Legally Bored: Chronicles of Analia: HOW I PREPARED FOR THE 2011 BAR EXAM

The months after graduation -- December 2010 to March 2011 -- I spent in hiatus in Cagayan de Oro, getting over a broken soul. In between cries and bouts of depression, I searched the internet for printable reviewers and for tips on how to pass MCQ exams (researched on US/California bar exams, too). (The common grounds that I found applicable to me were: no need to memorize, but read comprehensively; study the convergence and divergence of laws; improve logic; and learn to think quickly with time pressure.) I didn’t study during those 4 months, and I didn’t enroll in advance review class either. I simply wasted my time. I healed my heart. =)

My formal review started on April 2011. I deactivated my Facebook account and changed all of my cellphone numbers. I started on a clean slate.

Because I had with me lots of books and printed reviewers (which I ended up not using at all), I went to Manila by Superferry. I traveled alone and arrived in Manila on April 2, 2011. I spent the first week settling in, and going around Recto, mapping out the neighborhood eating places. I lived and roamed the streets alone for a month.

Before classes started, I organized my books/reviewers by subject, and I marked clear envelopes by subject to put notes in. I printed big monthly calendars and chronicled every experience, wrote down every cent sent by the parents (I used the financial support as my “pressure” – I wasted money in CDO, I wasn’t about to waste money again). I marked the days I went to review class, the days I skipped class, the days I did any reading, the days I didn’t, the days I spent at the mall, the days I got sick.

I bought loads of review materials, from books to pencils to lecture notebooks to a Parker fountain pen. I made sure that I had everything that I needed to have and more. I bought a PSP and an iPod. I installed “intelligent” logic games in the PSP (I deleted the distracting games), and put 2007/2010 taped lectures in the iPod (I got the taped lectures from Taz and Rayray – thank you). When I got bored, I’d play Sudoku and logic puzzles. I tried to improve my handwriting by writing my thoughts/journal in Grade 2 pad papers (My handwriting improved a bit after a few months – my O’s got rounder). I used different pens to see which would fit me better. I asked friends to judge my handwriting, too. (I ended up using 0.5 blue Pilot V5 pens for the last Sunday – but the exam papers’ surface turned out to be rough, a Uni felt-tip pen would have been perfect for me instead of the V5.)

I bought and read “BAR BLUES or Everything You Want To Know About The Bar Exams But Are Too Busy To Ask”.

I bought a Class Record (that thingy that teachers used), and mapped out the bar subjects, wrote down my available resources per subject/topic, so that I could choose which book or reviewer to use for a topic/subject and which lecture to listen to, and I could track down how much I’d finished studying already, and I’d know what material to use for pre-week.

I printed practice MCQ answer sheets, and I took a lot of practice timed MCQ tests by myself (and I failed in almost every one of them). I chronicled every practice MCQ test that I took in the Class Record. I reverse-engineered my MCQ scores and wrote down notes on my weaknesses and the reasons why I got the answers wrong. I made my own evaluations: ex. – “I overlooked an important detail in the question – answered too fast” or “in Corpo, I need to know the reason behind the numbers and enumerations, so that I can remember them!”

I attended most of April’s classes (in Commercial Law – because I found the lectures interesting). I had Sir Moslem, Sir Yusoph, Sir Basari, Sir Metmug, and Sir M. Muti to thank for a good-enough Commercial Law background. But I had a nosebleed when it came to SEC law, though. Everything was new; I had a hard time understanding the lectures, even through context.

For Commercial Law, I mainly used San Beda’s 2010 memory aid (xeroxed) and wrote lecture notes at the back pages. I incorporated everything into it, as I’d already planned to use the same for pre-week review. I bought Business Law books for CPA review (which cost a lot less than law books), and studied Corpo and Nego, the CPA review way. Other than a few pages of Sundiang (for Special Commercial Laws), I didn’t read any other reviewer, not a page of Miravite, Villanueva, Co-Untian, etc., and I did not use a codal. I practiced on CPA board sample MCQ exams, too.

I listened to taped lectures of Balmes, Riano, Abella and V.Castro.

I listened to taped lectures in the mall, while in transport, while walking to class, while eating, while washing clothes, before going to sleep, etc. – I had sensitive ears, so I drowned out the noise of Recto and Manila by listening to taped lectures; and I listened to Mozart and Beethoven while I studied – Baroque/Classical was my “study mode” playlist.

I followed the review school’s schedule when I studied, and I didn’t mix subjects. If the lecture for the month was Commercial Law, I only read Commercial Law. I didn’t do advance reading.

For the first San Sebastian/Baste Mock Bar exam (in Commercial Law), I only got a 70% score (72% if the bonus was counted) -- a failing grade. The score gave me a severe headache and it traumatized me, as I’d previously thought that I was at my best in Commercial Laws. I cried in frustration over that failing grade. AND I NEVER TOOK ANY BASTE MOCK BAR EXAM AGAIN.

