"Like It Never Even Happened®": Passing the Bar Is All That Matters
SERVPRO, a company specializing in disaster restoration and cleaning services, is the sponsor of today’s First Responder Bowl between the North Texas Mean Green and the Texas State Bobcats. Its well-known tagline is “Like it never even happened®,” promising restoration and renewal. While this tagline captures SERVPRO’s expertise in cleaning up challenges, it also serves as a powerful metaphor for retaking—and passing—the bar exam.
Passing Erases the Past
Let me say this clearly: Once you pass the bar exam, the journey to that moment no longer defines you.
Whether you passed on your first, second, or fifth attempt becomes irrelevant the moment you are sworn in as an attorney. No client, colleague, or court will ever ask how many times you took the exam. All they’ll care about is that you earned the right to practice law.
Failing the bar exam can feel like a personal and professional earthquake. But here’s the truth: failure is just an event, not a permanent label. Think of it this way—when SERVPRO cleans up after a storm, they don’t dwell on the storm that caused the damage. They focus on rebuilding and making things better than before. Similarly, when you approach your next bar attempt, don’t dwell on past failures. Instead, focus on what you can do differently to achieve your goal.
Focus on the Outcome
Plenty of successful attorneys didn’t pass the bar exam on their first try. Some of the most respected lawyers and judges faced this challenge and went on to have extraordinary careers. Retaking the bar exam is not a sign of weakness; it’s a testament to your determination and resilience.
When you’re handed your bar results with a “Congratulations!” message, it won’t matter what the journey looked like to get there. You won’t have to explain your path to clients or employers. Passing is all that matters. It’s your bar license that opens the doors—not how many times you knocked.
To those preparing for a subsequent attempt, remind yourself of this: The past does not dictate your future. This is a new opportunity to showcase your skills and hard work. Use every resource available, refine your study techniques, and approach the exam with renewed confidence. Failing the bar exam isn’t the end. It’s a storm you weathered, and now you’re stronger for it. When you pass, it will truly be “like it never even happened.”
And when you raise your hand to take the attorney’s oath, no one will care how long it took you to get there. They’ll only care that you made it. Because you did.
Take comfort in knowing that the moment you pass, the weight of previous attempts will fade. All that remains is the fact that you are an attorney. So keep going. Your success story is still being written.
