My Journey To The New York Bar - Exam Results Day!

Before I sat the NYLE in June, I was waiting for the multi-state bar exam results that were going to be released on the last week of April.

 Leading up to results day, so many thoughts came to my mind trying to make me anxious. Doubts as to whether I had done enough this time round to pass. Thoughts of what would happen if I failed the exam again. Would I really be prepared to sit the exam for a third time?

I remembered a story someone posted on Facebook about an attorney in California who passed the California bar after 12 attempts! I remembered an article I read that listed some of the most prominent figures in American history, such as Michelle Obama, John F Kennedy, Hilary Clinton passing the bar after several attempts - so it wouldn't be all bad if I didn't pass second time round! I also remembered the conversation I had with a lady in Queens, New York, whilst waiting in line to be seated for the MPRE exam, and she shared with me that one of her friends had now qualified as an attorney after failing the bar exam 8 times!

But the voice of faith spoke louder and I remembered the peace I had on the last day of the exam in New York and that I had done everything I could have done and gave it my best!

26th April 2017 at 7:00am - I woke up and checked my Whats App messages. I saw a message from Samantha, who was my study partner, asking me if I checked my results! The message was sent to me just after 5:00am. As she was now living in New York, the message was sent just after midnight New York time, when the exam results had been released!

I quickly jumped out of my bed and checked my email! As a scrolled down, I suddenly stopped and started screaming! I woke the whole house up! My mum thought something had happened. I ran in her room to tell her I had passed. Then I broke down crying! Crying tears of joy! Crying because I had finally got my breakthrough. Crying because I had put all my faith, strength, time, effort and money into something and finally got the results I had been waiting for! Crying because I knew the next time I flew to New York would be to sworn in as US Lawyer! I quickly had to get my head together as I was starting work at 9.30am.

So I showered, got dressed, can't remember if I even had breakfast and then left for work! I was sooooo happy! I even shared it on my social media, but not before personally messaging certain family members and friends who had supported me throughout this journey!

My Journey To The New York Bar - More Exams?

Once I returned back to England after sitting the Multi-state Bar Exam in New York, I had to start preparing for the New York Law Exam (NYLE) which was the New York element the multi-state bar exam. Confused?

Okay, so before, the bar exam used to cover both the multi-state federal law (which is general legal principles and law across the USA) and the New York State law (which is law just applicable to New York ). But in 2016, it changed and New York state law, is tested separately. It is an online open-book exam with 30 questions. Which meant I could do it from the comfort of my dining room kitchen!

The date of the next exam was mid March 2017. As I had just sat the two-day multi-state bar exam in February, I did not have the head space to start spending less than a month to prepare for a second exam. I was also broke by then, as I had taken a whole month off work, which was on unpaid leave and needed to return back to work to start making money. All of my money I had made up until then, had been going towards paying for the exam fees, flights to America and accommodation, as well as trying to keep up with bills at home and personal expenses. I also needed a break from studying, as it had been a tough six months of continuous studying.

I decided to sit the NYLE on 15th June 2017, which would give me enough time to prepare. I took about four to six weeks off from studying and resumed my studies and prep for the NYLE in April. I felt this was more than enough time for me. By this time, I was now working Monday to Friday, full time hours and continued to do so up until the day of the exam. I used my evenings and weekends to study and would carry my revision notes to work so I could read through them whilst on my commute.

Sometimes we are in a hurry to accomplish things and just get things over and done with, because we do not want to be left behind or miss out on opportunities that everyone else one around us seems to be getting. This can sometimes do us more harm than good. Sometimes, it is better to take our time with things, to take time out and have a break so that our body and mind can recharge. Sometimes it is better to say ‘not yet’ to certain things, instead of rushing and trying to keep up with the Jones’.

If I had applied this mentality, when I first registered to do the bar exam, I probably would have given myself more time to study for it, instead of thinking that a three and a half month online study programme was enough. I may have had a better chance of passing the exam first time, instead of failing and having to resit the exam again, seven months later, and having to spend more money on exam fees, flights, accommodation etc.