DTCI: Tackling the waiting game

By Molly E. Lee

As this issue hits your desk or desktop, recent law school graduates are conquering the ultimate beast: the bar exam. They’ve spent two grueling days pouring out their knowledge of easements, search and seizure, agency, strict liability, the Indiana Constitution, and on it goes…

Kudos and congratulations to all bar applicants. You have survived the marathon that is the bar exam. For bar applicants across the country, now it is a waiting game.

After a summer of grinding, many bar applicants will find themselves asking, “What do I do now?” After years of law school and what seemed like an endless amount of studying for the bar exam, it is now out of your hands and all you can do is wait. The waiting game is an ominous one. Here are a few pointers for dealing with the wait and results day, from a fellow (and anxious) bar applicant and exam survivor.

Move on

I wish I had taken this crucial piece of advice. After the bar exam, I scurried out of the room and debriefed the exam with a few friends. We exchanged glances of utter panic upon realizing we had varying answers to several essay questions. How could this be? Our discussions led us to one overarching and distressing conclusion: we must have failed.

Barath Raman, associate at Lewis Wagner LLP, advises, “How you feel right after you finish the bar exam is not how you feel in the few weeks immediately before the results are published. The bar is hard. You are going to walk out of the exam not happy, content or confident. As the days pass, your attitude will become more positive and confidence will grow. Remember, the majority of applicants pass the bar exam. Keep reiterating that fact over and over again for the next few months when you find yourself struggling to put the exam out of sight and out of mind.”

Do your best to leave the bar exam behind. Cleanse your home and office of all bar exam materials, but hedge your bets and do not destroy everything. While it is tempting, try not to discuss the exam with your fellow applicants. Avoid rehashing the essays and your answers. Take it from me – it will only cause undue angst and worry.

Decompress

The morning after the bar exam, I headed to California for some rest and relaxation with family. While I relaxed on the beach, the bar exam drifted farther and farther from my mind. I read a book (for fun, no less!). I returned home reenergized and refreshed.

Take some time off to recuperate from what is likely the most challenging test of your academic career. After the exam is over, treat yourself. Do something completely unrelated to the bar exam and unwind. Whether it is camping trip, a weekend away, a massage, or even a night out – get out of the mundane and day-to-day and decompress. You’ve earned it.

Reconnect

Bar applicants tend to burrow themselves into a studying hole as they prepare to take on the bar exam. If you’re anything like most applicants, you may have neglected your family and friends while studying for the bar exam.

After a summer of academia, reintegrate into your social life and reconnect with friends and family. Sarah Broderick, associate at George & Farinas LLP, advises, “There is nothing you can do about the results while waiting, so try to relax and spend time doing things that take your mind off of the wait. Spend time with friends and family, which often gets your mind off of the results. Basically, return to normal pre-bar exam life.”

If you are working, jump on in

If you have secured a job following graduation from law school, throw yourself into your work and enjoy the first few months of your legal career. Find comfort in knowing that nearly every attorney has gone through the waiting game and can commiserate with the experience. But try not to dwell on your pending results or let the pressure impact your work product.

If you are not working, prepare for the job hunt

If you are seeking employment after the bar exam, then this is a time for action. Many employers will not hire someone before getting the bar results. While awaiting the bar exam results, use the time to update your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn page. Attend networking events. Volunteer. Join a bar association.

While you wait, work on placing yourself in the best position to begin your career once you pass the bar exam. For that reason, focusing on networking and building connections is the best bet to increase your chances of landing a job.

Handling Results Day

Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 – the day. I was far from calm and collected during the week the bar exam results were scheduled to come out. The refresh button on my computer tired out. The minutes and hours dragged. I had left work early (which I fully recommend) that day and waited in my room at my computer, again tiring out the refresh button. The email arrived at 4:59 p.m.: “Important information and/or documentation has been sent to you by the Indiana Board of Law Examiners.” I frantically logged in and found out I had passed. I re-read the results again and again to make sure I was not mistaken. The phone calls (and champagne) commenced.

After experiencing the rollercoaster of results day, I have a few pieces of advice. First, decide whether you want to check your results alone or with a support network. I chose to be solo. But I have several friends that recommend having a support system with you. Second, briefly consider the worst-case scenario. If you do not pass, then share with a few close friends or family that will help support you. And know you have a few days to lament before the results are posted publicly. Then, pick yourself up and develop your game plan. Third, if you do pass, then go out and celebrate! You deserve it.

Best of luck! Stay calm and carry on.•

Ms Lee is an associate in the Indianapolis law firm of Lewis Wagner and chairs the DTCI Young Lawyers Division. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.