Bar Exam Blues

This past week was the bi-annual bar exam administration. And of course all the anxiety that goes with it. 

In a profession where practicing entirely from memory would probably lead to malpractice, it still seems remarkable to me that that is how we test and license attorneys. And this is especially true given the rates of anxiety and depression in the profession, rates that are not helped by the stress of what I would call an outdated gatekeeping tool. 

I’ve long believed that we need to abolish, or at least majorly reform the bar exam. There are so many strong arguments I’ve seen against it. And so few for it.

Yet for now it continues on, as does the wake of anxiety it leaves behind. Unfortunately for some it doesn’t end with the test. For some the second guessing and the anxiety over the result carries on. For others, the completion of such a big challenge leaves them feeling unsure what comes next. Whatever the reason, the anxiety of the exam doesn’t end with the test itself. 

States that are talking about improving the mental health of those in the profession need to include abolishing the bar as part of the conversation. And until that happens, we’ll be here to talk you through the anxiety and offer peer support to those in need.