Passing the Bar for Significant Others 101

The spouse came home today and gave me a piece of paper entitled "The Pass the Bar Handout for Significant Others" which he received in one of his bar review lectures. My first reaction was to crumple it up and throw it in the trash. After all, I don't need a textbook to tell me how to be a good significant other to a bar taker, I should have a degree or two by now. Out of curiosity I eventually dug it out of the trash. The following masterfully compiled and enlightening handout is now posted on our fridge:

"If you know someone who will soon be taking the bar exam, this document is for you. This document has been created by two experts on passing the bar exam to help you understand why bar exams are hard, what is involved in passing the bar exam, and what you can do to help. Significant others can either be a source of help for passing the bar or can create a risk that someone won't pass the bar. We created this handout to help you be in the former category and help the bar taker in your life avoid people in the second category.

"Why bar exams are hard:

They test some subjects students didn't learn in law school
They test many of the subjects students learned during law school, but unlike law school exams, bar exams test all the subjects at the same time
They require students to memorize thousands of pieces of information
They are necessary for getting a license to practice law and are therefore extremely difficult--facts that put enormous pressure on bar takers

What's involved in passing the bar exam?

Studying at least 600 hours
Attending hundreds of lectures
Writing hundreds of practice essay answers
Completing at least 2,000 practice multiple choice questions
Memorizing thousands of pieces of information
Using analytical skills that are difficult to master
Managing time to complete all these tasks while making sure to get sufficient sleep, exercise and nutrition
Managing stress so that it doesn't interfere with exam preparation or performance

What you can do to help a bar taker pass the bar exam:

Understand the bar review process
Avoid making demands on the bar taker during the preparation and exam process.
Avoid major conflicts and confrontations with the bar taker
Be patient and sympathetic if the bar taker seems tense or anxious
Be a source of support if the bar taker needs your support
Help the bar taker practice recalling the law he or she needs to know by testing the bar taker's memorization
Run interference with people who might make demands on the bar taker's time and attention
Take on day to day tasks for the bar taker, such as doing laundry, cooking, an cleaning"

Some of the items on the list, particularly the ones involving being sympathetic, avoiding major conflicts and confrontations and taking on chores for the bar taker were even highlighted for my convenience. This explains everything! Now I know why my husband is stressed, cranky and high on energy drinks at 10 am in the morning. Now that I know that the bar exam is actually hard, I can take on new hobbies to keep myself occupied on Friday nights while he's plowing through practice tests. I never realized that he was actually at the library studying from 7 am to 12 am everyday. When it comes to law school and the bar, I guess I've always followed the philosophy of Elle from Legally Blonde: "What, like it's hard?"

So if you or anyone you know is in a relationship with a bar taker, PLEASE pass on this vital information. Education is the first step towards eradicating prejudice. Bar takers are among some of the most needy, neurotic, insecure and misunderstood species on the planet and just want to get the bar over with so that they can become needy, neurotic, insecure and misunderstood lawyers. Bar takers everywhere are in desperate need of your love and support through this trying time in their lives and by becoming their mother for the next month before the exam, you can help alleviate some of their pain. This document could very well be the difference between your bar taker passing and failing the exam. Govern your actions accordingly.

Despite the "duh" factor, thanks for the hints babe! I will just disappear for the next month because trust me, I want you to pass probably more than you do!