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Studying for the Bar April 18, 2008

Posted by atharkhan in : CA Bar Prep, Law School, Personal , 3comments

It has been about two weeks since I stopped working and have been focusing solely on the bar exam. After a few painfully unproductive days, I am happy to report that my concentration/focus and stamina — although not at the level that they need to be — are improving. I am now able to sit at a desk a little longer each day without getting distracted.

Finding a good place to study was a challenge. I wanted to avoid studying at school where it is too easy to get into conversations with friends and lose track of time. So, I tried studying at a public library and a nearby college library (Irvine Valley College). I was really hoping that Irvine Valley would work out because it is so close to my home and they have a cafeteria too! However, their library is just too loud for me to be able to concentrate. Studying at the public library didn’t work out for the same reason.

So I have settled for studying at school. This might sound strange but it feels good to know where I will be studying every day. Now, all I have to do is work it into my routine.

Life After Work April 4, 2008

Posted by atharkhan in : CA Bar Prep, Law School, Personal , add a comment

It’s been a couple of days since I stopped working and I have been doing my best to stay busy and catch up on some of the things that often lose out to higher priorities such as work and school. Relatively non-urgent things like getting a haircut, making an appointment with the doctor (and keeping it!), and having lunch with a friend. 

You were expecting something more glamorous weren’t you? 

Well, I did get an opportunity today to participate on a panel of law students who answered questions for a group of about fifty minority students from Compton. It was a lot of fun and felt really fulfilling. I was so surprised at the level of questions that these young seventh graders were asking. One wanted to know how he could become a judge. Another one asked if a particular lawyer or book inspired us to go to law school. Yet another one asked what kind of law we wanted to practice and why.

Wow! At their age, I am not sure I ever thought of anything past the following week — let alone post-graduate school. It felt really nice to be part of the group that participated in the event and I guess I can now see why so many students from my school forego private placement to go into public service. You just can’t buy the feeling that I had today. But then again, you can’t pay bills with the warm fuzzy feelings either. So, I guess one could argue either side. 

Anyway, back to the point. I haven’t really started hitting the books as hard as I need to. Tomorrow, I am going to file a complaint in small claims court, get my graduation pictures taken, and try to make some meaningful progress on my Moral Character Application. So, I think that the official “MBE Kickoff” will take have to wait until this Saturday morning.

Picking a Hotel for the Bar Exam February 8, 2008

Posted by atharkhan in : CA Bar Prep, Law School, Personal , 1 comment so far

The bar is 5 Months and 21 days away but people are already beginning to reserve their hotel rooms. After some research on google maps (click here), some advice from a friend, and this website, I decided on the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. The room was about $130/night for Bar Exam Takers.

This was the video that helped decide between the Doubletree and Sheraton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqfL2sGYY5A

For more videos, click here.