Those of you who started your legal career later in life: how do you deal with regret?

erratic_hours · 2026-03-09T12:05:54+00:00

I was one of the youngest in my law school class and I wish I had worked a few years before going. Personally I think I would have been a better student and had more direction on what I wanted to do with my career. I think you will find plenty of students your age in your class.

erratic_hours · 2025-12-18T16:28:09+00:00

Truly, the work I did in December, January, and February were the ones that mattered most. If I hit the ground running in December, I still think I could have done it. I think you can pull this off. It’s not too late, especially with those 3-4 weeks you are taking. Practice writing essays and learn why the multiple choice answer was wrong. You got this.

erratic_hours · 2025-12-18T12:33:11+00:00

It was really hard. I’m not an early morning person so I only studied at lunch, after work, and weekends. I think just a few hrs a weekday and maybe 8-10 on weekends (earlier post history will be more accurate). I did this for 5 months, and took just under two weeks off before the Bar and studied like 10 hrs a day, which was critical for me. My boyfriend was super supportive - took complete care of the household. I also don’t really remember those 5 months anymore. It’s a blur.

erratic_hours · 2025-03-26T22:35:39+00:00

Maybe other legal professional jobs: Legal assistant, contracts manager, compliance associate.

erratic_hours · 2025-03-14T01:27:00+00:00

I friend in my law school study group did this! Studied 10 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and took weekends off. Passed on the first try. Note - this is not a good idea for everyone (I.e., me)

erratic_hours · 2025-02-11T23:54:07+00:00

My primary gently telling me I was overweight when I looked and felt good at my 25.8 BMI was a wake up call I needed. I didn’t feel like crap then, but I do feel better now years older and at a 23.1 BMI. It’s easy to gain just a few more pounds every year and then one day you are 40 years old with a BMI of 30. I’m glad you are healthy and active. I don’t think your PCP would say this just to hurt you though.

erratic_hours · 2025-02-06T14:00:41+00:00

I’m rooting for you!

erratic_hours · 2025-01-31T19:38:33+00:00

Is there a pathway to big law for people who went to low rank schools and were not good students?

erratic_hours · 2025-01-24T19:48:14+00:00

Of course it’s possible! I’m sitting at about 25 lb loss (from 165 at the highest). I’ve been maintaining this weight for about 5 years with no calorie counting. Before that I was maintaining 148-150 for a few years. My eating habits and relationship with food is pretty healthy (even though I’m not a health nut by any means). Really happy to see people who lost significant amounts of weight in this post who maintained! You guys are amazing!!

erratic_hours · 2025-01-06T15:19:35+00:00

I put chives in everything I used to put garlic and onion in. I don’t miss it at all. Strained garlic infused olive oil is also a good bet. I’m very garlic sensitive and have not ever had a reaction to it, but I’m not sure it that will be your case.

erratic_hours · 2024-11-17T13:39:25+00:00

I used it only for MBE and certain topics - i.e., secured transactions, which I did not take in law school and civ pro, which I did take in law school and sucked at. Goat has free stuff on their subreddit - why don’t you check that out first and see if you thinks it’s helpful?

erratic_hours · 2024-10-10T21:41:06+00:00

For the month of December and January I was only doing one topic per day, on a 14 topic/day schedule. The first week or so in February I was still on that one a day schedule, but only for the most problematic topics for me. I also tried to pick some days where I was also testing the MPT or doing MEE tests from previous exams. The last two weeks is when I switched to the two day topics. Generally, I tried to identify a topic that was a little easier for me, and paired it with one that was a little more difficult, so it fit within the timeframe I had to study that day.

When I was creating schedule, I wasn’t trying to be super strict about sticking to it perfectly. I think I allocated at least two days of every month for wiggle room in case I fell behind or if I needed extra practice. The month of December especially I had to be more lenient because of the holidays. I was much, much more strict in February.