Civil Law lectures started in May, and I started to skip a lot of classes. I didn’t attend most lectures, especially because they involved Navarro and Aligada, both as potent as sleeping pills to me. I didn’t want to waste effort on sitting perfectly in class when my mind wouldn’t absorb anything anyway. (I usually sat by my lonesome self in the front row of one of the TV rooms – to get a better view of the lecturer because of my bad eyesight. No matter who the lecturer was, if I felt sleepy, I’d leave. I never forced myself to go to class when I didn’t feel like I wanted to.)

I studied CPA reviewers for ObliCon and Sales. I skipped Family Relations, Property and Succession (and ended up not finishing the Civil Law coverage at all even during pre-week). By May, I had a copy of the RED BOOK already, and I had a fun time highlighting it. I didn’t read any law book reviewer, not a page of Jurado, Paras, etc. I stuck with codal provisions; I didn’t memorize them, just took them to heart.

I listened to taped lectures of Uribe, Lopez-Rosario and Albano.

For Remedial Law, I had to start from scratch in most aspects. I bought a new codal, which I had loads of fun highlighting and marking, as most concepts were new to me. J I read INIGO for Civil Procedure, Special Proceedings and Special Civil Actions. I incorporated my notes on Inigo into my Ateneo memory aid (which I used for pre-week). With deep gratitude to Sir Magi and Sir Gubat, I skipped studying for Evidence and Criminal Procedure, I just read the codal provisions. I studied instead for the special laws which were altogether alien to me – katarungang pambarangay, small claims, amparo, data, etc.

I listened to taped lectures of Riano, Salvador and Albano.

For Criminal Law, I didn’t attend review classes, because of sleeping pills lecturers and plain stupidity on my part. I was starting to feel the inadequacy of my brain, and I was starting to cram because almost every day was review class day. I listened to taped lectures instead. I read BOADO COMPACT for Criminal Law, and nothing else, not even a codal or a memory aid. I thank Sir Magi, Sir Balindong and the late Sir Barambangan for giving me enough knowledge to survive Criminal Law.

Tax was fun. I studied for Tax Law, CPA board review-style, and used CPA reviewers instead of law books. I supplemented with a Domondon (the examiner) Primus. I listened to a lot of Dimaampao and Sababan old lectures (because I listened to Sababan a lot, “p_tang ina”, his expression, became my silent expression as well for a while. Tsk.), and I supplemented with notes/transcriptions of Dimaampao and Sababan lectures that I found online. I made my own notes in Tax, the only “notes” that I made during review. I didn’t read any law book on Tax, and I didn’t use the codal either.

Of all the bar exam subjects last November, I found Tax the least burdensome, especially since some of the questions involved numbers. (That Sunday, while some of the MSUans had sad faces because of Tax, Rikki Sansarona, with a big smile on his face, said to me, “Malbod so Tax o?”. Indeed, Rikki Sansarona passed the Bar.)

For Legal Ethics, I read only the codal provisions.

For Labor Laws, I didn’t attend classes and I didn’t listen to taped lectures. I read Azucena, Chan notes (3 inches thick.. gosh), codal provisions and the Red Book. When the exam came, Labor Laws was the most damning to me. I cursed Labor Laws. I cursed the examiner. I will forever curse Labor Laws.

For Political Law, I read UP’s 2007 notes and the 1987 Constitution. I skipped studying for PIL (thanks to Sir Magi). I listened to taped Sandoval lectures (skipped PIL lectures, too). I read the RED NOTES (which contained recent cases).

I didn’t have any background on Legal Opinion Writing and Memorandum Writing, and yet I started to study/practice for such only during the last week of November, the pre-week. I placed a lot of trust on the 11 years that I spent in Dansalan College. J I read some samples, I drafted my formats, and made one practice product on each, the day before the last Sunday.

On the last Sunday, I brought sign pens, a ruler, a pencil and an eraser. Before doing the draft, I drew thin pencil lines marking the left and right margins of all the answer sheets. I hurriedly made my COMPLETE draft in the draft pad and reviewed it twice. I patiently and meticulously transferred my answer into the answer pad. I made sure that my bad handwriting looked big and clean enough. I had to make a half-page erasure on the last page of my Memorandum when I skipped a whole paragraph before the conclusion. I erased any mark of the penciled-in margins before I passed my answer pad.

When I went out of the exam room, I knew that my scores for the Legal Opinion and Memorandum Writing would make up for any mistakes that I made during the first 3 Sundays. I’d already instilled in my mind that the last Sunday subjects weighed 40% of the total score. Even if I’d flunked in Labor Laws (which I still feel I did), Labor Laws consisted only 6% of the total score, and the impact would not be that great.

On the way to the UST gate, a smiling SAUDI SULOG approached me, shook my hand and whispered in my ear, “CONGRATS, SIS! FEELING NAKO KAY MOPASAR TANG DUHA BA.” I raised my eyebrows and smiled.

