BAR

It's that time of the year again...

When I was a law student, I dread the month of September because it's usually the time when I'll know whether I have the potential to pass or fail a certain law subject. And when I became a barrister, September is a hell month because of the elusive Bar Exams. Last time I would not even dare to write about my experience in La Salle or my preparations for the bar. I would not even talk about it. It's always about the waiting period.

This time around, I will become a spectator again to the most crucial time of an aspiring lawyer. And I'm actually excited to go to La Salle to see my friends and former classmates, if they're still around. Of course they already have their legal careers while mine is just starting. Or about to start.

Anyway, I just want to relive the experience once more.

I have a relative and some former classmates and acquaintances who will be taking the bar exams in a week's time. If I could describe the four Sundays of September in one word, that would be intense. Four years of law school training (or more) and six months of review will be culminated in a matter of seven hours for each Sunday, a total of 28 hours. And intense comes hand in hand with pressure.

I haven't had the slightest idea how I survived last year's bar exam. It was difficult for me physically, emotionally, and maybe, psychologically. Of course any barrister would claim that their bar was difficult from the other years. One thing I would say though. It gets harder and harder every year. And more unpredictable. Not to discourage this year's and future barristers, I'm just relating from experience.

I do hope that no one I know will suffer the same trauma that I carried for the past few years. It's difficult to recover and repeat the process. However, if the worst case scenario happens, I'll just be there for them.

For now, I am crossing my fingers for my friends and colleagues who will be battling it out in La Salle. Godspeed!