Season 3: Episode 9: Miki Kinoshita
Dual-Licensed Corporate and Securities Attorney (Passed NY bar at the first attempt while raising two toddlers)
How did she manage to pass the bar as an internationally trained lawyer (and a mom of two toddlers)?
Many internationally trained lawyers take the NY bar upon graduation. Life can be overwhelming with studying for the finals, the bar prep and job search. Imagine doing all of that while taking care of two toddlers all at once! And passing the NY bar at the first try! Miki did it all. If you are wondering how she managed, I asked her to share her study schedule and tips on time management. Before coming to Georgetown to pursue her LLM, she’s a corporate and securities lawyer, and served as the Vice President and In-House Counsel at the largest investment bank and brokerage firm in Japan.
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What did you do as a multilingual lawyer?
When I enrolled at Georgetown Law, I had over ten years of experience in Japan, specializing in finance and corporate laws. I had worked at a Japanese law firm, a financial regulator, and an investment bank, gaining expertise in cross-border financial transactions and regulatory matters. I came to the US due to my husband’s work. Despite having to take a leave of absence, I was excited because studying at a US law school had been my long-time dream.
When did you start preparing for the NY bar?
I began studying in January 2023, six months before the NY bar exam. My friends and I organized a study group, meeting almost every week. We had reading assignments for each session to be discussed in the study group. Keeping up with the schedule was not easy, when I have two young children at home, but the study group was beneficial since I did not take many courses related to the NY bar to concentrate on my practice areas.
How long did you study every day?
While in the law school, I read textbooks for 30 minutes per day for the study group. After finishing law school in May and before the bar exam, I studied for almost eight hours per day.
How did you study?
Until one month prior to the bar exam, I primarily read textbooks and did practice MBE questions. As an international lawyer whose native language is not English, it was essential to achieve consistent scores on the MBE. I set a goal to reach over 70% scores in practice MBE questions. Following that, I began studying for the MEE and MPT. I read textbooks and wrote brief outlines for each practice question.
How many recommended practice questions did you complete?
I completed 2000 MBE questions, 7 questions per MEE subject, and two MPT questions. Regarding MEE questions, I rewrote them in the last week before the exam. The ideal number of questions depends on each student’s experience and English language skills, but I believe I did an optimal number for a foreign lawyer. Additionally, I want to emphasize that ensuring a thorough review is more important than the quantity of practice questions.
Do you have any tips on time management?
As I was raising two toddlers, I could only study in the early mornings and during the daytime when they are at school. Time management was crucial for me. I kept in mind the importance of clarifying my long-term and short-term goals. I created a rough daily and hourly schedule every day and tried to follow it.
On weekdays, my kids went to school, so I can concentrate on studying. On many weekends, my husband took them to the park or elsewhere. My success in the bar exam was owed to his contribution and dedication. Studying while raising small children was challenging and required patience. At times, I had to pause my studies or revise my schedules due to the children's illnesses, school events, or other family reasons. However, when I passed the bar exam, I could share a sense of accomplishment with my family. It was worth the efforts.
What other aspects of the bar exam shall candidates be aware of to increase the chances of passing at the first attempt?
Maintain self-confidence and optimism. Although studying for the bar exam is challenging, your time and commitment speaks for itself. Moreover, having study partners can be beneficial. I was fortunate to have joined a study group because it kept me motivated and helped me confirm if I was well paced with the study schedule. In fact, all of my friends in the study group passed the NY bar exam.
