Tips in Taking the Bar - Copy

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

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

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Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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. 2

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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. What’s 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, Untian’s 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 Auntie’s 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). 3

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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.

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Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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:

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Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.

6-8 read 8-9 Breakfast 9-12 read 12-1 lunch/break 1-3 read Break 3-5 read 5-6 exercise 6-7 dinner/rest 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. 6

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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. It’s 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. 7

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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 8

Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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.

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Few Tips and Reminders for DVOREF Barristers Edson G. Piczon

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 Sunday’s 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.) 10