Developing a study plan before you start studying for the Barrister and Solicitor Bar Exams is critical to your success. When making your personalized study plan, you should consider the following factors:

 

    1. Customize your study plan based on your personal situation. When developing your study plan, you should account for: your familiarity with the content, your reading speed, your attention span, and whether you have any competing time commitments.
    2. Develop a routine. Develop a routine that involves studying at the same time each day and at a location that you are comfortable in.
    3. Take breaks; pace yourself. To maintain focus and avoid burnout, take defined breaks while studying. Also, endeavour to take one day of rest per week and schedule time for social and physical activities.
    4. Read the materials once. You should endeavour to read the materials in their entirety one time. Gauge how long it takes for you to reach your daily page count and adjust your plan accordingly.
    5. Stick to your plan but be adaptable. Follow your study plan but understand that you may need to adjust it as you progress. For example, you may not reach your daily page count when you first start studying the materials. Or, you may lack focus on a particular day due to lack of sleep.
    6. Tailor your plan around the structure of the Barrister and Solicitor Bar Exam materials. Review how the Bar Exam materials are structured before you prepare your study plan. In particular, note that the Professional Responsibility, Rules of Professional Conduct, and By-laws sections are duplicated in both the Barrister and Solicitor Bar Exam materials. For students writing both the Barrister and Solicitor Bar Exams in one session, note that the Solicitor Bar Exam materials are longer than the Barrister Exam materials. As a result, you will need to read some Solicitor Exam materials before the Barrister Exam.
    7. Frontload your study plan with sections that you are familiar with. Structure your study plan based on your familiarity with the content. This approach will ease you into the process and boost your confidence. Further, it will ensure that you read less familiar content closer to the examination date—leaving it fresher in your mind. For example, if you have familiarity with Family Law, then start reading the Family Law section first. If you have no prior knowledge of Real Estate, then read Real Estate closer to the examination date.
    8. Schedule time for practice examinations. Schedule time to complete practice questions. You can complete section-specific questions after reading each section and/or complete cumulative examinations after you read all sections. You should also perform practice examinations under timed conditions. Check out Bar Exam Crackers’ Ontario Bar Exam practice questions here
    9. Hire a tutor. Consider whether you would benefit from the assistance of an experienced. If you are interesting in finding more about tutoring packages provided by Bar Exam Crackers, please click here.
    10. Consider whether you require accommodation from the Law Society of Ontario. Review the Law Society of Ontario’s Policy and Procedures for Accommodations for Candidates in the Lawyer and Paralegal Licensing Processes and consider whether you require accommodation based on an enumerated ground listed in the Human Rights Code. Pay special attention to the application deadlines and requirements.