Since passing the California Bar exam in December 2011, I expected my life to go in a new direction, and it has.  The direction has been unexpected. On one hand, I have been doing substantive contract work for a solo practitioner in addition to other less substantive contract work.  This has parlayed into my being accepted into a pro bono program to help low income households with legal matters, and into an opportunity to be a judge for a law school competition.  And, I am developing a solo practice to be launched by end of 2012.  Slowly, brick by brick, I am resurrecting my life, developing new friends, and expanding my network of contacts. 

At the same time, I have learned painful lessons in my selection of friends.  Friendship must be built on truth and not on fabrication.  Still somewhat naive about people, I have learned that my innate trust of people is my biggest weakness and, as an attorney, my biggest short-fall.  It is the mind that must rule when one is a lawyer, and not the heart.  This should be obvious, but I am the same person that I was before I was licensed.  Now, I must build a shield around my "self" for there are those who attempt to manipulate lawyers for their own self-gain.  This, in itself, has been a painful lesson, and I have learned it well.

Moving on, I shall be the much wiser, and, I suspect that my shield will become more substantial.

Now, as it relates to the California Bar exam, it seems distant.  Yet, my book shelves are lined with the essays that I issue-spotted and wrote, and I still have my favorite bar books at the ready.  Having tutored a friend toward passing on her 5th attempt at the bar exam (Feb. 2012), I was proud to be at her swearing in. A notary, I'll be swearing in another friend; he passed the July 2012 bar exam on his first attempt and his moral character application has just been approved.  It will be an ecstatic moment for him and a honor for me to read him the oath to uphold the tenants of the law.

If my readers of this blog want an updated essay subject chart detailing the subjects tested for 10+ years, please send me an email and I will reply.

And, if my readers want direction in essay skills, I can be consulted for private tutoring.

Finally, the July 2012 California bar exam questions were posted over a month ago.  Check out the state bar web site to download a copy.  Exam results will be out next month.  To those exam takers, I wish you passing scores.