Does the U.S. still have the big bar exam? I know in Canada, or at least here, they've switched over to the bar "course" which you do while articling (a friend of mine is suffering through it right now). It's an insane amount of work that goes on for eight months, and I think she would actually prefer the one sitting of an exam, no matter how stressful it would be.

(and well, I'd put my board exams up againse both those, ha. Basically anything but a basic undergrad degree requires you to get an ulcer)