The bar exam experience is horrible. No two ways about it. When I was going through it – I swore I’d only do it once. My motivation for studying hard was so that I’d never have to do it again.
Six years later, I’d still only consider moving to a state where I could “waive in” without having to retake the bar.
The night before the bar exam, I packed my stuff. My bag was filled with everything I was allowed to bring into the exam (things like pencils). The rules on what one can and must bring into the exam are very specific. There was a checklist of items. I was sure I had every item I needed. I must have checked my bag and that list a dozen or more times. That’s what nervous energy will do to a person.
Entering the bar exam was an experience onto itself. I entered the CT Expo center and was confronted with hundreds of white tables (the kind you see at parties from a rental store). Each table had two chairs. Seating was assigned. The first place most people go when the doors open is to the bathroom and that’s where I headed. Said bathroom contained more people throwing up than you’d expect to find after a Dave Matthews Concert.
Anyhow as I arrived at my assigned seat, the proctor came by with the exams. I went to write my name. Our names had to be written in a certain colored ink. I opened my ziplock bag to take out my pen – only to find there was no pen my ziplock bag. My heart just about stopped. How could this be?!?!?!
I motioned to a proctor and asked to borrow a pen. The proctor in a very stern voice (think the teacher on the Wonder Years) “This is the bar exam. How do you expect to pass it if you didn’t even prepare well enough to pack a pen? You’re not prepared. I’m not helping you”. I’ll never forget it. My heart just about stopped. I was going to be the first student to fail the exam on the account of not packing a pen.
Fortunately, I was sitting next to someone who was so well prepared that she had multiple pens. She saw what happened and offered me a pen. In all of my years of school, I had never been so happy to have someone loan me a pen. I was grateful. Very grateful. She also offered some words to the effect of “that was rude of the proctor” which help put me at ease.
Over the next two days, we engaged in small talk. We wished each other well and went on with our post bar lives.
Fast forward a few months, and I’m making one of my first appearances in court. I see the woman who sat next to me at the bar. It turns out she’s practicing at a firm in Manchester. Since then we’ve seen each other a number of times in court.
I have had a few matters where for one reason or another I’ve had a conflict. Twice in areas where she practices and twice I’ve sent cases her way.
Two things here: First, remember to bring multiple pens to the bar exam. Second, the person sitting next to you may be your colleague, partner, adversary, or may one day wind up on the bench judging one of your cases – even under the stress of the situation – be nice to him or her.
I’m grateful Melissa Donahue was nice enough to loan me a pen. Othewise, I may not be practicing law, this blog would not exist, and someone else may be attorney general.