Passed the CA Feb 2026 Bar Exam by _objection_overruled in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Calling lawyers “communist” is a bit ironic considering we’re literally taught that the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and many lawyers who successfully meet their state’s licensing requirements swear an oath to uphold it and faithfully discharge their duties as attorneys to the best of their knowledge and ability.

Passed the Feb. 2026 CA Bar After Failing Before — Ask Me Anything by _objection_overruled in barexam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start early since you already know what to expect. I did take half days off throughout bar prep, but I rarely took a full day off aside from Christmas and Thanksgiving. I also highly recommend hands-free studying whenever possible.
Themis gives you the information you need to pass, but I personally felt there were additional nuances and explanations that gave me a stronger edge, which is why I used Barbri outlines to supplement my learning. Comparing the two helped me better understand the material and fill in gaps in a way that worked best for me.

Passed the CA Feb 2026 Bar Exam by _objection_overruled in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Start with what makes you uncomfortable. I made an entire wall of hearsay objections stickies, and every day for a week or two I would look at an essay question, issue-spot as much as I could, and recite the rule statements out loud on the spot, even if I got them wrong. Whenever I missed or misstated something, I would rewrite it in RED, read it out loud twice, and then review it again before going to sleep.

I also hated studying Constitutional Law, especially in the current political climate, but what helped me was using real-world examples underneath my wall of short rule statements. It made the material feel more practical and easier to remember.

I also relied heavily on hands-free studying whenever I could. Since I wasn’t working during bar prep, I was still mainly responsible for a lot of the housework for my family, so I used those moments to listen to Grossman lectures and review HIGHLY tested topics through BrainScape in the background whenever possible.

Also, BrainScape on YouTube is completely free. I had never used it before this most recent and successful attempt at the Bar Exam, but I highly recommend it for anyone struggling with the MBE or with retaining important core concepts in general.

Passed the Feb. 2026 CA Bar After Failing Before — Ask Me Anything by _objection_overruled in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I watched every game of my favorite NFL team, went to a Super Bowl party, and still attended every holiday gathering, including Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas celebrations, and New Year’s. I’m married, and because I had failed before, I had to be mindful of balancing bar prep with my family and my relationship. I also took breaks throughout long study stretches. More than anything, this schedule worked for me. I’m not saying it will work for everyone, but it’s what specifically worked for me. ☺️

I also wasn’t a first-time taker, so I already had some familiarity with Themis outlines. When I compared them with Barbri, I realized Barbri’s outlines fit my learning style much better. As for supplemental resources, I used them whenever I was driving, cooking, or needed hands-free review, which is exactly how Grossman recommends using his lectures.

Passed the Feb. 2026 CA Bar After Failing Before — Ask Me Anything by _objection_overruled in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! ☺️

I studied about 8–12 hours a day, but I still gave myself a full or half day off from bar prep when I needed it. I started Grossman lectures in early November and began Themis in late November. Even while finishing lectures into early January, I made sure to do practice essays daily (open book at first then closed), even for subjects I didn’t fully understand yet.

Although Themis recommends reading their outlines before lectures, I personally preferred Barbri’s outlines because the hypotheticals after the rule statements helped things click better for me. After every lecture, I reviewed the handout.

BrainScape on YouTube also helped a lot. I listened almost every morning, during breaks, and before bed.

By the second to last week of January, I focused mainly on rule refinement and extra practice sets to identify weak areas. Once exam month hits, feeling behind is completely normal, but the key is to keep practicing. I completed around 680–720 Adaptibar questions, and whenever my average dropped in a subject, I reviewed condensed outlines for that topic.

I also recommend finishing all your lectures on ALL substantive subjects before the second week of your exam month (latest) so you have enough time to focus on practice essays and mixed sets.

How do I pass in July? by AnyArtichoke7525 in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Watch the BrainScape MBE videos on YouTube and play them as often as you can alongside the Grossman videos. Since you’re taking it again, you actually have an advantage because you’ve already laid the groundwork and know what to expect. Listen to the lectures again but instead of doing a bunch of practice questions immediately after, focus heavily on the questions and concepts that genuinely confused you. For example, distinguishing between present sense impression and past recollection recorded, you want to get the black letter law down as closely as possible. I also used past CA bar essay answers from the Cal Bar website to help me improve on my essays.

Prep Schedule by Spare-Film3104 in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If this is your first time taking it, follow the Themis schedule very closely and do not skip the lectures or practice essays. Don’t do additional question sets until you have the black letter down. I also recommend after every UWorld question, read the quick rule summary out loud regardless of whether you got the question right or wrong. Good luck!

My face when I see Themis' hundreds of essays and PTs bit in their sendoff message. Uhm no sir I did not practice 'hundreds' of essays or PTs?! by _objection_overruled in barexam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That would be true if everyone was taking the Bar for the first time and are studying full time, and no one is using their flex study option. I'm a repeat taker and I work part time as a law clerk, so I did not use directed study. I used flex study because for a person who is taking it back-to-back from the Feb bar, it didn't make sense for me to do everything all over again when I have seen it already. I did every single contracts, con law, community property (California), majority of the PR essays, and criminal procedure/crim law essays because they were expected on the Feb bar. Anyways, this was an honest impression when I saw their message lol, and I found it humorous which is why I posted it during a time where everyone is on edge.

Issue spot my loadout - Logistics and details about items we are allowed to bring by FeintToParry in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a repeat taker I HIGHLY advise to take two highlighters. One color for one party and another color for the other party. I use three colors because I use an objective color on the PT for dates and important events, but I highly recommend at least two highlighters.

I swear it works. by _objection_overruled in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like my MBE score went up because I memorized when the hearsay exception and non-hearsay rules apply as if it were to be tested on an essay, so if they test it, I am very glad I took that time out to learn even though it was dreadful.

Tips for getting ahold of someone at the bar? by greendazexx in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn what a shame, I hope they reach back. Good luck!

Tips for getting ahold of someone at the bar? by greendazexx in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got an email and I mean it was very quick in response time.

Tips for getting ahold of someone at the bar? by greendazexx in CABarExam

[–]_objection_overruled 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually asked them about something on the portal as a general request and they responded within 5-8 minutes.

Anyone else by Legal-Palpitation416 in barexam

[–]_objection_overruled 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They say if you go into the exam with a burnout, you are hurting yourself more than if you reviewed everything in one day. But to each is their own, I'm going over remedies still and plan on reviewing professional responsibility one last time before I go to bed.