I can’t believe it’s already been 3 1/2 weeks since I graduated from law school. Truly I don’t think it was going to hit me until I got grades back to confirm I did indeed graduate and until I get my diploma in the mail. I’m still waiting on the diploma but I did in fact graduate and with the highest GPA I’ve ever had at any point in law school so I’m very proud of myself.
But it still hasn’t hit me. Maybe it won’t until I’ve taken the bar exam and am awaiting my results while I travel across Europe for a month but who knows. I’m just happy that the last 3 years of blood, sweat and tears has come to an end. I’m beyond proud of my growth, personal development and the path my life and career are on, all because of my perseverance, resilience and passions.
So what’s next?
This summer I am studying for the Florida Bar Exam which is required for me to be admitted to practice as an attorney in Florida (and the same for any other state, each bar is state specific to some extent). The exam is July 26-27 so I will be putting in 7-10 hour days leading up to then with a ramp up to 9-12 hour days as I get closer to test day.
I’m currently writing this as I lay by the pool after an almost 8 hour day because I needed to sweat out all the stress and get some vitamin D after an emotionally tough week last week.
That’s my life for these 2 months between graduation and the bar exam. I’ve been studying since May 16 with a few days off in between to move, for MDW or because I needed a break but basically my time off is spent resting and spending time with friends in a chill way at home or dinner because I need to be at maximum capacity each day.
We take a 10-12 week prep course to help us prepare and there’s a dedicated plan we follow according to what’s been proven to work but this exam is so much more than intelligence or even the ability to memorize. It’s physical and mental too. We don’t just need to know enough about the law to prove that we can represent our clients well, by knowing the rules of law and how to apply them, but we also have to have the mental strength to get through the intense preparation and the physical stamina to get through a 12 hour exam. Yes 12 hours! Split over 2 days in 4, 3 hour sections.
The goal is to get about 350 study hours in for an average passing score, but the course is close to 500 hours with extra practice galore. That’s about 40 hours a week so 8 hour days at a minimum. I’m at about 7.5 right now, averaging 6 hours a day so my goal is to get to 8-9 hours by the next 2 weeks so I can take a half day on one weekend day. I also need to get my sleep schedule in check so I can start at 9 am when the exam begins and try to take a lunch break from 12-1 like it will be on test day.
It’s all about training your body and your mind, definitely discipline over motivation some days. But my reward is my license, getting to build my career and of course my bar trip!
Speaking of building my career, I announced on a recent IG Post and episode of my podcast, The Let’s Get Candid Podcast my post grad plans to be an influencer manager and attorney and I cannot wait to get started.
Truly the greatest reward for me of law school and the bar exam is getting to build my career and life on my own terms, and having a job that combines my passion for social media and the creator economy with my training as a lawyer is the best of both worlds.
I also am the CEO of Konecta Social, a digital media and influencer management agency that is launching this Fall! I have loved being the influencer marketing coordinator and public relations specialist at Rella Social, an app for influencers to manage all aspects of their business, and I will be staying on as PR specialist but I’m taking on a new challenge starting my own management agency with the skills I learned at Rella and with Natalie Barbu’s support! She has become one of my best friends in the last year and it is because of her and Kameron alongside my professors that I am where I am today.
So that’s what’s next! Law school graduation was the close of one of the most difficult chapters of my life. Now I begin a new story, after the bar exam or course.
I will be taking a hiatus from social media during the remainder of bar prep but I will be publishing episodes of my podcast weekly with intros sharing how I’m doing during the summer so be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to stay tuned!
I will chronicle more of this summer upon my return so don’t miss me too much in the mean time. If you have any questions about my law school experience, want advice for/during law school or about the bar exam don’t hesitate to ask and I will answer when I’m back online.
For now off to relax some more before I do it all over again tomorrow, wish me luck!!
xo Kayla
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