What To Do If You Didn’t Pass the Bar Exam
By Hey, come here – let me give you a hug. Yell if you need to, cry if you need to, or let’s just sit and process. Feel the full weight of what just happened. You didn’t receive the score you hoped for to become licensed. Yes, it sucks. But your hard work was not wasted, and this moment does not define you.
Remember how excited you were when you got accepted into law school? When you walked across that graduation stage? That joy is still yours. Your score is not a reflection of your intellect, your worth, or your ability. It’s just a barrier – and barriers can be broken.
Take a breath. Give yourself space to grieve – sulk under a blanket, hit DND (Do Not Disturb), cry it out, order comfort food, binge a movie. But only for a short while.
Then, let’s pivot to action. Here are a few ways forward:
- Get support. Therapy, mentors, and resources like BarCARES exist for you. NCBA BarCARES Initiative offers a one-time, free three-session assessment. Call 1-800-640-0735.
- Reframe your JD. It’s a master key that opens many employment doors because of the analytical, research, and skills you possess. Consider roles in policy, consulting, leadership, clerkships, entrepreneurship, academia, or mediation.
- If becoming licensed is still your goal, regroup with new study methods, accountability, and affirmations. Build daily mantras of resilience and self-empowerment. Many practicing attorneys did not receive the desired licensed score on their first attempt, second attempt, or even more, but they kept going until they broke through.
This is what “breaking barriers” looks like. It’s called that for a reason. So grab your sledgehammer, and let’s get to work – on your terms, in your time.
Always Authentic and Genuine,
Tiqeece Brown