We open the De Novo symposium on the bar exam with reassurances. Two people who definitely passed the bar -- on their first tries, no less! or rather, no more! -- not long ago talk about their experiences and make it sound less painful than one might imagine. Fitz-Hume taught himself the material in about a month, and Alex Wellen stopped freaking out once he realized that passing the bar doesn't even require a passing grade.
Later in the week, contributors will criticize the bar exam, re-live having just studied for and taken it, compare it to the accreditation procedures in other professions and countries, and more, so keep checking back.