which bar prep course is best for california

by Marisol McGlynn Jr. 10 min read

Best Overall Bar Review Course: BarMax Best Value Bar Review Course: Quimbee Most Bar Study Material: Kaplan

Full Answer

How do I prepare for the California bar exam?

When preparing for the California Bar Exam’s written portion, it is important to know the 13 topics that will be covered. Most likely, these will include the following: The Uniform Commercial Code should be used when answering essay questions (articles one, two, and provisions of nine relating to fixtures). Past exams are available for practice.

Do I need to take the CA bar review course?

Please note: This course is designed for attorneys already licensed to practice in another state and are qualified to sit for the CA Attorneys’ Exam. If you are not licensed in another state, you must take the CA Bar Review Course. We want all of our students to pass. But things happen.

Is smart bar prep the best way to study?

If you are a student looking for a self-study option, with no desire for classroom or video instruction, Smart Bar Prep might be your best bet. Our team believes that it can easily be your one-stop resource for your bar prep, especially if you are a self-driven learner.

Which bar exam review course is the best?

Check out our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions: Which bar review course is the best? While many people assume that it is Themis or Barbri, BarMax is currently the best online bar exam prep course. This is because they have a large catalog of practice questions and flashcards that are accessible on many different devices.

Which bar prep course is best?

Best Bar Review Courses SummaryBest Overall Bar Review Course: BarMax.Best Value Bar Review Course: Quimbee.Most Bar Study Material: Kaplan.The Conservative Pick: Barbri.Best Supplemental Bar Course: Bar Prep Hero.Best Bar Exam Outlines: Smart Bar Prep.Best For Efficient Bar Study: AdaptiBar.

Which bar prep has the highest pass rate?

The law schools in the U.S. with the highest overall bar pass rate are:Concordia University School of Law: 100 percent.University of Chicago: 98 percent.Yale University: 98 percent.University of Pennsylvania: 98 percent.Columbia University: 97 percent.Harvard University: 97 percent.Duke University 97 percent.More items...

How do I prepare for the California bar?

5 Proven Tips to Help You Pass the California Bar ExamWrite for the grader using properly formatted headings. ... Practice studying actively (don't just rely on flashcards). ... Learn the fundamental components of MBE questions (don't just “pick and pray”).More items...•

Is Themis or Barbri better?

Bottom Line. Whether Themis or BARBRI is best for you depends on your individual situation and study style. BARBRI may be best for students who: Want a robust offering of materials.

Is Barbri enough?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, Barbri is set up to be MORE than enough (i.e. more than you should reasonably be able to do - they even TELL you that). They say that if you are doing about 75% of what they assign, you're doing enough.

Is Barbri a good bar review course?

The BARBRI Way is a time-tested, unparalleled support system personalized to you. It's a statistically proven process that simplifies bar exam complexities and gives you control over your study. Increasing your chances of passing with every minute you invest.

What should I study for the California bar exam?

But before you can practice, you must pass the infamous bar exam. In order to practice law in the state of California, a lawyer must be licensed by the State Bar....The MBE covers seven topics:Civil procedure.Constitutional law.Contracts.Criminal law and procedure.Evidence.Real property.Torts.

How long should I study for the California bar?

How many hours should I study for the bar exam? It is typically recommended that you study for about 400 to 600 hours for the bar exam. That is a staggering amount, but there's a lot to do!. If you are studying full-time, again, you should study 40-60 hours per week for nine or ten weeks.

Is CA bar harder?

The “Cut” Score The fact that California has traditionally had a high cut score has definitely factored into the overall consensus that the California Bar Exam is one of the most difficult in the country.

Is Barbri harder than the bar?

The Barbri invented questions are harder than the real MBE questions. (Real MBE questions are still difficult though.) The Barbri MBE compares you to how others score on the Barbri simulated MBE.

Does Themis grade harder than the bar?

Re: Does Themis Grade harder than bar examiners? In my experience, yes! I did all of the graded essays, gave them a good amount of effort, and didn't do great. I think I was typically around 50-60th percentile on my practice test percentiles, except on the MPT practice where I was a bit higher.

How many hours a day is Barbri?

The course lasts 8-10 weeks, and the average student should expect to spend about 40 hours per week studying. Each week, you may study the specific days, hours per day, and time of day that work best for your schedule.

Do you need a bar review course?

Almost every aspiring attorney will need to take a bar review course in order to pass the bar exam. The bar is difficult enough, do not make things...

How much does a typical bar review course cost?

