I’m not going to say I didn’t try, didn’t study hard, didn’t work my butt off to earn a passing result, but, I was lucky. If the examiners had decided to test, instead, on certain areas of property law, civ pro, contracts, or remedies, these results could have been different. I know some people said they kind of brushed off community property because it had already been tested on July and so many times before. Others neglected torts because it was tested in July. And then there was me, who didn’t have a great approach to some of the more complicated subjects, and felt like community property and wills/trusts was the shortest outline and the easiest to memorize, and I lucked out on Day 3.
When I left the testing area that last day of February, I felt like God had done everything possible to put me in a position to pass. Which, is one of the reasons why - if I had failed again - I couldn’t bear the thought of going for a third round. I felt that, if I couldn’t pass this time, with these questions being dropped in my lap, how could I *ever* pass??? I was lucky.
I am so disheartened to see that many of my fellow bloggers weren’t so lucky. I looked at the cal bar site today and saw that only 39% of the Feb takers passed. THIRTY-NINE PERCENT. What is wrong with these examiners?!?!?! I hate it because I know that the majority of the remaining 61% would be competent, fantastic lawyers if only for this f*ing exam. My own joy is somewhat tempered by knowing that this moment - of all moments - is one that we cannot share. We have built a little online community that has provided support, encouragement, and a sense of camaraderie through some very dark days. We struggled together to come to terms with our initial failures, and rallied on through those three exhausting days again. And now - when we all should be celebrating, lines have been drawn. I cannot now say that “I know how you feel.” To not pass once is one thing, but to go through that again is a completely different monster. I am glad to see that some of you have already signed up for July - that takes a strength and perseverance that I’m not sure I would have. I hope so much that, next time, the cards fall *your* way and that, come November, we can celebrate your success.
I will just keep trying. Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment, and thanks so much for posting your thoughts and experiences. Best of luck to you!
