Now that the Bar Finals are Here...
Dear aspirant to the Bar, congratulations on reaching this stage. The Bar Finals are just a few days away and I thought that there are valuable things you should know. You may know some of them already or you just might be seeing some for the first time.
Just a caveat before we go on. I did not graduate with a first class at the Law School so this post cannot be about how to make a first class. You may want to go ask (or should have asked) those who did for those kind of tips. Regardless, I do have a few tips and I think you should listen, or better still, read them.
Be sure you know what you know
While revising for your exams
Pick your optional questions carefully
By now, you already have an idea of how the questions will be set. You have the compulsory questions and then optional ones. Once you get your questions, scan through the optional ones and determine the ones you can answer best. Once you do that, tick it and move on. I beg you, do not spend so much time to determine which optional questions to answer such that you end up wasting so much time. Be warned, there may be a tendency to cancel after a while and then go pick the other optional question in a section. Just before you do that, weigh your options very well and remember that you do not have all the time. Note that three hours are good enough to finish attempting your questions.
Write it down anyway
I pray that you are sure about all your answers. But can I be honest? A few questions may make you unsure of your answers. No matter what you think, please write the answer that comes to your mind
Move on after every paper
Once you finish a paper, please move on. The hard truth is that once you are done with that exam, there is nothing else you can do to change whatever you have written in the exam. The best you can do is to pray. Some people go to the extent of tearing their examination questions just so they don’t interact with that course anymore. Well, I did not do that.
If possible, avoid the company of people
Ensure you have the slightest idea of every topic
Have an “idea” of everything you have been taught. Of course, the level of idea you have at this point largely depends on your desired grade. Nevertheless, please don’t go into the hall with zero idea about a topic. While you may think some topics are commonly tested in the Bar Finals, you just can never tell.
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Do not give in to pressure
It seems the atmosphere is different during the Bar Finals, but do not allow fear, comparison and pressure get in your way. Pressure will make you do what you should not do. Pressure will make you doubt yourself and you need to go into that exam hall with the greatest confidence you can muster. If you have read and should be resting, do not go on reading simply because it is Bar Finals week and all your roommates are wide awake at midnight. By all means, give it your best shot as it is only a week but know when you are overstretching your limits. This is not the time to faint or fall sick.
It's never too late to ask questions outside the examination hall ...
Ask your friends those questions if not sure before the exams- do not be scared of losing face because it is Bar Finals week and you do not want to look unprepared. The best time to ask for clarity is now. Nobody is going to care once you are done, really. If there is an aspect you have studied but still seems unclear, seek clarity about it. You might just see that question in the exam hall.
General Tips
Follow your spirit. Don’t ignore that tiny voice
Just before you go into the exam hall, it might be easy to ignore some promptings that come due to the pressure. If your mind tells you to confirm a point or check out a topic before you leave your room for the exam hall, please check it. You just might never know.
Ask God to amplify your efforts
I am sure you have heard testimonies of people who expected worse grades from the Bar Finals but ended up doing better than they imagined. Ask God to help you.
One more thing
Please write legibly. Oh, do I need to explain this? I don't think so.
In conclusion
I wish you success ahead, and I am rooting for you. If you found this helpful, please share with other people that may need it. Oh, I know the exams are a few hours away, but I really hope you and those around you get to see this before going into the exam hall.
Congratulations, in advance. I cannot wait to hear or read your testimonies!
Nigerian Law School aspirant | Real Estate Law enthusiast | IP and Tech Law | Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4 & 9 | Volunteer | I share tips on balancing work and lifestyle, self-development, and growth.
1yI'll keep this in mind, thanks for sharing.
LL.B (Common Law), B.L
1yThanks so much. This is quite helpful.
LL.B (Common Law), B.L
1yThanks so
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1yThank you ma’am
Dispute resolution Lawyer|| AICMC || Real Estate Agent || Entrepreneur
1yThank you so much ❤️🙏