RATING: ★★★★★ The Barbri Bar Review course has long been popular with students and law firms. Available in all 50 states, Barbri has been preparing students for the bar exam for close to 50 years. This comprehensive but pricey option provides a wide array of tools and study materials to help students learn what they need to know for the exam. Those who sign up are likely to have a thorough understanding of the law for both the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) and the state-specific portion of the test. The question is whether this in-depth knowledge is worth the price if you are just trying to pass the exam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlOIdRTljnY
PROS
1. Comprehensive Preparation
Barbri offers a thorough review, including in-class video lectures (these can also be watched at home or elsewhere on a portable device), two different kinds of outlines, online study tools and trackers, a mobile app, feedback on essays, simulated exams, and several kinds of practice workbooks. The clear structure paces students through a detailed course of study.
2. Customized Online Learning Features
Many interactive options make it possible to customize each student’s learning experience. The Personal Study Plan, Barbri AMP technology, the Pass Predictor, and the Essay Architect (all discussed in detail below) are a few of the adaptive tools that assess progress and provide student-specific recommendations for study. A mobile app is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android devices.
3. Available in All States
From California to New York, Barbri is the only program that prepares students in all states for both the MBE and the state section of the exam. Many students appreciate not having to generate their own state outlines. The course emphasizes state material that may not have been covered in law school classes. Most law students have not taken every subject that is tested on the bar exam in school, so Barbri familiarizes students with the local law that is tested in their state.
CONS
1. Price
Students who choose Barbri should expect to pay up to $3,895 for the course, depending on the state. This makes Barbri one of the most expensive available options.
2. Excessive Number of Materials
Although there are advantages to a course that covers every conceivable angle and detail of the law that may appear on the exam, it can also be daunting. The variety of different study aids, exam books with practice questions, online tools, trackers, outlines, etc. may leave students frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed. Seeing how you stack up against your peers can be an eye-opener and may motivate you to study harder – or it can be demoralizing. Some students may begin to panic (or at least doubt themselves) if they can’t keep up with the copious assignments, tasks, and tests.
Online Features
Barbri keeps pace with the competition through its customized online features. The Personal Study Plan is an interactive and adaptive tool that continually analyzes your progress and performance and customizes your daily tasks. Assignments are based on what you need to know to pass your state’s bar exam. Barbri’s AMP technology helps students master MBE concepts by tailoring its questions to individual students in real time. You can work through questions you already know quickly, but the software makes you spend more time on areas that require further study. The Pass Predictor compares your scores against those of bar exam takers nationally on a simulated MBE test to predict your performance on the bar exam so you can adjust your study approach if necessary. Finally, the Essay Architect is a feature that helps students craft strong essays. Immediate on-screen feedback indicates if you are on the right track while you are writing a practice essay. Students can then submit essays for grading by an essay-writing expert for personalized feedback on style and content. A Private Tutoring Program is available at an additional price for those who need more help and individual coaching. All tutors have taken and passed the bar exam. Like many of its competitors, Barbri offers a free MPRE course on their website.
Ideal User
If you are the kind of student who likes to cover a large amount of material, this course is a good option. Traditional learners who want guidance and the deep knowledge that comes from detailed lectures, homework, and a lot of practice will find this course meets that requirement. Those who want to attend in-class video lectures with their friends or to hold themselves accountable will also benefit. This program is very time consuming, so it is probably not a great option for those who are already working or have other commitments.
Conclusion
Barbri Bar Review has a solid reputation and the company is staying current with its customized online tools. The main drawbacks include price, a large time commitment, and the potential for overwhelm. Many of Barbri’s competitors advertise similar results for less money and less time. If you have other commitments to juggle and are looking for a flexible review course that will teach you only what you need to know in a relatively short amount of time, this is probably not the best choice. If your aim is a thorough review of topics, and you don’t mind paying the price, Barbri is a good option. COMPARE THE BEST BAR EXAM REVIEW COURSES!
Summary of Course Features
Video lectures in class or online by top law school professors
Barbri mobile app (available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices)
Personal Study Plan that keeps track of performance and adjusts your daily assignments
Detailed course outlines, lecture outlines and study materials, including thousands of MBE multiple choice problems with detailed answers and analysis
Conviser Mini Review (condensed outlines for quick review)
Barbri AMP technology to customize MBE study
Barbri Essay Architect to improve essay-writing skills
Lectures dedicated to essay writing
Personal feedback on submitted essays
Barbri Pass Predictor to compare your performance with that of your peers nationwide
Books of past essay questions from actual bar exams with model answers for the multistate and state portions of the exam
Individually assigned Barbri Director of Legal Education (DLE) for assistance, study strategies and moral support. All DLEs have taken the Barbri course themselves
Free retake if you fail. Those who do not pass can take the course again at no additional cost
Pricing
State Course: $1,400-$3,895 MPRE Review Course: free Compare BarBri to other Bar Review Courses by clicking the button below: COMPARE THE BEST BAR EXAM REVIEW COURSES!
