Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers

Edson G. Piczon


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9 LONG YEARS IN THE MAKING: FEW TIPS AND REMINDERS FOR BARRISTERS
(FOR THE AVERAGE, THE FAMILY MAN, THE WORKING AND THOSE WITH
SEEMINGLY COMPLICATED LIFE)

WARNING: This is not a formula that will guarantee your success in taking the bar. This
is merely an alternative method that you may adopt as is, make variations on, or
consider as a mere idea to ponder.


I prepared this TIPS for the following reasons:

1. To give an alternative approach and idea for barristers
2. Compliance to my commitment to help those who wanted to serve the people as
a lawyer
3. Probably inspire those who think they will not be able to make it


There is indeed no fast and easy road to pass the bar. There is also no easy bar exam.
All bar exams are hard.


If you are already preparing for the bar exam, and you did not perform well while you
were in the law school, do not panic. You are not alone.

If you are an average student, who oftentimes pass and oftentimes fail, again do no
panic. You are not alone.

Passing the bar exam, I believe, is a result of the convergence of many factors brain,
heart, money, environment, incidents, preparations, readings, books, choices, family,
prayers, etc. etc.

I hope that the following tips will contribute in making your dream a reality to pass the
bar exam and be a lawyer.


PREMISE (me):

1. Status: Married, with two kids (Lance 7 and Luke 6)
2. Working Student
3. Review center: Albano Review Center (Tacloban City)
4. School: PUP and DVOREF
5. Years in Law School: 9
6. Grades: Thank you for passing me.


Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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TIPS

1. START WITH LIGHT LOAD

Before finally starting your formal review, resolve existing problems and conflicts. These
are loads that will surely disturb you during your review. You may not be able to totally
resolve them, but at least have that feeling that they will no longer adversely affect you.
You may still do this while on your review, contemplate on it while you are resting, or
praying.


2. PREPARE THE BUDGET

Make sure that you already have the needed amount before starting your formal review.
They may not be available yet, but make sure that the funds are forthcoming, unlike a
fortuitous event, they should certainly happen.

In my case, Atty Jerry Gwen Conde, the former GM of LEYECO II, approved my study
leave. Hence, luckily, I was on leave with pay. Aside from this, my Nanay also
contributed considerable amount. Thank you GM.

My budget (Cost): Salary and Benefits + P60,000.


3. DECIDE WHERE TO REVIEW

Factors to consider:
a. Budget
b. Family
c. Environment
d. Place to read

In my case, I decided to just review in Tacloban. Aside from being more expensive, I will
miss my family if I stay in Manila.

I read at the Library from 8am to 5pm, average of 8 hours per day, Monday to Saturday.
At home, after dinner, I read for 1 to 2 more hours.


4. SELECT YOUR REVIEW MATERIALS

If your existing books are not out dated, use them as your main materials. Do not worry
about the updates, these will be taken cared off during your review classes. Just read
again your books and codals for at least 3 times.
Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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Avoid using the Memory Aids. Although they are complete and convenient to use, they
will not give you substantial and deep understanding of the laws. Brilliant tips from Atty.
Fabela and Atty. Mendoza (passers of 2011 Bar Exam). Thank you sirs.

Whats then the use of these memory aids? They are not totally useless. You may use
them as your cross-reference only. Also, read the new doctrines and principles, bar
examiners are fun of asking pampagulat questions. You can find this in the memory
aids. Just mark them and disregard the rest.

Have at least 2 AUTHORS per subject. Significance: each author has different style and
focus. But give special attention to those topics that are discussed exhaustive by both
authors. The probability that a bar question will be ask about it is very high.


MY REVIEW MATERIALS:

Main: Books, Codals and Hand outs provided by the review center.
Secondary: UST Golden Notes

POLITICAL LAW: Political Law Reviewer (Albano); Political and Constitutional Law
(Cruz); Conflict of Laws (Sarmiento?)
LABOR: Labor Law Reviewer (Sorry I forgot); cross-reference to book of Azucena.
CIVIL: Civil Law Review (Jurado); Succession (De Leon);
CRIMINAL: Criminal Law Review (Buado); Cross Reference: Book I & II of Reyes
COMMERCIAL: Commercial Law Review (Maravite) & UST Golden Notes
TAX: Books of Sababan, Mamalateo, De Leon, Virgilio Reyes, Untians tax digest
REMEDIAL: Remedial Law Review (Albano); Civil Procedure and Evidence (Riano);
Criminal Procedure 2012 (Pamaran);
ETHICS: Codal and UST Golden Notes


5. DECIDE WHERE WILL YOU STAY IN MANILA

At least three months before the Bar Exam month, you should be able to decide where
you will stay in Manila. I suggest that you choose a place that is most convenient for
studying, preferably air conditioned. The review center has brochures on this, or you
can ask your friends or relatives to look for a place.

In my case, I stayed in my Aunties house in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. I just ride Taxi
to UST at 5am during the bar exams. There is no traffic to worry of because it is
Sunday.

Some of my friends stayed in Golden Panda Dormtel located at E. Rodriquez Ave.,
Quezon City (www.goldenpandadorm.com).
Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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If you review in Manila, I suggest that you should stay near the review center.


6. MAKE YOUR REVIEW CALENDAR

I prepared one, but was revised many times during my review. I always fail to follow my
schedules.

What is important is you have one. At least you will be guided and you will be able to
assess your phasing.

Atty. Daryl Navarosa suggested that your calendar should jibe with the review classes.
You should be able to read the subjects that will be lectured during the weekends.

In my case, I just made my own phasing. I find it very difficult to finish the topics that will
be discussed during the review. In ABRC, the review classes depend on the availability
of reviewers. They were not arranged according to subjects.

By the way, I also read the book Bar Review Methods and Techniques by Atty. Abuel.

My Calendar:

APRIL: Political/Labor
MAY: Civil/Tax
JUNE: Mercantile/Criminal
JULY: Remedial/ allocated 3 days for Ethics
AUGUST: Remedial/Commercial/Criminal
SEPTEMBER: Civil/Tax/ Labor/ Political

OCTOBER: BAR EXAM

Although I missed many of my schedules, I made it sure that I will be able to read my
main references for at least 3 times. In the second and third readings, I only read the
portions that I highlighted, underlined and marked.


7. ORGANIZED A PRAYER BRIGADE

Divine intervention is a must. Ask others to help you by praying for you to be permitted
to pass the bar. Like a class suit, it would be better if many people are praying for your
success.

Prayer is powerful. Sincere prayers are more powerful.

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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8. ATTEND REVIEW CLASSES

Do attend your review classes. Here are the significant reasons:

a. Lecturers provide the updates
b. They are giving helpful review materials
c. You will be able to gauge how prepared you are

Do not panic if the lectures seem new to you. Make it as a challenge and a gauge how
serious you should be with your schedules.

I was told that if you already know about the things that the reviewer is lecturing, then
you are prepared to pass the bar. I always got worried during the review because many
of the things that they were discussing seem new to me. As I said, I just told my-self that
indeed there are still a lot of things to do and pages to read.

I suggest that the reviewees should organize themselves. Assign one or two reviewees
to prepare an organized transcription of the lecture. Recordings take time to listen. At
least if the lecture will be transcribed in a certain format, it would be faster to re-review
the lecture, and you will be able to highlight important parts of the conducted lectures.

Always bring your Codal and memory aid during your review classes. Mark those
articles that are important to your reviewers. Reviewers usually ask reviewees to mark
certain provisions that are important and probable sources of bar questions.

Write your review notes on the sides of your memory aids, particularly on the same
topics for your re-review and easy cross-reference. Again, take note that memory aids
should be cross-references only, not your main materials.

Do not be misled by the review materials that are being sold by some reviewers. Think if
you have time to read them. If you do not have time, focus on your selected main and
secondary references.

Make sure to have a copy of the hand outs provided by the review center. These
must be part of your main review materials. They usually contain new jurisprudences
and very probable bar questions.


9. STUDYING/ READING STRATEGY

TIME: 8 to 12 hours reading. Have a 5-10 minutes break every after one hour.

In my case:

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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a. 6-8 read
b. 8-9 Breakfast
c. 9-12 read
d. 12-1 lunch/break
e. 1-3 read
f. Break
g. 3-5 read
h. 5-6 exercise
i. 6-7 dinner/rest
j. 7-12 or 1am read/rest/read/sleep

Sleep at least 5-6 hours every day, our body and mind needs rest.

Monday to Friday: Heavy Reading
Saturday: Light Reading
Sunday: Light reading; Church; Longer sleeping time.


MARK THE FAVORITE SOURCES

Before starting reading your books, check first the PARETO NOTES. This book
contains the FAVORITE SOURCES OF BAR QUESTIONS.

Mark the articles/ sections/ rule/ provisions that have been asked for two times or more
already. Write on that provision of law on how many times that had been asked in the
bar.

Then set aside your PARETO NOTES. The purpose of this is to always warn you to
give more effort, more time, more cross-references on those FAVORITE SOURCES OF
BAR QUESTIONS. But of course do not disregard the other provisions, just give more
time, more effort on the favourite one.


MARK THOSE THAT REQUIRES FURTHER UNDERSTANDING

Do not exhaust your time on topics that you find hard to understand. There might be
one or no question about that in the bar. But MARK it so that in your second reading
you will be notified about that topic, that you need other references.


MARK THE PROBABLES

Place 2 or 3 or 4 stars on that portion that you think is a probable source of bar
question. The hint is, if the author has given emphasis and substantial discussion on
that topic, most probably that topic is also important to the bar examiner.
Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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Place a small marker (post-it) on that page. The purpose of this is for your PRE-WEEK
review. It will be very easy to look for the topics that in your first, second and third
readings, appears to be probable sources of bar questions.


AVOID MAKING YOUR OWN REVIEWER

Other barristers believe that recollection is high if you write down notes. This must have
been done during your first year to fourth year, not during your review. It will eat up
much of your time.

But you should not worry if you did not do this before. I did not do it too.


MEMORIZATION VS. FAMILIARIZATION

I only memorized few things, including those that the reviewers require us to memorize.
Familiarization is better. Reading your materials, particularly the marked/highlighted
topics again and again will make you familiarize on their concepts. In that way, you will
be able to attack questions in different angles.

To memorize or not depends on what is convenient to the barrister. But memorize only
those that are very significant parts. Memorization will eat up much of your time.

One of my professors once said if you cannot understand, memorize. I say, if you
cannot memorize, or if you are weak in memorization, understand and familiarize. I think
the latter approach is better.


10. PRE-WEEK

I suggest, one month before the bar exam month you should already be in MANILA.
The purpose of this is for you to have sufficient time to adopt with the environment, and
make changes in your place or accommodation if necessary. Leave in a place that is
most convenient for reading.

I suggest that you study alone.

I suggest that you no longer attend the pre-week and last minute review. Its up to you.
But it is also important that you will have a copy of the materials provided by your review
center during the pre-week review.

Usually the pre-week review is part of the entire review package, so there is no need for
you to pay more.
Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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Focus on the topics that you have marked. Read them again and again, as many times
your time may allow books, codal, hand outs, marked portions of the memory aids.
You no longer have sufficient time. Focus on the MARKED topics, more particularly
ONLY the sentences, lines, paragraphs, sections that are MARKED.

Do not worry about the other topics, you have already read that trice before.

In my case: (Pre-week)

a. Monday Tuesday: Labor
b. Wednesday-Friday: Political
c. Saturday AM: Labor (light reading)
Prepare your things (Cloths, Pens, SC Permit, ID, water, diatabs, pain
reliever)
d. Saturday PM: Political (light reading)
e. Saturday 9 or 10pm: SLEEP, try to sleep; PRAY!
f. Sunday 4am: wake-up; take a bath. MAKE SURE that all necessary things
are inside you bag. Wear you ID. Place your permit inside your ID.
g. Sunday 5am: Pray before leaving. Ride a taxi to UST.
h. Sunday 6-7: fast review of codal and hand outs.
i. Sunday 12nn: Break/ Eat light. Read codal and hand outs. Rest.
j. Sunday 2pm: Start.

WARNING: DO NOT DRINK COFFEE/COKE ON SATURDAYS. You will find it hard to
sleep!

If you failed to bring your food, do not worry. There is a Jollibee near the UST gate.

Reason for not staying in the Hotel provided by the School: inconvenience of
staying with persons you do not know. This will not help you sleep early.


11. ATTACKING MCQ AND ESSAY

MCQ

If you know the answer, good. If not, apply the process of elimination. Eliminate the
choices that are very unlikely, and select the best.

Do not waste time on questions that are difficult for you. Decide immediately. Otherwise,
you will have lesser time in your essay which constitutes more percentage.

Always budget your time. In my case, I always finish my MCQ ahead of time so I will
have more time in essay. For instance, in Political Law, I finished my MCQ in 1 hr & 30
Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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minutes, so I had 2 hrs and 30 minutes for my essay. Of course this will be different now
because the MCQ is only 20%. In 2012 bar exam, the MCQ was 60%.

DO NOT LEAVE AN ITEM. Just choose; you may no longer have time to go back to the
MCQ.


ESSAY

Again, budget your time. Make sure that you will be able to answer all questions. Never
leave any question unanswered. You will be painting a very negative impression to the
examiner.

One of my reviewers said: In answering, in your presentation convince the examiner
that you have the calibre of a lawyer. Convince the examiner that your answer is
applicable to the case, if not the correct answer.

Example:

The contention of A is not correct. Well-settled is the rule in criminal law that.(legal
basis)

It is my considered view that in the case at bar, . (application of the law/ argument))

Therefore, it is respectfully submitted that A is not correct.


Use the legal phrases like: well-settled is the rule, well-entrenched is the rule, it is a
hornbook doctrine in, the High Court has held in one case that, no less than the
Supreme Court said that, It is a fundamental rule in, etc.

USE THIS STYLE IN YOUR FIRST FIVE AND LAST FIVE ANSWERS. In the other
answers, you may answer directly. Example: A is not correct on the ground that
(Two or three sentences may be sufficient).

------------

Write LEGIBLY, NEAT AND CLEAN. If you wish to change your answer, just put a line
across the word, phrase or sentence that you wish to change (kdvbisbvhsbdv). DO NOT
DETACH A PAGE, DO NOT FOLD A PAGE.

Make the FIRST FIVE AND LAST FIVE essays your best essay answers. Exhaust your
English, grammar, doctrines, etc. in these first five and last five.

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers
Edson G. Piczon


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IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR MIND,
rephrase the question and make it as your answer. Just add some few points.


12. DURING THE EXAM

Upon entering UST gate, you will present your ID to the security guards. Your cellphone
will be deposited.

You may bring your bags inside the examination rooms. You may read inside the exam
rooms. But 15 minutes before the exam starts, the examinees will be required to place
all bags and things in front of the room. The examinees will not be allowed to go to the
CR during this 15-Minute. But you will be allowed to go to the CR when the exam
begins. So take few fluids so you will not be wasting time going to the CR.

Follow the instructions of the watchers. Some of them are very strict.

You will be required to fill-up some forms before the exam actually starts.

Upon receipt of the questionnaires, scan on the questions for you to budget your time.

Do not be terrified of the LAST MINUTE TIPS from various law schools and fraternities
that you will be seeing in the examination site. You are done with the bulk of the needed
preparations.


13. AFTER THE BAR EXAM

After the bar exam, do not engage in any discussion or arguments about the answers.
This will not help you prepare for the next Sunday.

Go to church, go home, eat and relax. Forget all about that bar exam, and focus on the
next Sundays bar subjects.

On the following day, start reading again. As I said, focus on your selected books, codal
and hand outs. Follow your pre-week schedule.


GOOD LUCK ATTORNEY.

(Suggestion to the Bar Operations Committee: Instead of making your own REVIEWER,
just utilize your networks and provide our barristers with the hand outs from other
famous law schools. Many of the barristers have no time for the reviewers prepared by
the committee. Also, that will be a different outline, different presentation, which will not
be helpful in retaining what they have familiarized in the last 6 months.)