For future Bar takers and would-be law students, these new lawyers have words of wisdom to share.
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Last December 13, the Philippines welcomed thousands, 3,962 to be exact, of new lawyers after the Supreme Court released the results of the 2024 Philippine Bar Examination, which had a 37.84% passing rate. It’s no exaggeration to say that the bar exam is like your college finals in very hard mode in the lead-up to and during the test. Pop culture has its fair share of narratives depicting law school and taking the bar as a gauntlet. But it also needs to be said that among those who passed are stories of examinees from different backgrounds who persevered despite their circumstances.
Passing the bar is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime moment, something that 2024 Bar passers Kim Campanilla, Wryan Cadigoy, and Mark Barraquias (who finished in the Top 20 at the 18th spot) know well. The feat was a culmination of years of hard work, which is no wonder the trio of new lawyers have been nothing but euphoric since the results came out. “I was in tears because all the hard work I put in during my four years of law school finally paid off,” shares Mark in an interview with NYLON Manila in a feeling echoed by the other two soon-to-be lawyers.
Truly, what many law students and examinees go through is no joke as they hunker down with their piles of books and reviewers. Yet, in the middle of the madness was a shared sentiment that, no matter how rigorous it can get out there, you still shouldn’t lose yourself in all of it. As Kim puts it, “Commit to putting in the hours and staying disciplined, but also learn to listen to your body. If you feel like you’ve hit a mental wall, it might be time for a break—whether that means napping, eating, or taking a walk outside for fresh air.”
At the end of the day, as these new lawyers prepare for their next chapter, they look back on the good and the bad of their law school days as steps towards necessary character development. “Law school will humble you over and over again, and you will fail,” Wryan bluntly states. “It doesn’t get any easier, but you become better. Have faith in yourself and push forward.”
Read our interview with Kim, Wryan, and Mark below as they open up about their Bar exam experiences, study tips, law school reflections, and more. Whether you’re a student trudging through law school or someone preparing to take the Bar exam in the future, these new lawyers have something to share.
Take us back to when you were taking the bar. How did it feel and what was going through your mind at the time?
KIM: Before the bar, I was extremely irritable. I think it was because of the intense stress, and I was losing patience with everyone for no real reason. In law school, we were trained to pick ourselves up quickly and recover fast in order to perform well. Although I was incredibly nervous and could never quite feel fully prepared, I knew I had to shake off those doubts and bring my A-game during the bar.
My family surprised me with cardboard cutouts of my face and custom shirts to give me a boost of energy on the first day of the exam. Their support meant the world to me. It also helped that many of my batchmates were taking the exam at the same testing site, which brought a sense of comfort.
WYRAN: Each exam day I had no more than two hours of sleep since I was desperately trying to finish the review material the night before. As a result, answering the exam felt like fighting two battles: one against the questions, the other against my body. There were many instances where I felt like passing out, so I was tempted to just finish quickly so I could rest. But I knew if I did that I would likely fail the Bar exams. So every time I would feel my body failing, I stopped answering, took a deep breath, and ate a few M&M’s to compose myself and “reset.” I also reminded myself that a lot of people were praying for my success and that they deserved no less than my best effort.
MARK: I kept my cool on the first and second day of the exams but I was very nervous and anxious on the third exams because I knew that they were my weakest subjects. It felt like there was a raging battle inside my mind but fortunately I was able to power through.
KIM CAMPANILLA
What was your reaction when you learned that you passed the bar exam?
KIM: I was ecstatic—jumping and screaming for joy. It was a moment of pure happiness that I shared with my family, who had really felt my absence throughout law school and especially during bar prep. I felt an immense sense of relief because, in the days leading up to the result release, I had serious doubts about myself. Passing was like a weight being lifted off my shoulders.
WRYAN: The second I saw my name on the list of passers, I broke down in tears. I guess it was a mixed feeling of relief and joy—I was able to make my family, friends, and alma mater proud, and I was going to fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer. I called up my parents and my girlfriend, though I was still sobbing and could barely put together any words. I only managed to shout “we did it” over and over.
MARK: I was in tears because all the hard work I put in during my four years of law school finally paid off. It felt good to end strong and to know that all the sacrifices were worth it.
How did you personally prepare for the bar exam?
KIM: I adopted the methods that worked best for me in law school. I started by taking notes from the bar review lectures and creating my own reviewers. I focused first on subjects I hadn’t covered in law school or had forgotten.
I set weekly goals to make sure I completed my first “read” of the entire syllabus, whether by sitting through lectures or reading my reviewers. About two weeks before the exam, I began reviewing past bar exam questions and created a document that I would use on the actual exam day.
WRYAN: I’m the type of person who has trouble studying at home since I just fall asleep. So on my review days, I’d leave the house to study somewhere else, often at my school’s library. I had one primary review material for each Bar subject and I would finish each one before moving on to the next subject. I think a lot of people made their own notes to prepare for the exam, but after all my years in law school I knew I wasn’t the type to do that. I always preferred to read the material carefully, highlight important concepts, and make brief annotations on the pages. Aside from studying, I also took a bit of time to visit different churches and pray. I feel that this helped ease my anxiety for the daunting task ahead.
MARK: Clockwork and Conditioning. My routine was set such that my body performed the same habits and rituals every single day until bar review almost like cogs in a clock. This routine put me in the proper condition to take the bar exams and I made sure that my peak times are also be at the same time as the exam times.
