Alex Sprang’s Post

It's common to not pass the bar exam on your first try, so don't give up! If you're prepping for your retake, keep in mind these two tips from attorney Valencia Herrera.

🚨 NEW POST! - Books and Resources for the Bar Course 📚 If you're on the Bar Course, whether just starting or deep in the trenches, you know how challenging it can be to keep up with multiple modules, case law, and practical skills. having the right resources can make all the difference. In the latest post on BATB, Blessing Mukosha Park shares some of the essential books and tools that helped her navigate the Bar Course with confidence. From drafting tips to litigation notes, these resources will give you the edge you need to succeed. Read the post: https://buff.ly/3U72TB4 #BarCourse #FutureBarristers #LegalSkills #BATB

Good luck to those taking the NY and other bar exams this week! A quick couple of thoughts: 1. The bar exam is an exam of consistency and controlling nerves. It is not a reflection on how smart you are or how you did in law school. I have seen people pass who did not get honors in law school and people who got honors not pass. As they say.... keep calm and carry on (even if you don't know an answer). I say this as one who has bad test anxiety and knows that this can be easier said than done. 2. Don't ever discuss the questions (real or imagined) with anyone before, during, or after the test. It will only freak you out, and you can't be sure that the person you are talking to got the right answer! 3. Please don't go into this thinking that your entire future is riding on this. You don't need that type of pressure. I knew people who didn't pass it the first time who did the second time (including those who got honors) and they are doing very, very well! Good luck!

I've been a proud member of the prestigious trial bar in the Northern District of Illinois since 2007. Did you know we have two bars here? A trial bar for seasoned trial experts like me and a general bar for others. Job security, right? 😄 While I appreciate the convenience of practicing in my home district, I often opt to move cases out of the N.D. Il. when I can due to its slow pace -- especially when a faster pace is strategically advantageous for my client. Our district's "Presentment" procedure, unique to Illinois, contributes to varying motion timelines, causing delays that can be frustrating for both me and my clients. There are other reasons, too. Having clerked for the Eastern District of Virginia, known for swift case resolutions, I appreciate efficiency in legal proceedings. The E.D. Va.'s "Rocket Docket" reputation is well-deserved, especially when you compare its with the slower pace of the N.D. Il. Curious about the E.D. Va.'s speedy processes? Check out this insightful Law360 article to understand the exceptional work its judges and law clerks do to achieve such fast and efficient results. I suspect you'll appreciate them and the court much more if you do. 🔗https://lnkd.in/etMNQB2c #lawyers #litigation #performance

Only an idiot demands perfection as the sole definition of success. In fact, that a major candidate for President of the United States failed one of the biggest tests of her life should inspire everyone striving to become better by proving that only by quitting does one truly fail. Did Kamala Harris fail the bar. Yes. Do more people fail the California Bar Exam than pass every year. Also, yes. She understood this and committed herself to passing the following year. She did. Everyone else striving to be better can improve through dedication, too. Is your #LSAT score not where you want it to be? Sign up for another attempt in a couple of months after you get another few prep tests under your belt. You'll be impressed by your improvement. Does your #SAT or #ACT preparation seem stuck? Take the test you're registered for anyway. Get in a solid rep. You'll learn from it and do better next time. Has the #GRE or #GMAT left you wondering whether you're qualified for #bschool or #gradschool? Review the extremely detailed score reports that ETS and Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) provide these days to identify where to focus your study for the next time you take the exam. Not once has an #admissions officer looked at the application of someone who attempted a standardized test multiple times before succeeding and exclaimed, "why were they so dedicated to improving!?" Take your time, recognize that improvement is more telling than success based only on natural ability, and allow yourself the grace to build your story rather than demanding perfection on the first try. Even better, encourage the person next to you by telling them they got it next time rather than ridiculing mistakes. #supporteachother #rememberthisissupposedtobehard

Today on TrialTuesdays I write about how we ended up sequestering juries and the lengths to which jurors will go to escape. https://lnkd.in/eNhEKdwi

🌱 "Is the bar exam starting to feel like a trap you can’t escape?" I was talking to someone the other day who felt like the bar exam had trapped her life. She’s taken it six times and poured everything into studying, yet her anxiety has only grown stronger. She told me she can’t even go to gatherings with law school friends because everyone else has passed, leaving her feeling left behind. For many repeat bar takers, it’s not a lack of knowledge that’s the issue. It’s the mental weight of past attempts, the lingering self-doubt, and the isolation that come from this journey. If you’re feeling trapped, it’s time to release yourself from this cycle and take a fresh approach. Imagine transforming your bar prep from a struggle to a path toward confidence and freedom. 🚀 Book a free 15-minute consultation with me (link in comments) to explore how we can break through these barriers together.

📚 To all the future lawyers taking the Ontario barrister exam tomorrow – you’ve got this! 🎉 Remember: 1️⃣ Read every fact pattern with attention to detail. 👀 2️⃣ Don’t skip questions – every answer counts! ✍️ 3️⃣ Believe in yourself – you’ve put in the hard work, and you’re ready! 💪 Best of luck to each of you. Keep calm, stay focused, and know that you can do this. #OntarioBarExam #BarristerExam #GoodLuck #FutureLawyers #ExamDayTips #BelieveInYourself

Don't leave your trial to chance. Our team knows the importance of meticulous preparation, from motions in limine to jury selection. With us, you'll enter the courtroom with confidence, knowing you're fully equipped for battle. Contact us today and let's start strategizing for your win! #LANCASinvestigations #PrivateInvestigators #Legalinvestigator #CivilLaw #FLAttorneys #TrialPrep #LegalStrategy #WinInCourt

Jurors want to make the decisions on their own.     They want to be invested in the process.     Our job is to lead them down the right path; but to let them resolve the story of the case before you try to convince them of it.     Cases are like complex puzzles.     We need to narrowly tailor our cases and lead the jury toward the right decision.     We need to have courage to drop out the unimportant facts.     We need to beware of “red herrings”, or distractions from our story.     The trial lawyer is the juror’s guide.     We need to lead jurors in the right direction and not leave the jurors to get lost in the maze.