BarBri Bar Review Course Information
FEATURES
Pros
Cons
Available in all 50 states
Comprehensive Preparation
One Of The Most Expensive Options
Comprehensive Option With a Wide Array of Tools and Study Materials
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
Themis Bar Review combines affordability with the flexibility of an online study program.
An online study portal can be accessed from anywhere, and a mobile app allows users to download content in advance for times they find themselves without internet access. Themis prides itself on its high pass rates, suggesting that this course gets results.
Themis Bar Review provides a great overview of a wide range of topics without overloading students with excessive material. Learners can tweak the suggested study program to meet their needs without being overwhelmed by too much information.
PROS
1. Available for a Wide Range of Devices
One of the first online programs in its field, Themis capitalizes on its universal availability. The entire Themis program is compatible with virtually all devices, including smartphones, computers, tablets, and e-readers. The app is available for iOS and Android, making this course very portable.
2. Concise Learning Modules
Video lectures are broken down into shorter, more manageable segments of 15-20 minutes to keep learners interested and focused. Based on research in instructional design and learning retention, Themis Bar Review presents information in smaller doses to prevent learners from becoming overwhelmed, and allows them to process information at their own pace.
3. Fair Price
Themis has a price tag of $1,295 to $1,695 depending on which state and program you choose. While this certainly isn’t cheap, it costs less than the most other major Bar Prep courses on the market. There are no hidden fees or associated costs, and some students may qualify for an additional discount if they plan to work in the public interest sector. Discounts are also available for active duty, reserve, and retired military members, as well as members of certain law school and legal organizations.
4. Helpful Planning Tools and Features
Although this course is aimed at learners who want optimal flexibility rather than a traditional classroom approach, several features help learners organize their time. A preset sequence of tasks, a to-do list, and a dynamic calendar keep learners accountable and on track. In addition, the myProgress tracker monitors which assignments have been completed. In other words, there is enough structure for those students who need it.
CONS
1. Not Available in All Areas
Themis Bar Review is currently available in 44 jurisdictions, as shown on the map on their site. However, students from all states can take advantage of the online review materials Themis offers on their website.
Pass Rates
Themis publishes detailed pass rates by state on its website. Pass rates range from 70-90%, with the higher pass rates coming from students who complete 75% of the course before the exam.
Ideal User
Themis is best suited for self-motivated learners who want the freedom to study on the go from a portable device. As the course is fully online, there are no classroom sessions to attend. Those who are working or have other obligations will benefit from this flexibility and the reasonable recommended study schedule (six to eight hours a day plus review on weekends).
One nice option is the ability to customize your level of independent study. In the Directed Study mode, you have to complete a daily list of tasks. If you miss a day or more, the dynamic calendar makes changes to your schedule so you can catch up to where you should be. In the Flex Study mode, you can skip around and complete assignments on your own without a prescribed schedule. It is possible to switch back and forth between the two modes, depending on your schedule and what type of instruction works best for you. Hard copies of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), state outlines, the MBE Milestone and Simulated exams, and Performance Test (PT) questions and answers are provided as well. Visual learners can print hard copies of the handouts that accompany each lecture to take notes.
My Suggestion
Themis Bar Review is a flexible and adaptable course with enough structure to keep students on track while they study for the bar exam. An early adopter of online learning, Themis supports more different kinds of devices than its competitors and has done the educational research to back up its approach. It offers a broad overview rather than an exhaustive review of all relevant material, which makes it ideal for those who want to concentrate on the big picture.
Structured daily tasks to be completed in sequence (optional “Directed Study Mode”)
On-demand video lectures followed by questions for maximum retention
Searchable outlines and interactive handouts
Option to study at own pace with “Flex Study Mode”
Practice MBE-type multiple choice questions and essay questions
Simulated paper exams and milestone exams track progress and prepare you for the actual test experience
24/7 tech support, academic support, and Personal Attorney Adviser (trained in bar review essay grading) and state director are available for guidance, to answer questions, and provide detailed feedback and advice for essays
MyProgress tracker monitors which assignments have been completed
Pass or a Free Repeat Guarantee for first-time Themis takers. Those who do not pass the bar the first time can take the course again at no additional cost.