WRYAN CADIGOY
What’s a best practice you think others should do when it comes to reviewing for the bar?
KIM: Do what works best for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, I do recommend adjusting your body clock to be a morning person. Start your day early to simulate the bar exam environment. Commit to putting in the hours and staying disciplined, but also learn to listen to your body. If you feel like you’ve hit a mental wall, it might be time for a break—whether that means napping, eating, or taking a walk outside for fresh air.
For me, it helped not to isolate myself entirely. I made time to go out occasionally to prevent burnout and keep my sanity. At the end of the day, I’d reward myself with a show or some light scrolling on TikTok. Additionally, I used the Forest app to stay focused and avoid distractions during study sessions.
WRYAN: The best strategy to prepare for the Bar is to use your own strategy. It might be tempting to employ the study methods of your peers, but if these differ from what you’re used to, it might be detrimental. It’s important to really know yourself and what makes you comfortable. After all, you finished law school by studying a certain way. Presumably, this is the best style for you so there’s no reason to change it for the Bar. Trust that the strategies and tricks that got you this far will see you through one more time.
MARK: Answer past bar exams/mock bars as if it were the bar exams. It helps me gauge my skills and whether or not I pass. Do it at least once for every subject so you would get the form right. It works wonders for everyone because by then, you would already have a template answer on how to answer bar questions
Looking back to when you first entered law school, did you expect your journey to becoming a lawyer to be the way it was?
KIM: Growing up in a family of lawyers, many of whom are in the academe, I was always aware of the challenges and the hard work involved in becoming a lawyer. I had heard the horror stories, and I knew the path wouldn’t be easy. However, I never fully understood what that meant until I experienced it myself. The journey was hard, and a lot of it felt out of my control, as it often depended on fate. You never know what’s going to happen, and that uncertainty adds to the challenge.
WRYAN: When I first entered law school, it was in the middle of the pandemic, so we were all attending classes virtually from home. Despite the circumstances, I expected there would still be an ungodly amount of reading, and of course I was right. The hours of studying were long and the next thing I knew, it was already way past midnight and I had to stop and rest. But what I didn’t expect was meeting people along the way that I could consider lifelong friends.
Since we were all at home, it was difficult to interact with peers. And yet my block found ways for us to get to know each other better and bond. Academically, we always helped each other out and collaborated on making study materials. Outside of class, we held virtual meetings and parties which helped ease the stress of law school. Now, everyone from my block who took the Bar Exams this year passed it. I really didn’t expect to become this close to my classmates, but I am so thankful that I did. Shoutout to UP Law Block E2024; we made it!
MARK: No, it was better than I expected. I expected to barely pass law school since I knew that I did not come from a traditional pre-law undergrad, I was BS IT. I never knew that I would be thriving in law school. Moreover, I was an introvert so I didn’t think I would make a lot of friends but the people I met and their company made it worthwhile.
MARK BARRAQUIAS
What tips would you give to future bar takers?
KIM: Take advantage of your review classes. They’re an invaluable resource and will guide you through the process. Pray. Even if you’ve never prayed before or haven’t done so in a long time, now is the time to reconnect. The bar exam can make you believe in miracles again. Create a strict daily schedule and routine, but also listen to your body. Balance discipline with self-care to avoid burnout.
WRYAN: I think the most important tip I can give to future bar takers would be to avoid “hoarding” study materials for each subject. What I mean is reading multiple books or reviewers for a single subject. If you do this, not only will you run out of time, but you might also encounter conflicting views that will only confuse you. At most, only have 2 materials for each subject—one primary and one supplementary material. This way, you can realistically finish the coverage for the exam and still have some time left to review the difficult concepts.
Another important tip is to have a life outside of review. I understand how tempting it is to go all-out with your review 24/7, but that’s just not possible. You’ll burn yourself out early and won’t be in any condition to take the Bar. It’s okay to spend most of the day studying, but I suggest setting a cut-off time where once it hits, you stop studying for the day and relax. My cut-off time was 8PM, and I spent the rest of my evening doing things that I wanted to do, like call/visit my girlfriend, watch anime, or play video games. Don’t forget to rest so you can go again the following day!
MARK: This is the time where you can become the most selfish and it’s okay because everyone is rooting for you to become a lawyer and the best way to give back is to pass the bar. So be selfish and protect your time as much as you can, knowing that you are ultimately devoting your success to your loved ones.
For students still in law school or thinking about entering law school, what advice would you give as someone who’s been through it?
KIM: Our professor, Atty. CJ Tan, once told us, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” That’s all I’ll say—focus on giving your best effort in everything you do, and the results will follow.
WRYAN: Law school is by far the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. The demands are great and you’ll have to give up so much time just to barely meet them. It’s certainly not for everyone and I’ve considered quitting a few times. But if you’re set on seeing this journey through, believe in yourself. It’s alright to have doubts once in a while, but never forget that you are capable. Law school will humble you over and over again, and you will fail. It doesn’t get any easier, but you become better. Have faith in yourself and push forward. Finally, also find ways to help those around you, because there will come a time when they can also help you.
MARK: For those still in law school, just enjoy the struggle because it is one of the most memorable periods of your life. Appreciate your professors. The most strictest professors are your source of bar exam answers because you will remember them during your exam.
For those entering law school, treat it as a job. Law is a really good profession if you want to make decent money and at the same time, help others and it would really help set your mindset straight if you think of it like a job. Be prepared to put in the hours.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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