There are a wide variety of bar review courses commercially available today, ranging in price from $200 up to $5,000+. While that is a large dispar...

How long do you need to study for the bar exam?

Most bar review courses provide approximately 8 to 10 weeks of prep time before you are ready to sit for the bar. If you’re a first-time bar exam t...

How much does the Themis Bar Prep cost?

Themis Bar Prep Course provides an all around comprehensive program at a reasonable price of $1,695 for all states. Included with the price students get plenty of video lectures and quizzes for each subject on the exam. Plus Themis includes simulated exams, flashcards, over 3,000 MBE practice questions, unlimited essay grading, and 24/7 customer support.

How much does it cost to take the bar exam?

Additionally, you may have to pay extra costs for travel and various application fees. The range of costs to take the bar exam is anywhere between $300 to $1400.

How long is the MBE prep course?

Their course has an easy to follow outline that helps you stay focused. The overall structure of their Bar prep course program includes approximately 7 days of MBE prep, up to 36 days of comprehensive subject review (varies by state), 4 to 5 days of simulated exam preparation for each part of that state’s exam, and about 2 weeks (varies by student) for a final countdown study plan.

How much is Barbri vs Kaplan?

While Kaplan’s on-demand prep course structure means that the prices for their courses vary based on location, Barbri’s range of $3,695 to $3,995 is consistent no matter where you’re located. For this reason, it’s easier to budget out your bar prep.

What is an adaptibar?

AdaptiBar’s practice questions are licensed questions that have been released from previous bar exams. By practicing with licensed MBE questions (instead of simulated questions written by test prep companies) you’ll be more accurately prepared for the questions you will see on the actual MBE exam. AdaptiBar features over 1,964 MBE practice questions, giving students a lot of 1st-rate practice material at a great price.

Which is better, Themis Bar Review or Barbri?

Firstly, Themis Bar Review offers considerably more multiple choice questions than Barbri: around 1,000 more, to be exact. While this can certainly be seen as a major upside, there may be some students who feel intimidated by a higher volume of practice questions and won’t get around to answering all of them.

Is Bar Prep Hero online?

As an online course, Bar Prep Hero has limitations that you wouldn’t have in a traditional classroom— including instant feedback with your instructor. However, this review course does a better job than most to compensate for this limitation through their email consults. With this feature, you can ask questions about any aspect of the bar prep process and receive a reply from your instructor without having to wait a long time.

How many days does the California bar exam take?

The bar exam is administered twice each year in California (in February and July). The examination is administered over two days in four, three-hour sessions. The California bar has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Essay questions, and the Performance Test (PT) questions.

When was the California Bar formed?

The State Bar of California was formed in 1927. The California bar is a mandatory bar with over 250,000 members. The Bar distributes money for grants and legal aid, sending out over $78 million a year.

What is the MPRE exam?

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) tests your understanding of established standards of conduct for lawyers. In California, this test is required to practice, but can be taken anytime after the first year of law school. The MPRE is administered three times each year (in March, August, and November).

What is the minimum score required to become an attorney in California?

In addition to passing the California bar exam with a score of at least 1440 out of 2000, there are several requirements that must be met in order to be admitted as an attorney in California, including: Score 86 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) within the accepted time frame.

What happens if you fail the California bar exam?

If you failed the California bar, your exam packet will be mailed to you.

When do you have to apply for the bar exam?

If you want to take the bar exam in July, you should submit your bar exam application by April 1. You can submit your application from April 2-April 30 if you pay a $50 fee. You can submit your application from May 1-June 1 if you pay a $250 fee. June 1 is the final filing deadline.

How many times can you retake the bar in California?

There’s no limit to how many times you can retake the bar in California.

Which is the best bar exam prep course?

While many people assume that it is Themis or Barbri, BarMax is currently the best online bar exam prep course. This is because they have a large catalog of practice questions and flashcards that are accessible on many different devices. They also have financing options and a money-back guarantee, making it much easier to justify paying their enrollment fees.

What is Bar Prep Hero?

Tons of Practice Questions: Bar Prep Hero was designed around one specific study tool— practice questions. In order to best acclimate law students to their exams, this review course gathers thousands of multiple-choice questions for them to work through and become familiar with the exam structure. In addition to many actual exam questions that were retired, this course features hundreds of entirely original questions that can’t be found in any other course!

How many flashcards are there in Bar Prep Hero?

Even if you enroll in their more affordable MBE Standard course package, you’ll still be able to work with over 1,800 digital flashcards accessible on desktop and mobile devices.

How much does the Themis Bar cost?

