Today is the day. All around the country those who have graduated law school are filing into buildings with their belongings in plastic bags, laptops and cords in arm. They have spent the last 3 years and especially the past two months studying for the one test which gives them legal permission to be called a lawyer.
They all have different stories, but together they have come together for 12 hours of grueling testing to determine if they should be given a pass. They don’t need to pass with a score, they need to be in the top 60% of those taking the bar.
There will be young men and women all around the country taking the test on the same two days. The test is only offered twice a year, and there is no shame in not passing the first time. JFK and Michelle Obama are two examples of people who did not pass on their first try.
Sarah has studied hard, and I am proud of her dedication. She, unlike many of those she tests with today, has a job already lined up with the city of Chicago, so she really would like this to be her last attempt.
We did a test run yesterday, driving down discussing lunch and how we would meet up since there are no cell phones allowed in the testing center. Imagine a whole room full of 20somethings with no cell phones!
Today will be all of the essays, chosen from over 26 different subjects. Tomorrow will be the questions with multiple choice answers, but certainly not easy ones.
I think it would be more practical to put these future lawyers in a room with all of the materials they need and have them defend someone. Like in the movie My Cousin Vinny, he was able to prove the case, which is what makes a good lawyer, not memorizing facts and data. I do not think any practicing lawyer uses their memory to do their work. They use common sense and the ability to find answers when needed. This antiquated way of determining who shall pass should be given a facelift and a more practical way of determining future lawyer’s ability should be found.
However people like long standing traditions and balk at those who think outside of the box. I don’t mind being different and hope those standing in line today, will not all conform, but some will be those who make things better, whether they pass this test or not.