"I really envy the current third-year students. If I had such an opportunity when I was in school, it would have been great because the campus environment is more suitable for studying," said Wang Shu to a reporter after she just resigned from her position at a law firm and devoted herself entirely to preparing for the judicial examination. For those working in legal-related fields, passing the judicial examination is an essential hurdle. Candidates like Wang Shu who prepare for the exam while working are not uncommon. When conflicts arise between work and the exam, some candidates choose to resign in order to increase their chances of success. However, working candidates have limited study time and are easily distracted by other matters.
According to analysts, allowing third-year students to take the exam aims to alleviate employment issues for law majors in universities. The pass rate for this year's judicial examination is expected to remain around 20%, with an estimated 350,000 candidates registering. Although third-year students can now take the exam, working candidates should still adjust their mindset and actively prepare for it.
"Students on campus have ample time for review, whereas working candidates face greater pressure," many candidates who balance work and preparation for the judicial examination feel stressed upon hearing this news. They believe that the inclusion of third-year students in the exam-taking crowd is disadvantageous for working candidates.
Reporters learned that it is difficult for working candidates to review, especially those not engaged in legal-related work. On one hand, the content of the judicial examination is extensive; there are piles of tutoring books and legal articles covering just over a dozen departments of law. In recent years, numerous new laws, regulations, and legal interpretations have been introduced, such as the "Property Law," "Labor Contract Law," and the newly revised "Civil Procedure Law." Some courses studied in university have become outdated, necessitating re-learning. What working candidates find most challenging is their lack of practical exposure to legal affairs, making them unfamiliar with problem-solving. In contrast, peers in courts or law firms encounter legal practices daily, enabling them to promptly apply new laws and regulations, thus making their exam preparation relatively easier. Moreover, office workers endure arduous workdays, yet they must still focus on reviewing legal texts after work or on weekends, resisting many temptations during their rest periods.
Professor Sui Pengsheng from China University of Political Science and Law's Department of Civil Law and Economic Law believes that working candidates have less than three months left until the exam, making it hard to follow a routine study schedule. At this stage, practicing past exam questions and adopting effective personalized review methods are more important.