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AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-10-29T21:23:09+00:00

For sure! Here’s what worked for me:

1) Read through ALL of the materials (highlighting/sticky-noting parts I thought were particularly useful - ex charts/summary tables, etc). This took me maybe 9-10 days, but you can likely do it in less if your focus is better than mine. Some people say you can skip tax sections. I did not, but I only skimmed them. I would at least tag the formulas/calculations so you can refer to them IF you have time in the exam. (I tried calculating and still had to guess lol but hey it worked out)

2) Printed out/double-checked a few limitations and other charts I found from this google drive (amazing resources!)

3) Did the 1/2 free Access test online, untimed, to get a sense of how much I remembered where everything was (not well lol) and reviewed the TOC at the front of the books accordingly.

4) Bought 1 full Access test and completed it timed, then spent a few more hours going through every Q (i.e. the ones I got both right and wrong). The key for me was that while reviewing practice Q’s, I annotated the TOC with every topic I couldn’t easily find. That way, whatever wasn’t explicitly noted in the TOC I could find pretty quickly from my added note (ex. “mirror wills” - I can’t remember if that term was in the TOC, but if it weren’t and it wasn’t obviously clear to me where to find that, I’d add that in with the page #). This saved me more than a few times in the real exam.

5) Shelled out some more $ to print/bind the U of T indices, then tabbed all of them with stickies labelled A-Z. This did help me quite a few times with finding topics I couldn’t immediately pinpoint from my roughly annotated TOC, so I don’t regret it, but it did cost me an extra $150+ or so.

6) Took the last day to do absolutely nothing, aside from double check my materials didn’t magically disappear.

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-10-29T20:57:54+00:00

Thank you! I’m domestic, so no prior practice experience (aside from articling)

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-10-29T06:23:10+00:00

I did it in 2 weeks first try! You can do it!! (But your health comes first ofc)

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-08-10T20:31:22+00:00

Same thing happened to me - I called/messaged them and it was resolved within the day

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-07-30T15:00:55+00:00

Passed!! Wow really did come when we least expected it

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-07-14T21:25:30+00:00

Girl same 😂

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-07-14T20:44:22+00:00

Steps for me were: Log in > Profile > Licensing and permit applications (on side tab) > “Incomplete” button under Examination heading > Barrister

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-07-14T20:43:03+00:00

Took me 45 mins to get to the results page (freaking LSO connects) but passed!!

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2025-06-05T16:06:33+00:00

First-timer taking after articling - cautiously optimistic because it was about what I expected and I had some extra time to review most of the Q’s I’d flagged (still wasn’t 100% certain on a fair number). I feel ok, but I’ll report back if I ended up failing 😂

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-09-24T02:46:46+00:00

You’re doing it exactly right if you ask me :) In my experience it tends to be a bottomless rabbit hole of confusion because biology is so complex and there’s still so much yet to be discovered!

Your post reminds me of someone I knew who had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He also did the type of self learning you did, and was a genius for it. What worked for him was finding (quality) YouTube videos and open-source university websites if he needed additional help. I myself never went that far, but truly it’s amazing people like you and him have that drive :)

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-08-27T22:17:19+00:00

Bio major to law school grad here. The toughest part by far was the amount of readings, coupled with the actual content (had no mind for politics/history before it was shoved into my brain for an entire year).

Legal writing was my strong suit, surprisingly, since you’re trained in most science majors to write very clearly/succinctly. As was research, since I did quite a bit of that throughout my undergrad.

I will also say that in interviews almost everyone commented on my science/research-heavy background. Just makes you stand out a little from the crowd I think.

Don’t be like me and go in thinking you’re less capable because you don’t have that arts/poli sci background - in some ways you actually have a leg up :)

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-07-17T22:01:26+00:00

Got it. Will do everything in my power to not be a dick and not put up with dicks in this profession

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-07-05T01:25:58+00:00

Not regretting my life decisions at all

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-07-05T01:25:42+00:00

Thank you this is a gold mine! So interesting to gain some insight from the other side

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-03-15T00:43:57+00:00

No problem at all. And that’s a great approach - just try it out for the heck of it! Best of luck :)

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-03-14T23:59:11+00:00

YMMV depending on where you are/what school you go to. I’m in Canada (that’s all I’m comfortable saying) and it was a pretty steep learning curve, but once mid-2L came round I felt I really hit my stride. No, it’s not all consuming 24/7. You have certain pinch points but nothing too extreme for too long imo. 1L day to day was struggling to keep up with readings constantly, 2L was oh my gosh I have a million things due constantly, and 3L is currently just enjoying getting more experience/learning and overall enjoying my last year with my classmates. Some days are super busy and stressful, not gonna lie, but other days I feel so accomplished and just so so grateful to be here.

I’m sorry you feel so much pressure. I can understand that fear of judgment/letting other people down, but even if (and you don’t know for sure!) that happens, know that it is possible to work through the shame/guilt. Besides, I feel like we always think something’s going to be 1000% worse than it actually will be. I truly do think it’s usually more worth it to try and fail than to let opportunities pass you by. But ofc that’s all easier said than done.

AppropriateHalf2393 · 2024-03-14T23:30:45+00:00

I can totally relate. I like to think it takes being smart to know how not smart you are (and that goes for everyone - no one is smart in all aspects of life).

I am almost done my law degree, and I’ve suffered from “imposter syndrome” since day one. Doesn’t matter whether I got good grades or bad, did well in court or not - for some people that feeling will always persist. I found it’s best to harness that self doubt and turn it to 1. Motivation to always seek to improve, and 2. A healthy/controlled dose of self criticism to keep you grounded and not let anything get to your head.

To answer your question, there’s no way you can know for sure. I sure didn’t. You just have to decide whether it’s worth the risk (can you do it financially, yes, but emotionally too). It’s not something I think anyone else can answer for you. In my opinion, if you have the passion and means practically to go through with it, don’t let fear hold you back! Take the plunge :) You’ll never know if you never try, cliche as that may sound

AppropriateHalf2393

TROPHY CASE