The pandemic has wreaked havoc on so many lives this year—including those of the entire law school Class of 2020. How and when would the bar exam, critical for the start to their careers, be administered? Of course that how and when was also a huge problem for the California Committee on Bar Examiners. Yet the stress was surely disproportionately felt by the bar-takers.

With October exam results due to be posted at 6 p.m. on Jan. 8, another stress piles on. If you learn you have failed—not an uncommon experience—you will have just six or so weeks (rather than the usual 14 or so) to pivot from your current responsibilities and re-study before taking it again, on Feb. 23 and 24. I've been wondering, how will I advise unsuccessful bar-takers who ask me: Is it worth trying again in February?