If during the first 3 Sundays, I went out of the UST compound with a heavy heart (I cried when I heard about the leakage – and the fact that nobody handed me barops/leakage during the 4 Sundays – and the fact that some examinees said that they’d read/seen copies of the leakage – and the total unfairness of the whole procedure, that I’d studied my butt off, while others could possibly cheat their way in – I’d discovered some mistakes in my MCQ answers by then, too),

when I went out of the UST compound for the last time on the last Sunday, I had a smile on my face. I knew simple Math. I knew how to estimate my average. I knew that my average would reach the passing rate. I knew I had a chance. I simply knew. And I never doubted it, right until the day the results came out: 113. Analia Andam =)

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A day before the results came out, my uncle, Nasser, called to congratulate me already, said that he knew I’d make it. My boss, Sec. Sampaco, called around 10 minutes before the results were out on TV, said that I made it, that her mom, in Manila, told her so. Papa’s blood pressure was high during the 2 days before the results. Mama kept herself busy the day the results were expected. The rest of the family literally jumped for joy when the results came out. My brother, Alex, cried after.

It was February 29, 2012, and I was in Cotabato City, when the results came out. I was crying when I called papa, mama, my brother and my sister. I was intermittently crying for 30 minutes. Then I couldn’t stop smiling, until I went to sleep that night.

Again, thank You, ya Allah, for fulfilling my dream. These, all, I did for and I dedicate to my family. I hope that this will make up for all the past hurt, mistakes and disappointment.

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In conclusion:

Know what type of Bar Exam you will be taking (MCQ, essay, memo writing, etc.) and do your research on how to tackle such type of exam. KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND KNOW HOW TO CONQUER IT.

Pattern your review on your own strengths and weaknesses, and DO NOT COPY ANOTHER BAR REVIEWEE’S METHOD. Incorporate the same ideas but not the format of review. Know thyself.

Because I knew that my memory was very poor, I never bothered to memorize, not even a single provision. I would never be able to retain them until the Bar anyway. I read, understood and dug deeper into the concepts instead. I survived elementary, high school, 5 years in Civil Engineering and 4 years in law school by not memorizing, and I wasn’t about to create a new (and thus, unpredictable) me during review. I made the “Class Record” to guide my failing memory on where I started, where I stopped, where I needed to go back to, and what I needed to read and to read again.
- The same method would be wasted on a person with a good memory.
Because I felt sleepy during class lectures (and tinatamad na rin), I chose to absent myself from review classes, and listened to taped lectures instead at the dorm. I was reviewing for the 2011 bar exam, but I was listening to old 2007 and 2010 lectures.
- Such method may not fit and may even be detrimental to some.
Because I felt like I’d learned just enough in some subjects during law school, I skipped studying for some subjects (Criminal Law 1 and 2, Property, Succession, PIL, Evidence, etc.). I didn’t read book reviewers (Miravite, Jurado, Paras, Riano, etc.). I mainly used memory aids. I didn’t read ABQ either.
- Such skipping may be detrimental to some. Choice of review materials should generally depend on the exam format.
Because I trusted my not-so-bad-English, I didn’t practice composition anymore. I didn’t do any studying for Legal Opinion and Memorandum Writing prior to the last week of November.
- Such may not be good for some, as supplemental practice might be needed months before the exam.
Because I had a very bad handwriting, I spent lots of time improving it. I spent break time in review class by writing on a Grade 2 pad paper. I wasted lots of paper and ink.
- But to someone who already had a good handwriting, such effort would not be needed.
Because I knew that MCQ could be correctly answered by elimination, I enhanced my logic. I played logic games when I could.
- But to someone who could memorize a lot, such method would not be needed.
Because my ears were sensitive to noise, and I couldn’t study when there’s chatter, I used ear plugs a lot.
- Such ear plugs would be ridiculous on someone who didn’t need them. Pick a suitable roommate.
Because I was a crammer, I studied during Saturdays prior to the exams. Some of the bar examinees rested their minds, some when out for the malls, but I didn’t. I felt like I needed to study more. I studied on the Sundays, too, right until the first bell rang.
- My method might prove detrimental to others. Some might need to rest their brains before the exams.
Because I procrastinated a lot, I created a study schedule. I wasn’t able to follow the schedule most of the time, but the honest attempt was there.
- To someone who was disciplined enough, such schedule would be pointless.
Because I was too emotional and I was nursing a broken heart, I wasted 4 months before I started my review. I needed to start a review with zero emotional baggage.
- To someone else, such 4 months could have been put into better use by enrolling in advance review classes.

PRAY.

Thank you, ukhtie Lilikan, for giving me a prayer garb or “mokna”, and for guiding me on praying, and for being a good roommate (along with Panky)
Thank you, Annie, honeyko i cashbond, for giving me the prayer carpet or “sambayanga” (and for being a good friend during the tough times before filing)