Pricing
Full Course: $1,295 – $1,695, depending on your state and available discounts.
MPRE Review: free
Compare Themis to other Bar Review Courses by clicking the button below:
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
The bar exam is an important milestone for any lawyer’s professional career. Passing it legally admits you to the bar of your jurisdiction and recognizes you as a practicing professional.
Because of that, it’s a good idea to prepare for your exam date ahead of time. Even if you’re fresh out of law school, a quick refresher with an online bar review course can keep you from having to retake the exam later.
That’s what Crushendo offers: bar prep courses and other study resources to help you pass on your first try. Keep reading our full review to find out whether they can help you CRUSH the bar exam!
Overview of Crushendo
Crushendo was founded in 2017 and is focused on preparing students for the bar exam and other important legal milestones.
Ultimately, they believe that studying needs to be enjoyable and healthy— not just informative. That’s why their main set of study materials are designed to be used while exercising or moving throughout the house.
But how well does this study method work? I’ve taken a look at Crushendo’s bar exam prep to find out; you can see what I think below!
Features you can expect from Crushendo:
2000+ Practice Questions
Flashcards
Audio Lectures
Video Lectures
250+ Mnemonics
Practice Exams
What’s Included With Crushendo?
Audio Outlines
One of Crushendo’s distinguishing features is audio content. You’ll get a set of audio outlines with each course; these are kind of like mini-lectures covering different aspects of the bar exam. Listening to these while exercising or driving is a great way to increase study time without disrupting your daily schedule. Plus, they tend to keep information fresh in your brain long enough for you to naturally memorize it.
While this may not sound revolutionary, Crushendo’s audio lectures are different from others in one key way. Each one has been designed to be concise and to the point— you aren’t wasting your time being overloaded with dense information. And once you reinforce each lesson with the included mnemonics, you’ll be in a great position on exam day.
Self-Study Resources
You also get some additional self-study resources alongside Crushendo’s audio content. These include flashcards, mnemonic devices, practice problems, and study outlines. If you add these to your study routine, you can reinforce everything taught through the audio and video lectures.
Here’s how:
Mnemonic devices are the most useful feature included for this purpose. These help you memorize the nuances of each individual rule; they also work well alongside the included practice problems. Each problem has been pulled from Multistate Bar Exams over the last few years, which ensures that the information is fresh and accurate. And when you add the flashcards for extra help, you’ll be extremely familiar with the format and time limit of the real exam.
Video Content
On top of everything else they offer, Crushendo also includes a series of YouTube video lectures. These vary in length from 6 to 30 minutes, but each of them has valuable information for the exam.
Essentially, the video lectures are a more expansive version of the audio lectures. They’re also slightly longer due to the assumption that you’ll have the time to sit down for a video lesson. Just like the audio lectures, these break down complicated legal concepts into more manageable terms.
Despite being on YouTube, these lectures aren’t designed as disposable content. In fact, there’s a specific reason you shouldn’t watch them once and then move on:
Each lecture has been designed for you to watch it multiple times while still remaining engaged in the subject matter. That way you can revisit key areas as many times as you want, refreshing your memory of each concept while also practicing mnemonic devices.
Crushendo Pricing
You can buy a complete course with Crushendo for just under $800, but some materials can be purchased separately if you want to save some money.
Here are the current prices for Crushendo’s bar exam prep materials:
As you can see, you have a great deal of customization when it comes to choosing your price and materials.
Pros & Cons of Crushendo’s Bar Review Course
It’s important to know what else is out there to help you prepare for the bar exam. To see how Crushendo compares to the competition, here are some specific benefits and drawbacks:
Pro – Lifetime Access: There’s no time limit for using Crushendo’s study materials; set your own schedule without any stress. And if you ever need to review certain topics in the future, they’ll always be available to you.
Pro – Financing Options: You can choose to pay for Crushendo in installments through a financing plan with Affirm. This takes a lot of financial pressure off of your purchase and lets you focus on studying for the upcoming exam.
Pro – Engaging Content: Crushendo strives to make their materials as fun as they are informative. Because of that, their lectures have great energy and a sense of humor. You’ll be engaged with the material and willing to review it later if necessary.
Con – No Pass Guarantee: Unfortunately, Crushendo’s study course doesn’t come with a pass guarantee. This is something that many other bar prep courses offer— but there are several user reviews of people who did pass after using this course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still unsure if you should sign up for Crushendo? Here are some of the most common questions asked about this bar prep course:
Q: Can I share Crushendo study materials with other people?
A: Unfortunately, no; the lectures, flashcards, and other materials you purchase through Crushendo are only licensed for personal use.
