare

See the more detailed version here: http://www.selfevolution.net/calm.htm

I know this may be a strange notion for some, as the purpose of a shower is to get clean and get out; but like many people (I hope), I do my best thinking in the shower. It's a time for me to get away and clear my head resulting in some of my best ideas.

Study in the Shower

I only wish I had discovered this tactic while in law school. I can see it now, memorizing future estates would be the easy part of property. (I actually liked property, so I guess that analogy doesn't work)

My next msision is to somehow figure a way to be able to write my spontaneous eureka moment ideas while in the shower. I don't think a DRY-erase board will do very well, but perhaps some use of watercolors will suffice. Any ideas?

I know that when I was in law school, laptops were a savior in taking notes and doing off-the-cuff case briefs, but I couldn't help drifting off to a series of commonly visited favorites and a game here and there. Despite my slight detours, I know this was nothing compared to some students who risked the full-screen games.

No Laptop Allowed