GRACE FOR THE GRIND™ CAREER MASTERMIND MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON Raynna

Blessed, Bossable, and Barred: Keeping the Faith, Keeping a Job, and Studying for the Bar Exam with Raynna Nkwanyuo, Esq.

Studying for the Bar exam while working full-time is a challenge for many, but thankfully it is possible to successfully do both! I am excited to share this conversational interview I had with Raynna Nkwanyuo, Esq. about her Bar exam study strategy which allowed her to keep her faith at the forefront, keep her job, and successfully study for and pass the Bar exam!

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Raynna, thank you so much for taking time to answer questions for me as the June member spotlight for Grace for the Grind™ Career Mastermind! Let’s start off with an introductory question; where did you go to law school and what type of law do you practice or want to practice?

I graduated from University of Maryland Francis King Carey School and I currently serve as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Jill R. Cummins. I want to practice Healthcare Law because of the multifaceted nature of the practice area. As a healthcare law attorney one gets to service clients in a variety of areas of the law including business, contracts, tax, employment, etc.

That sounds very interesting! What do you do on a day to day basis as a judicial law clerk?

My role is multifaceted as I manage courtroom operations, serve as a liaison between the Judge and the public, and advise on relevant legal issues. Through this position I have been exposed to various practice areas including family law, criminal law, and other civil litigation matters.

The exposure sounds like a great thing to have as an early career attorney! What advice would you give to law students or recent law graduates who want to pursue a judicial clerkship?

I would advise them to strengthen their ability to multitask, maintain temperament when interacting with others, legal research and writing, and document drafting — orders, opinions, memoranda, etc. Also, I would suggest that an interested candidate remain open and optimistic as serving as a Judicial Law Clerk involves ongoing learning and it presents new issues daily.

That is great to keep in mind and reminds me of the importance of remaining optimistic during Bar exam study as well. One way many people do that is through the exercise of their faith. How did your faith in God help you with studying for the Bar exam and taking the Bar exam?

My faith ensured in God allowed me to know that God would always have my back. The road to esquire was confirmed for me through a prophetic word. I used the prophetic word to motivate me and remind me of His promises. I knew that it was beyond me passing the exam but rather to use my testimony as an example to many other women.

That’s amazing, Raynna. I know part of your testimony is that you took the Bar exam twice and passed with a Maryland UBE score high enough for all the jurisdictions the second time around. What encouraging words do you have for people who are retaking a bar exam?

Be reminded that, “One should not be pushed by their problems but be led by their dreams.” I say that to say that your road to esquire is well beyond passing an exam. Personally, I realized if I could not rise above this circumstance how could I manage adversity and other challenges in my life beyond my legal career such as marriage, familial relationships, etc. Sometimes God wants to birth something out you that you might not have otherwise established had you passed the first time.

Yes, yes, yes! It is so empowering to have that different, forward-thinking perspective. What are your other top tips to share for those studying for the bar?

I would offer the following tips for those studying for the bar:

Determine your learning style. Don’t assume that you know your learning style. You may very well be aware, but taking a reliable quiz to confirm and add additional study methods to your list does not hurt. Many Bar takers struggle because they do not truly know their learning style and they have likely been skating by in all their education without even being aware.
Be honest with yourself. That said, limit distraction and set boundaries. Everyone will still be there after you cross to the other side and if they leave you God was using this season to weave them out anyways.
Time Management. Set a schedule and stick to it. However, there are times where you may have to be flexible to review additional subjects, allow your body to rest, or simply shift your attention to a life event.
Accountability. Find a few accountability partners. There were a few people in my network that really fueled my success and encouraged me throughout law school. I reached out to these people and shared with them that I would like them to be part of my network. For example, one of my professors met with me for lunch bi-weekly or check in via phone. While one of my sister-cousins checked in with me often and sent me Cash App to treat myself to Starbucks or lunch. It is also helpful to have someone that recently took the bar in the last 5 years to serve as one of your Bar exam mentors. This person can check in with you regularly, encourage transparent assessments, offer suggestions to assist you in improving your performance, etc.
Keep a low profile. Oftentimes as recent grads we are quick to announce our every move on social media and to others in our network. However, for spiritual reasons I strongly recommend exercising wisdom and allowing God to serve as your canopy during this time. Certainly people wish you well but allow things to manifest so that no plan can come against the plan for your life. Also, this relieves any pressure or obligation to share regardless of whether you are successful or not.
Supplemental Study.
1. AdaptiBar- offers real released MBE questions. Using this program ensures that examiners cannot trick you and it builds your confidence.
2. Review NCBE representative answers for essays. While the commercial bar companies provide an outline and an explanatory answer it is not representative of what an examinee would realistically complete during timed exam conditions.
3. Build your MBE muscles: Start by completing 25 MBE questions, build up to 50 questions, and later 100 questions. This will ensure you are able to pace yourself and maintain focus for the duration of the exam. You should complete this drill at minimum 3 times a week. I suggest completing MBE questions in the morning as that is comparable to the time you will be sitting for the exam.

These are great tips — and many of them are often overlooked so thanks for sharing these, Raynna! As the member spotlight for Grace for the Grind™ Career Mastermind, you will be hosting a live Q&A event called “Blessed, Bossable, & Barred Bar Exam Success Webinar” on June 23 at 7:30 pm ET. What topics will be covered during the live Q&A webinar with you?

Strategies to thrive on your road to esquire including the studying, spiritual, time management, and other aspects of bar exam prep. We are often taught how to pass from a substantive perspective but no one mentions the discouraging days and the necessity to seek God — that is why I am doing this event.

I am so excited for you to share this with our members and with the world! What is the importance of being part of a community like Grace for the Grind Career Mastermind, a free private online community and app for Christian women lawyers and law students?

The importance of being part of this type of community is to remind yourself that you do not have to go through your legal journey alone. As African American women we must support one another and share resources. Furthermore, I strongly believe that we should always have the mindset of paying it forward because those before us took a chance on us and showed us favor.

Indeed. Speaking of paying it forward, what passion projects are you currently working on?

I started a podcast some months ago however I put it on pause for a bit to truly develop balance as a new young legal professional. Also, I serve on the Board of Directors for ScholarCHIPS, Inc. (Children of Incarcerated Parents), a D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area based non-profit organization which offers college scholarships, mentorship, and professional development to college bound students affected by parental incarceration. Given my passion for public health and wellness, I am pleased to serve as the Lead Junior Associate of the Michael and Mauritia Patcha Foundation. The Patcha Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Silver Spring Maryland, that focuses on providing medical care for those with limited resources in Cameroon, West Africa. The Foundation facilitates a health program called CASEC, an innovative community health program that provides resources for Cancer Awareness, Screening/prevention, Early detection and Care to the residents of Cameroon, Africa and to the immigrant communities in the United States.

Way to pay it forward! How can readers get in contact with you?

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rnkwanyuo

Podcast: Favor Glitter – Apple, Podbean

Thank you for sharing this wisdom, Raynna! I look forward to attending your live Q&A hosted by Grace for the Grind™ Career Mastermind on June 23, 2020 at 7:30 pm ET and hearing you share how to successfully study for the bar exam while keeping the faith and keeping your job! This event is open to everyone, so register here to attend and receive the replay.

Christian women lawyers and law students can join Grace for the Grind™ Career Mastermind for FREE to participate in other activities in the mastermind such as discussion forums, group devotionals, Bible studies, and other webinar replays. Join for free here!