By Vhalerie S. Buluran-Reyes

Studying for the Bar? As someone who recently hurdled the dreaded exams, allow me to share some tips that are probably cliché. But these should give you that needed push to power through this review season.

Tip 1: Read the codal and follow the Bar syllabus
Many bar reviewees make the mistake of forgetting to read the codal and to prioritize topics that are not in the Bar syllabus. When you are not familiar with a question, there is always something you can turn to, if you know the law by heart, to justify your answer. As to the Bar syllabus, believe that it was made to guide you, not trick you.

Tip 2: Prepare the materials you need and stick to them.
Not everyone will like a Q&A type of reviewer or those with long narratives. A “better” reviewer will always come out, but remember to save your precious time and stick to one or two materials.

Tip 3: Set realistic goals and give yourself a break.
Plan your study schedule and group topics together. When you have extra time, do rest. Forgive yourself on the days you are not at your best. Rest so you can move forward. Burnout during review season is more common than you think.

Tip 4: Whatever your study method was during law school, adopt the same in reviewing for the Bar.
Be it pomodoro method or time blocking, you have survived four years of law school. There must be something about that study habit that makes you efficient.

Tip 5: Allow yourself to be a beginner.
Take one step at a time. When studying for the Bar, think of yourself as a beginner, someone who will take up a topic for the first time. You will be amazed at how much knowledge you will gain.

Tip 6: Write and make your own reviewer.
We already know that writing by hand helps with memory retention. What’s also good is that you have your own notes of what you think will need reinforcement to remember.

Tip 7: Twice daily, answer a Bar question.
It will help you gather your thoughts, practice ALAC (Answer, Legal Basis, Analysis, and Conclusion), and your use of grammar and punctuation marks.

Tip 8: Read the Bar Question and Answer from the past 10 years.
It helps with building comprehension and spotting the issue in a question.

Tip 9: Give time for reading last minute tips (LMT), especially during the bar week.
Put it in your calendar. I didn’t know it would take me two hours to read a 15-page LMT.

Tip 10: Pray, manifest, and believe in your capabilities.
You didn’t make it this far just to not make it. You are more than ready!
All the best to our Bar reviewees!

EDITOR’S NOTE: The author, who passed the 2020 to 2021 Bar exam with exemplary performance, is a senior associate at Isla Lipana & Co, the Philippine member firm of the PwC Network. Her practice is in corporate and tax law. A proud mother of two, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management—Hospitality Management track at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and her Master of Marketing Communications and Juris Doctor at De La Salle University.