Price: Themis Bar Review provides a comprehensive program at a very reasonable price of $1,695 for all states. Included with the price students get video lectures and quizzes for each subject on the exam, simulated exams, flashcards, over 3,000 MBE practice questions, unlimited essay grading, and 24/7 customer support.

What is Barbri unique about?

Available in All States: Something unique about Barbri is that they provide a full bar review course for every state. This is useful for students who would like to dive into a program that covers everything that they need to know, including the more state-specific material.

How long is the MBE prep?

Structured Program: Their course has a clear outline and helps students stay on track. The overall structure of their program includes approximately 7 days of MBE prep, up to 36 days of comprehensive subject review (varies by state), 4 to 5 days of simulated exam preparation for each part of that state’s exam, and about 2 weeks (varies by student) for a final countdown study plan with highly tailored assignments.

What is the primary source for Crush the Bar Exam?

Article Sources. Crush the Bar Exam requires writers support their work by using primary sources. These include the exam’s governing body, white papers, government data, and interviews with leading experts in the field. You can learn more about the standards we follow by checking out our editorial guidelines.

What states does AmeriBar offer bar exam prep?

AmeriBar provides bar exam prep courses in 40 states (not available in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin). Its Bar Review courses and UBE courses cover all aspects of the exam, but its section-specific courses may be a better fit if you only need to review a certain portion. You can mix and match them as needed to build a custom program just for you. All courses are self-paced, but they include unlimited phone support and the option to purchase private tutoring if you need extra help.

What is the best way to study for the bar exam?

Private tutoring is best if you’re studying to retake the bar exam. A tutor can give you the personalized attention you need to fill in the gaps in your knowledge, so that you can study more efficiently.

What states does Barmax cover?

Its MBE course covers the general portion of the exam in all states except Louisiana. California residents have the option of purchasing a special course tailored to them for the same price as the UBE course.

How does Themis help you pass the bar exam?

If you need to take some time off, Themis will automatically adjust your schedule to account for the break so you can still cover all the key material before test day. Themis is so confident that its course will help you pass the bar exam that it publishes its pass rates online and updates them every year. It also promises a free course retake if you fail the exam after completing the Bar Review Course.

How long is themis bar review?

Themis Bar Review was built to accommodate a busy lifestyle. The curriculum is spread out over eight weeks, as opposed to some other courses that cram all classes into a month and a half. You can reinforce what you learn in the classroom with a series of short on-demand videos and test your knowledge with 2,500 practice MBE questions and three practice exams. The course will adapt as you go, always targeting the areas where you need the most help to ensure you’re using your time effectively. Courses are available for all states except Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

How many classes does Kaplan offer?

Kaplan offers comprehensive self-paced, live online and in-person bar prep courses to residents of all states. Live courses include 32 classes ranging from four to seven hours per day and full access to Kaplan ’s online study materials. Students interested in a self-paced bar prep course have several options.

What are the requirements to become a lawyer?

Requirements may include being a resident of that jurisdiction, completing the necessary prelegal education and registering with the appropriate agencies. You may also be required to submit to a background check. To learn more about your jurisdiction’s rules, check out the National Conference of Bar Examiner’s Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements.

The BarMD Guarantee

We want all of our students to pass. But things happen. That’s why we offer the BarMD Guarantee for our CA Bar Review, as well as our Attorneys’ Exam Course for licensed attorneys wishing to practice law in California:

Know exactly how to conquer the bar

Gain the confidence of knowing what you need to improve, why you’re not getting the score you want—and how to succeed. When you work with BarMD faculty, the path to passing becomes clear and attainable.

How long is the California attorney bar exam?

Qualified applicants are only required to take the written portion of the exam consisting of five 1-hour long essays and one 90-minute performance test.

What is CA performance test?

The CA Performance Test is a 90 minute skills-based exam designed to test an applicant's fundamental lawyering skills by applying law in a closed-universe library to a file of specific facts, usually in the form of a memorandum or letter. Themis California Bar Review includes everything you need to master the California PT.

Does the bar review publish pass rates?

We're the only national bar review provider that publishes pass rates every year. Take a minute and check out our students' success on their bar exams.

How many topics are covered in the California Bar Exam?

When preparing for the California Bar Exam’s written portion, it is important to know the 13 topics that will be covered. Most likely, these will include the following:

How often is the California bar exam?

The California bar examination is conducted twice per year, in February and July, over a two-day period. The first day consists of a written portion split between the morning and afternoon. The morning session provides test-takers three hours to answer three essay questions, with one hour allotted for each question.

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