My Bar Planner

In March 2011, I finally decided that I am going to take the Bar in November so I planned my life, my study schedule for the next 8 months to cover the eight bar subjects:

Political Law

Labor Law

Civil law

Taxation

Commercial law

Criminal law

Remedial law

Legal Ethics

and in my time, writing Legal Opinion and Legal Memorandum were also included and would cover 40% of the Bar grade.

Beginning 2011, the High Court already issued bar exams syllabus that limits the scope of the Bar examination in each subject.  Given the coverage and the limited time, preparing the study plan is a must with goal set to finish the syllabus with comprehension.  I took into consideration the schedule of the Pre-bar review lectures so that it would be synchronized with my “game plan”.  I attended the lectures so as to confirm my understanding of what I have read.  I also participated in the mock bar administered by the university to check what I have learned.

So I started my Pre-bar review on April 8.  (8 being a lucky number in Feng Shui.  I had to distribute the 204 days left from the pre-week days:

Date	Subject	Duration
First Reading (Codal and Books Annotation)
April 8-April 28	Remedial Law	20 days
April 29- May 1	Legal Ethics	3 days
May 2- May 29	Commercial Law	27 days
May 30 –June 12	Criminal Law	14 days
13 June – July 3	Civil law	20 days
July 4-July 17	Taxation	13 days
July 18-July 24	Labor Law	6 days
July 25 – August 14	Political law	20 days
Second Reading (Codal Provisions and Memory Aid)
August 15- August 30	Remedial Law	15 days
August 31- September 19	Civil Law	20 days
September 20- October 4	Commercial Law	15 days
October 5- October 14	Criminal Law	10 days
October 15-16	Legal Ethics	2 days
October 17- October 21	Taxation Law	5 days
October 21-October 27	Political Law	7 days
October 28 – October 30	Labor Laws	3 days

Above schedule was inclusive of mock bar, MCQ exercises (simulated bar under time pressure) and of course, engaging to some personal errands and needs.  This was never been an overnight planning.  It also subjected to several adjustments.

My pre-week was devoted reviewing for notes during the pre-bar and Pre-Week notes given by the university, accompanied with Codal.

On Bar exam day proper, no more notes and no more reading but a complete submission to Above of my bar preparation. My Game Plan is over. Its now the execution of what I have planned eight months ago… This was my “Game Plan” in my pursuit to the Bar.=)