I realized that I never dropped you a line to let you know that I passed the July 2009 Bar Exam. I know you are probably swamped with retakers for Feb bar, so I will (try to) keep this short. I just wanted to send you a heartfelt thanks for all your help, your awesome book and your positive attitude. Before I attended your seminar at Cal Northern prior to starting to study, I was convinced that I was not going to be able to pass since I had just given birth in February. Your attitude was inspiring. When you told me to just use your book, get the rules down and that I could do it, I actually believed it. But, I have to tell you that without your book there is NO WAY that I would have passed.
This was what I did to study… I would start a subject by creating my rule statements from your book. Then I would listen to Barbri and insert in all the little bits of info that was important to me under the rule statement…you know, the things that I had forgot from school so that I could remind myself when I was studying. Finally, I would put in any bits of info that was left that was from PMBR that would help me recall the rule statement. I was doing the Barbri IPOD because I could only study in bits. I know that this sounds horrible, (and I feel bad for my classmates that busted their butts and didn’t pass) but I only studied for 4-6 hours a day. That was all I could manage with a baby. I know that the time that I did spend studying was not spent spinning my wheels. I got in and got out because I didn’t have time to mess around. One change I did make last minute (because I didn’t read the beginning of the book early enough!!) was to fit in the issue spotting that you recommended in your book. That meant that I had to smoosh even more into my very short days, but I got it done and I passed.
I thank you for your positive words of wisdom and support from one new parent to another. I thought that having a baby would be a handicap in studying, but it turns out it was actually an advantage. It made me use my valuable time wisely. I thank you immensely for writing your book so that I could get through it. If I would have had to create my own rule statements I would have had a mental breakdown!!!
Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I wish you the best and know that I owe you completely for getting me thru that bar. Please let all new parents know that it can be done…with your books!!! – Lia Juhl, Esq., Cal Northern School of Law, passed July 2009 exam