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Failed the Bar Exam?
The Dangers of "I can always retake it again."

by PASS Professor Sara J. Berman-Barrett

Many motivated law graduates approach the Bar Exam with an "If I don't pass this time, I'll take it over and over and over again until I succeed." That's fine. It's great to be so determined to reach your goal that you'll do it until you get there. The danger is when that "repeater policy" is your game plan.

I meet them all the time, students who reveal that they really aren't studying as hard as they might be because they know they can take the Bar Exam as many times as they like. In fact, many point to famous successful lawyers who had to repeat the test. If you are adopting such a strategy, some words of caution:

1. Your confidence will take a huge hit.

Even if you know in your heart you did not put your all into studying, you will still compare yourself to those you know who passed. You will always feel a bit like someone kicked you in the stomach, every time you hear the words, "Bar Exam." And, likely you will be judged by others accordingly.

2. You will incur significant costs.

It's not just the fee to re-take the exam, it's the costs of time off to study and the lost opportunity costs with the higher salary you might have earned had you passed right away. It's additional bar review courses, and eventually maybe a private tutor.

3. You may lose some goodwill.

Family and friends who were willing to let you out of responsibilities one time, or even two times may be less than empathetic if they have to support you through this exam too many times. Unless they've done it, people don't know just how hard it is, and they tend to begin to wonder how much they have to put in to your effort.

So make up your mind now, you WILL pass the next Bar Exam you take—whether it's your first, third, or tenth time: the Buck Stops Here. You have invested so much to get to this point and you wouldn't be here if you could not do it. So, get a game plan and go to it, but make sure you start with that firm and unwavering commitment in yourself: Know you CAN pass and decide now that you WILL pass.