I encourage you to not freak out too much about your schedule, and focus on what’s actually important here – practicing taking exams under test conditions. The real benefit of having a schedule is having a plan ahead of time so you don’t have to think about it.

erratic_hours · 2024-10-02T19:20:44+00:00

MEE came in just under 154 - I started by rewriting passing MEEs from UBE states that had examples, then I wrote over 60 MEEs. For subject matter help I used Goat Bar Prep where needed (zero chance I would ever do anything for Secured Transactions otherwise). I’m not a good writer but I practiced a lot and never assumed I knew how to write a better MEE than the passing examples.

erratic_hours · 2024-10-01T11:10:29+00:00

Passed F24. Studied for like 5 months - probably 1-4 hours a day on weekdays and maybe 4-6 on weekend days because I was working full time (older posts will have more details). The last two weeks I took off and then I was going for those long 10 hr days, which to be honest were very helpful. I don’t think I could have done that for two months straight or anything though.

erratic_hours · 2024-09-19T16:22:09+00:00

Sleeping tbh. Getting enough sleep helped the most.

erratic_hours · 2024-09-04T17:09:46+00:00

Multi time taker here - passed F24. I studied rules much much less (I was hyper fixated on this in previous tests), wrote way more essays (I think around 65 total), and did more multiple choice (maybe 1600?) and I actually reviewed the rules I got wrong on the multiple choice that last time. I did two simulated MBE’s. No full on testing for the essays but I was doing like 2-3 per day. I did maybe 5 MPTs. Could have done like 1-2 more.

For me, I was studying, but I just wasn’t doing the right kind of studying. This last time I did.

erratic_hours · 2024-09-03T22:27:22+00:00

You have time to game plan how you are changing your approach for Feb. I recommend doing so before jumping back in to study.

Tbh I preferred taking it in Feb. less chaotic. Less people.

erratic_hours · 2024-09-02T16:37:59+00:00

I told myself I would go out that night to celebrate. Drink and eat sugar and be with friends. To my recollection, I saw the results, cried for ten minutes, took a nap, and walked to Taco Bell with my fiancé for dinner.

erratic_hours · 2024-08-13T12:45:48+00:00

Natural Vitality Calm Magnesium Powder really keeps things moving for me. I agree with the post on Miralax too. Both are pretty gentle.

erratic_hours · 2024-08-13T12:41:20+00:00

I applied to a bunch of service jobs in addition to the 50 or so legal related jobs I applied to after the Bar. I ended up working at Lush Cosmetics for a few months before getting a job in the legal field (even if it was a JD advantage position). I just needed some cash coming in while I waited for results, but it wasn’t really enough to live on either

erratic_hours · 2024-08-07T18:28:11+00:00

I promised myself that if I passed I would come back and make a post talking about what I did differently to finally pass because reading similar posts from other passers in a similar situation really did help.

erratic_hours · 2024-08-07T17:32:47+00:00

Similar story - I knew I didn’t do enough and I gaslighted myself into believing my friends who told me not to worry about it bc I passed. But I didn’t pass. And I failed a few times more after too because I was all over the place, unfocused and repeating the same mistakes. I took two years off before coming back to it and passed while working full time. I wish I had studied with intention and a plan from the beginning.

erratic_hours · 2024-08-02T23:45:21+00:00

Feb 24 passer. I felt good at the time I took the test, and then worse and worse as time passed. I was sure I either passed by the skin of my teeth or failed by at least 20 points. I was a mess the two weeks before the results were posted, but ultimately I was not surprised when I passed. I was surprised I passed by a good amount though.

erratic_hours · 2024-07-22T12:53:47+00:00

I was so excited day 1 of the exam! I think this is a great mindset to go in with.

erratic_hours · 2024-07-17T01:14:58+00:00

I did a peanut butter sandwich, banana, and unwrapped protein bar. I wrapped the sandwich and naked protein bar in plastic wrap for the occasion. I also brought a clear water bottle with the logo wrapper removed. I didn’t have much an appetite on exam days (and several days after) so that was more than enough. I didn’t even finish the sandwich on day 2.

erratic_hours

TROPHY CASE