Stop Undermining Yourself: Ditch "I Think" and "I Believe"

When writing bar exam essays, it’s natural to feel uncertain about the rules or your analysis. To hedge that uncertainty, law students and bar examinees often include qualifiers like “I think” or “I believe.”

Take this sentence I recently came across from a student response on a final exam essay on Evidence:

"Additionally, there is a special rule about offering to pay for medical bills and (I believe) it states that this can be offered as substantive evidence of the declarant's guilt."

While this might seem harmless, parentheticals and throat clearers like “I believe,” "I think," and "I feel" weaken your answer and hurt your credibility. Here’s why you should avoid them—and what to do instead.

Why ‘I Believe’ and ‘I Think’ Are Problematic

They Undermine Your Confidence and Authority.

The bar exam is designed to test your ability to identify and apply the law confidently. Using “I think” or “I believe” signals doubt, as though you’re not sure of the rule or your own analysis.

Also, when you say, “I think,” bar exam graders may assume you don’t actually know the law.

So, instead of writing, “(I believe) the rule about medical bills says they can’t be used as evidence of guilt,” write: “Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, an offer to pay for medical bills is inadmissible to prove liability.”

They Waste Precious Words.

Phrases like “I think” and “I believe” take up space without adding value. On the bar exam, every word counts. You have limited time and space to earn points, so don’t waste either on unnecessary qualifiers.

Example:

“I think the defendant breached the contract.” → 7 words.

“The defendant breached the contract.” → 5 words (and much stronger).

Multiply this effect over several sentences, and you’re eating into time that could be spent on analysis.

They Confuse the Grader.

Qualifiers like “I think” and “I believe” make it unclear whether you’re stating the rule, guessing, or offering a personal opinion. Remember: The bar exam isn’t about your opinion; it’s about applying the law to the facts. Clear, definitive statements help the grader follow your logic.

What Should You Do Instead

If you’re unsure about a rule, state it confidently anyway. Most bar exam graders give partial credit for logical reasoning—even if the rule isn’t perfectly articulated. If you’re wrong, you’ll still earn points for stating a rule and analyzing it logically.

The bar exam isn’t about writing perfect essays—it’s about showing that you can analyze legal issues under pressure. Writing with certainty—even when you feel uncertain—demonstrates to graders that you’re prepared to practice law.