Q: Does Crushendo offer any free content?
A: If you’re interested in free content, Crushendo uploads lectures to their YouTube channel and manages a blog page. This is a great way to see their materials firsthand before making a purchase.
Q: How are memory devices used in Crushendo?
A: Currently, Crushendo uses two key memory techniques in their lectures and flashcards: mnemonics and memory palaces. Both of these techniques help you remember important concepts in nonstandard ways and have scientifically-proven results.
Who Is Crushendo’s Ideal Customer?
Even with all the information I’ve given you, it can be tough to decide on a course. That’s why you should consider signing up if any of the following applies to you.
If you like to multitask while studying, this is the course for you.
If you enjoy humor while learning, this is the course for you.
If you prefer to study on the go, this is the course for you.
If you learn best in a classroom setting, this isn’t the course for you.
Final Recommendation
Crushendo’s bar exam course is a great way to brush up on legal knowledge before the bar exam. Their audio lectures are a great hands free study tool, and their practice questions will allow you to familiarize yourself with the test itself. Plus, they include several effective memory devices in each of their lessons.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
Kaplan Bar Review offers a full range of courses tailor-made for individual needs. Choices include their Complete Bar Review, LLM Bar Review Courses, and a variety of Multistate Bar Exam Courses and Supplements.
Kaplan has been in the test prep industry for more than 70 years and is known for its comprehensive review and full-length simulated exams. Their classroom lectures can be attended in person, watched synchronously (live), or on-demand at home, depending on the course.
PROS
1. Comprehensive Bar Review
The Complete Bar Review Course includes a heavy schedule of classroom or recorded lectures, outlines, and more than 4,000 exam-like MBE practice questions in a question bank to create customized quizzes. The price includes unlimited essay grading for a maximum level of individual guidance. A free MPRE Review Course is offered online at Kaplan’s website. An outline, course materials, lectures, MPRE questions, and flashcards are available for download. A hard copy version is available with an additional shipping fee.
2. Structured Program
Strict organization and mandatory classroom/online lecture attendance keeps students on track, making it harder to fall behind. Assignments are tailored to improve areas of weakness. The program follows a set course of instruction, homework, practice questions and essay writing, testing, and final review to optimize performance on the bar exam.
3. Flexibility
Lectures are offered in-person and online. Recorded lectures can be accessed anywhere, anytime from smart phones and other portable devices (both iOS and Android). The schedule allows for some wiggle room to catch up on weekends if students fall slightly behind.
4. Employer Payment Options
They have an online “Bill My Firm” enrollment option if your employer is paying for the exam. (Employer/Law Firm is billed directly.)
5. Additional Support
Ask-an-Expert Support option includes academic attorneys who are available to answer additional questions as needed. For an additional fee, experienced tutors are available to help those who need even more personalized coaching. Technical support is provided for all of Kaplan’s test preparation courses.
CONS
1. Price
Kaplan is one of the more expensive options when it comes to reviewing for the bar. The price tag for the Complete Bar Review Course varies by state, ranging from an affordable $1895 (Hawaii) to more than $3,500 (New York, Florida, and North Carolina). Prices will vary according to promotions and specials.
2. Work Load
The sheer volume of work can be overwhelming for some students. This lengthy course touches on every concept covered on the bar exam, and requires numerous assignments, essays, personal outlines, and practice MBE questions to be completed outside of class for optimal preparation. Learners who struggle with information overload may prefer a more streamlined review that emphasizes a more general overview.
3. Not Available in All States
Kaplan Bar Review is not scheduled to be available in the following states until summer 2016: Kansas, Maine, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
4. Quality of MBE questions
Kaplan has drawn criticism from some test takers that their “exam-like” MBE questions are not as similar to those on the actual bar exam as the practice questions used by some of their competitors. Still, Kaplan stays current when it comes to changes in the bar exam and asserts that students will be ready for the new MBE that will be featured on upcoming exams.
Online Options
Like its competitors, Kaplan has jumped onto the online-access bandwagon to meet demands for flexibility. Lectures do not have to be viewed in a traditional classroom setting. In addition to online features that allow you to track progress and feedback, an interactive online syllabus and an Online Lecture Library help learners stay on task. The basic lectures are available in the following formats:
Live or Live Online
Attend lectures in a traditional classroom or online from another location at a pre-scheduled time. With this option, lectures are simulcast for those who log in remotely. Questions can be asked in the chat function to receive immediate answers.
On-Demand
Lectures are available 24/7 in the Online Lecture Library if you miss a scheduled lecture, don’t want to attend a physical session, or need to review all or part of one. Internet access is required.
