The Kobe Bryant Way to Give Yourself a Bar Exam Advantage

On Kobe Bryant Day, celebrated every August 24th, we honor the legacy of a basketball legend and the relentless pursuit of excellence he embodied throughout his career.

For incoming first-year law students, adopting Kobe’s "Black Mamba" mentality can set the stage for legendary performance not only in law school but also on the bar exam.

Kobe Bryant was an iconic American professional basketball player who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Known for his scoring ability, Kobe finished his career as one of the league's top scorers and is revered for his competitive nature and work ethic. His accolades include five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, and 18 All-Star game selections, making him one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Kobe Bryant Day is celebrated on the date that represents the two jersey numbers Kobe wore—8 and 24—during his illustrious career with the Lakers.  It’s a powerful reminder for all of us about the rewards of dedication and hard work—qualities every aspiring lawyer should cultivate.

Kobe's approach to training was revolutionary, particularly his decision to begin his sessions at 4 AM. In his own words:

"I felt like if your job is to try to be the best basketball player you can be, to do that, you have to practice and train. You want to train as much as you can, as often as you can. So if you wake up at 3, train at 4, you do more work than everybody else. And as the years go on, the separation just grows larger and larger. And by year five or six, it doesn't matter what kind of work they do in the summer, they're never going to catch up."

This relentless dedication to getting more done by starting earlier created an insurmountable gap between him and his competitors, a strategy just as applicable to bar exam preparation.

For example, if you’re just starting law school and plan to take the bar exam after graduation, you’ll most likely going to take the July 2027 bar exam. Between Kobe Bryant Day on August 24, 2024, to the bar exam on July 27, 2027, there are 1,067 days. By dedicating just 30 minutes each morning to studying, you can accumulate 32,010 minutes of additional preparation. That’s more than 533 hours of focused learning, which could significantly enhance your understanding and retention of the law.

Finding extra time each day for studies is about creating opportunities to advance your understanding incrementally. While the specific time of day might vary, following Kobe Bryant’s example by starting early in the morning can be particularly effective due to fewer distractions and a fresh mind.

Here are some suggestions what you can do now:

✅ Set a Morning Routine: Start each day with a 30-minute study session. This time is perfect for tackling complex legal principles or reviewing challenging material.

✅ Maintain Consistency: Like Kobe’s training, the key to success is consistency. Make this early study session a daily habit.

✅ Reflect and Adjust: Regularly assess what you’ve learned to ensure you’re maximizing your study sessions. This continual improvement mirrors Kobe’s approach to refining his skills.

Kobe Bryant's early morning training sessions weren’t just about working hard; they were about working smart and creating an edge that was nearly impossible to match.

For law students aiming for bar exam success: Start now, embrace the dedication required, and watch as you build a foundation that will carry you through the bar exam and into your legal career with confidence.