World Poetry Day Meets Bar Prep

Today is World Poetry Day. You're probably thinking, “Professor Tommy, what does poetry have to do with passing the bar exam?”

Stay with me.

Photo by yeongkyeong lee on Unsplash

Bar prep is all about structure, rhythm, and repetition. Sound familiar? That’s poetry. Just like a good essay answer follows a predictable format, a good poem does too. And when things get stressful (and they will), sometimes the best way to remember key strategies is to make them a little more … memorable.

So today, we’re taking one of the most classic (and sometimes humorous) forms of poetry—the limerick—and using it to lock in some bar prep fundamentals.

A limerick is a five-line poem with a very specific rhythm and rhyme scheme: AABBA. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, while the third and fourth lines form a shorter, matching pair.

It’s simple. It’s structured. It’s repeatable.

In other words, it's like IRAC in poem form. And just like IRAC, once you get the structure down, you can plug in content quickly and efficiently, which exactly is what you need on the bar exam.

1️⃣ Spaced Repetition > Cramming

There once was a student who said,

“I’ll cram all the law in my head.”

But come testing day,

It all slipped away,

“Should’ve practiced and spaced it,” they said.

💡 Tip: You can’t brute-force the bar exam at the end. The law sticks through repetition over time rather than last-minute cramming. Start early, revisit often.

 2️⃣ Reps Build Confidence

A bar taker stuck in despair

Said, “There’s just too much law everywhere!”

But with sets every day,

They improved in each way.

Turns out reps beat a last-minute prayer.

💡 Tip: Doing practice questions daily builds both knowledge and confidence. Progress comes from consistent reps, not perfect conditions.

3️⃣ Essays Require Structure

There once was a student named Lee

Who skipped writing essays carefree.

But when scores came around,

Lee was nowhere to be found,

“Turns out IRAC mattered,” said she.

💡 Tip: You can’t just “know” the law—you have to apply it in a structured way. IRAC (or CRAC/CREAC) isn’t optional. It’s your roadmap.

4️⃣ “Because” = Analysis

There once was a “because” left unsaid,

Just conclusions all piled up instead.

But adding that word

Made the logic be heard,

Now the grader sees what’s in their head.

💡 Tip: If you’re not explaining why using “because,” you’re likely skipping analysis. The grader isn’t a mind reader—show your reasoning.

5️⃣ Organization Wins Points

There once was a paper so dense,

With no headings, no flow, and no sense.

But structure and form

Help your answer perform.

Clarity builds your defense.

💡 Tip: Headings, organization, and clear structure matter. The easier your answer is to read, the easier it is to score.