I knew a guy who did fine in law school, then did not start studying for the exam until a week before the test. He failed. One can’t cram for the bar exam in a week. I took two weeks off work before the exam, but I was at Bar/Bri 4 evenings a week and at the library on weekends for 7 weeks before that. While it is possible to over-study, (I found after eight hours of studying I was no longer productive) lack of studying will result in failure.

Why would someone not study for the bar exam? It’s possible that some really are arrogant enough to think they don’t need to, but I think the most likely reason is that those who do not study for the bar exam hated law school, not just the exams, but the study of law itself, and deep down, really don’t want to work as lawyers. Failing the bar exam is a last escape hatch to freedom from an unhappy life as a lawyer. As someone who has changed careers several times already, I think this kind of realization, even if it leads to failing the bar exam, reveals a healthy level of self-awareness as much (or more) than mere irresponsibility or immaturity. If more recent graduates made the same realization, there would be fewer miserable lawyers, and more jobs for those excited to join the profession.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1953116&forum_id=2#20732567)