Scheduling Archives | Make This Your Last Time

September 14, 2026September 27, 2026 - No Comments

Work AND Bar Prep at the Same Time? Just Remember This One Thing…

Studying for the bar exam is no easy feat regardless of your situation. It takes a lot of time, energy, and focus to make it happen. But when you’re juggling a full-time job on top of all that studying, it can feel even more overwhelming.

Preparing for the bar exam is costly not just in time but also financially (and mentally, and emotionally, and…). If no one else is supporting you or your family, then you’re probably working and cramming your studies, if you even have the energy left.

But other bar takers have done it. And they were able to blow the exam out of the water.

How did they balance work and studying for the bar exam? It’s not impossible to do both at the same time, but it does require some creativity and discipline.

The first thing to keep in mind is that constraints force you to get creative and focus on what moves the needle. You’re not going to have time or attention to waste on stuff like sitting still like a statue while the lecturer rambles for 4 hours. So you gotta make efficient use of your time.

This can be a blessing in disguise because you won’t be wasting time. Let me share some tactics for studying efficiently while working full time, with examples.

May 23, 2026May 23, 2026 - 30 Comments

You Need a Personalized Study Plan: How to Make Your Own Bar Prep Study Schedule

Haters will say it’s impossible:

I’m not saying the haters are right.

I’m just saying…maybe…it’s not about mindlessly stacking assignments and being too busy completing them to absorb what you’re doing.

Maybe…you don’t actually have to do everything they tell you. Why are you acting like you read every case and footnote back in Con Law class?

(I did, but that’s beside the point because I got a B-. Knowing the “information” but not knowing how to take the exam will do that.)

The only thing I remember from law school is my negotiations professor saying this in class randomly (and giving me an A because, what can I say, I like practical things I use IRL):

“Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.”

Is bar preparation worth doing? Then it’s worth doing right. Doing it intentionally. Being an overachiever without being a tryhard.

After all, you’re the dean of your own studies. And we know that enjoying the process creates sustainable momentum (not just fixating on the goal of passing the bar).

Just as what’s enjoyable is personal, bar prep is also personal. Your study plan and schedule—and even the materials you use to support your prep—are personal.

There are many reasons your schedule will look different from everyone else’s:

You might be working while studying for the bar exam and have 3 hours scattered throughout a workday.
Maybe you live in your parents’ basement and have every day free. Your mom shakes her head as she sees you shitposting on Reddit instead of studying.
Or maybe you only have certain hours of your day free while the kids are at school.

Meanwhile, your bar review course hands you a cookie-cutter schedule that packs in an overwhelming number of tasks that turn into “self-study” sessions where you have no direction on what to do.

Does it make sense that you get the exact same study schedule for every scenario above? Not to me.

Is there a smarter, more effective plan that would serve your needs more and improve your odds of passing?

Yes, one that’s customized to you. It should work for you and serve your needs, not the other way around.

While I encourage a bespoke study plan, I suggest adhering to a few ideas when starting to plan your bar prep. Here are some immediately actionable guidelines for your study schedule.

March 11, 2026June 10, 2026 - 5 Comments

Early Bar Prep: Should You Study Early for the Bar Exam? (When and How)

Some bar takers wonder if they should study early for the bar exam (ahead of the traditional 10-week schedule), whether they want to…

Start months ahead of the next bar exam
Get a head start on studying before their bar review course officially starts
Defer the exam (from July to February, February to July, or even a year or more)
Study “just in case” while waiting for bar results
Juggle their full-time job at the same time (and won’t be able to take much time off)
Get ahead because it’s been a minute (or years) since they’ve graduated from law school or taken the bar exam

While there are benefits to studying early and giving yourself a lot of time, there are many traps to doing so. There are also benefits to simply waiting (if your neurotic anxiety can handle it) until study season is in full swing before deciding whether or not to study for the bar exam.

But bar prep is personal. You’re the dean of your own studies.

To help you decide when to start studying, let’s discuss all of this—who early bar prep is right for and the best way to study early and effectively—so that you’re making the most of your time and energy.

June 15, 2025June 21, 2026 - No Comments

How to Create a Personalized Bar Exam Study Plan

Preparing for the bar exam can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve taken it before and know firsthand that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t always work.

The truth is, your journey to passing is unique to you. Your schedule, your strengths, your challenges, and the way you learn best all matter when it comes to building a study plan that actually sticks. A personalized bar exam study plan recognizes these differences and gives you a roadmap designed around your life, not someone else’s.

Creating a custom bar prep schedule respects your individual needs while keeping you on track for success. A personalized bar exam study plan is the opposite of a generic template that assumes everyone’s in the same situation. Here’s the plan:

Start with self-assessment by identifying your strengths and weaknesses from past or current performance
Set subject-specific, realistic goals instead of one vague target
Build a schedule matched to scoring weight, not equal time for every subject
Track and adjust weekly rather than trusting a plan blindly
Protect rest and mental health as part of the plan, not an afterthought

Whether you’re studying while working full-time, retaking the exam, or simply looking for a better approach, you’ll find practical steps to design a plan that works for you and builds the confidence you need to pass.

May 6, 2023September 27, 2026 - 3 Comments

The 3 Things You Need When Starting Bar Prep (Live Stream Replay)

“What should I know when I’m starting bar prep?”

I did a live stream with Jennifer Duclair to talk about how to take the guesswork out of bar preparation and get a better sense of direction as you start studying for your next bar exam.

It was fun! Japes and nuggets of insights were dropped, and I’m pleased with how this turned out. (Maybe I’ll do another one next year…)

Here’s me throwing Kaplan under the bus:

What to do with your schedule when starting bar prep

Here’s the recording (go to 8:12 where I talk about the study schedule shown above), along with timestamps so you can jump to the parts you’re most interested in: