Lurker, like you, I was also a working student during my law school years.

When I graduated, I
can only afford to take a leave of absence from work during the Bar month of October because of
financial constraints (I had to pay for rent, electricity, water, credit cards, etc.). Even during the
bar month, I still had to report for work every Monday because I had insufficient leave credits. I
guess the lack of time made me even push myself harder. There has never been a more tedious
mental activity that I undertook than preparing for the Bar Exams.
Nevertheless, I took the 2013 Bar Exams and passed it.
I enrolled at Ateneos Pre-Bar Review not because it was the best but because out of
convenience. It was just one ride away from my office.
What Im about to advise you is not for all and some if not many may have negative feedback
about it.
Here it goes.
1. Take a look at Arellanos Bar Review Lecture and make a checklist on the subject or topic that
you know in your mind you need to attend. For example, in my case, I made sure to attend the
following subjects/topics:
Political Law:
a. International Law
b. Election Law
Civil Law:
a. Succession
Labor Law
a. Labor Standard
b. Labor Relations
Taxation
a. I wanted to attend but I cant follow Atty. Domondons lecture. so I decided just to study on
my own.
You wont be able to attend every lecture for some reason or another. Thats okay because most
lecturers are boring save a for a few. For me, enrolling in a Bar Review Center is just a safety net
just in case Im missing out on something.
2. Dont drown yourself in reading materials. I strongly advise not to photocopy review materials
from lecturers except case digests or survey of cases. You wont have time to read them. When
you do photocopy case digests or survey of cases, be sure to read them immediately because
chances are, you wont be able to read them if you dont. Studying cases is advisable, but just
reading them is okay.

During my review in Ateneo, I was able to get hold of the Lecture Notes/Slides of Atty. Manuel,
Atty. Azucena, Dean Candelaria, Atty. Agra. I was not able to read them at all because I had no
time and chances are, so will you.
Stick with this formula:
1 Review Book
1 Memory Aid (Beda)
1 Pre-week Reviewer (Beda)
1-2 Case Digests / Survey of Cases (Any source even those from Ateneo just dont forget to get
the one from Beda)
>Dont read other materials from Ateneo (its poison).
>If you read Lex Pareto Notes, theres no need to read the pdf file of the Bar Exams and
suggested answers for the last 20 years.
Remember, reading Lex Pareto Notes is not full proof. In fact, when you read it, there are lot of
errors in it but you will still be able to correct it and Im sure its just typos. Read this only during
the pre-week and only when you have the time. Lex Pareto Notes is not designed as an extensive
reviewer for the Bar.
3. Will you be able to attend the Pre-week lectures? Will you still have time to do so? Are they
just a complete waste of time? Chances are, you wont able attend the Pre-week lectures and to
do so will just be complete waste of time simply because you havent finished reading all your
materials. Trust me when I say, you will be better-off studying extensively Bedas Pre-week
Reviewer which comes out every Monday during the Bar month.
4. Stick with Review Books, not text books. You dont have to read them 5 or 7 times. Reading it
twice will do the job if you belong to the top 30 of your class. Just add one more reading if you
think your rank is lower and so on.
5. You need to be inspired. Frankly, I find negative feelings as more inspiring like, hate, anger
and revenge. you dont need daisies and sunshine during this tumultuous time. You need
something that gives more kick to start your review.
6. Attend special lectures organized by your Bar Ops. These are lectures open only for graduates
of your school. In those lectures, take advantage of the question and answer portion at the end of
every lecture. Ask even the simplest question that may even make you look stupid. Read in
advance before the lecture.
For example, when I received a text from our Bar Ops that Justice Cornejo will be conducting a
lecture on Crim Pro, I read first Regalados Criminal Procedure before the scheduled date of the
lecture. I found the lecture easy to understand and I was able to clarify important points I had
difficulty comprehending.
7. Attend the introduction lecture of the Pre-Bar Review. There, some of the successful
examinees of last years bar and even those who made it to the top 10 will be asked to give a

short speech and enlighten the reviewees. Past Examiners might also be asked to speak. Attend
the lecture on Bar Exam Tips and the Mock Bar Exams. These are very enlightening.
8. Never believe rumors on who the examiner is. It may be true that he or she is an examiner, but
it is not known which subject. Either way, dont listen to rumors unless its officially released by
the SC.
9. Quit your job, swallow your pride, and go back to your parents house. Just redeem your pride
after you pass the bar, hehehe! (just kidding). Good luck on your review.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:

+32

REPLY

1.

lurker
April 22, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Wow! Thanks Ecstatic for those valuable inputs. Ill keep these in mind especially the
lectures that I need to attend. I graduated from San Beda and I plan to study the
following materials because of time constraints:
Bedan

Red

Memory

Book
Aid

Review Notes/Photocopies given during review lectures

Im currently reading Persons and Family Relations by Sta. Maria. I plan to read De
Leons textbook on Succession after finishing Sta. Maria. These subjects are my

weaknesses during lawschool

Would you advise reading textbooks up to end of May or should I start reading the
Memory Aid or Bedan Red Book now?
P.S. Do you have a copy of Lex Pareto Notes, powerpoint slides youve mentioned as
well as other law-related reviewers? Pa-share naman kung meron. Thank you!
0

REPLY

2.

lazylegalboneswilldigest
July 23, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Sorry, I just had to comment and correct this one Dont read other materials from
Ateneo (its poison).
Im from Ateneo, and I can honestly say this isnt true. While I would frankly not
recommend some of our reviewers because these are not as well edited as those of
San Bedas, our Bar Ops team doesnt make poison reviewers just for the heck of
it. In fact, Ateneans read the same stuff.
Overall tip, just stick to the books/reviewers that already worked for you during law
school. If they didnt work for you, try googling for the reading lists of topnotchers.
Go for the tried and tested route.