My Suggestion
Kaplan Bar Review appeals to both traditional learners who prefer a bricks-and-mortar classroom experience, as well as those who like to self-study online. Kaplan is an established review course that keeps students on track while they study for the bar exam. The flexibility of being able to attend lectures in person or online makes their course a good fit for most students who are serious about passing the Bar.
36 day lecture for subject review and practice (number of days varies by state)
4-5 day full-length simulated exams and review for all parts of exam
14-day “final countdown study plan”
Lectures available in-person and online
Homework assignments include multiple choice questions, practice essays, quizzes, and simulated exams.
Ask-an-Expert support is included for additional questions
“Reports” feature in online syllabus shows scores for all graded tests, quizzes and practice essays
Conditional money back guarantee
Pricing
Complete State Course: $1,895 – $3,595 (depends on your state)
MBE Supplemental Courses:
Combination Course Price: $1049
Foundation Course Price: $699
Final Review Course Price: $449
MPRE Review Course: free
The Money Back Guarantee has stringent requirements: only first-time bar candidates with a JD from an ABA approved law school who have completed all basic study requirements before taking the exam immediately after the course will be reimbursed. For example, attendance is required for at least 90% of lectures.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
Okay. You’ve selected the state in which you want to take the bar exam, turned in your application, and signed up to take the next bar exam in a few months. What’s the next step?
I recommend finding a good bar review course. This will ensure you’re 100% prepared to handle all of your bar exams and pass.
Even if you’re a freshly graduated law school student, this can be an invaluable educational resource that makes the difference between passing on your first try— or having to retake it next year.
If you’ve done any research into bar exam preparation courses, you might have narrowed down your decision to two of the biggest names: BARBRI and Themis.
But which one is better? Much like virtually every law school essay, there isn’t a simple answer.
Instead, it depends – on you, on what you’re looking for, your study habits, and your past history with the bar exam — just to name a few things.
So here’s what you should know when deciding between Themis vs. BARBRI!
Barbri Bar Prep
According to BARBRI’s site, they have helped law school students pass the bar exam for over 50 years. Based on their own analysis, more lawyers have passed the bar with their assistance than all other bar prep courses combined.
Here are some fast facts:
Plans and Prices
At the time of publication, BARBRI is offering the following plans and prices (which sometimes fluctuate):
Self Pass: $1,999
Guided Pass: $2,699
Ultimate Pass: $3,999
What’s Included with BARBRI Bar Review?
Here’s what you get with each option:
Self Pass: On demand lectures, simulated MBE and pass predictor score report, more than 2,500 multiple choice practice questions, select expert graded essays, online personal study plan, personal study plan progress center, 100 essays for reviews and self-grading, bar review baseline, online essay architect, immersion workshops, BARBRI study plan app, LawMaster Study Keys app, attorney support.
Guided Pass: You get everything you would get for the Self Pass program but you also get live and on demand lectures, unlimited expert graded essays and a hard copy book set.
Ultimate Pass: You get everything that is included in Guided Pass, but you also get Multistate Edge access, mini MBA course access, e-discovery course access, and a tablet.
BARBRI says that you can study for the bar exam in any U.S. jurisdiction. It also offers a 0% monthly down payment option for those who qualify.
Guarantee
BARBRI’s guarantee to allow you to retake the course without paying any more money to the company depends on which course you were in:
Self Pass: One same-state online retake for the next bar exam if you completed at least 87% of the course.
Guided Pass: One same-state online retake for the next bar exam regardless of how much of the course you completed.
Themis is a company with less history in the bar prep industry. However, it’s becoming more popular among law students thanks to its flexible platform.
Here are the essentials:
Plans and Prices
Themis has a single bar review course currently priced at $2,395. It also offers an L.L.M. Advantage course for $2,795. This can be an invaluable resource if you’re interested in post-graduate legal education— one that’s not provided with BARBRI.
What’s Included with Themis Bar Prep?
The bar review course offers the following:
Daily instruction through on-demand video lectures
Interactive lecture materials
3,600 MBE-styled practice questions
Hundreds of practice essays
Unlimited essay grading
Mobile app to study on the go
Searchable outlines
Daily calendar adjusted to your pace that provides a task list
Diagnostic assessments
Personalized advice and feedback
Workshops on test-taking strategies
Themis currently offers its courses for 44 states.
Guarantee
Themis offers a Pass or a Free Repeat Guarantee in which first-time Themis takers receive a free repeat course for the next administration of the same state bar exam.
Comments Around the Web
Some of the comments from people who said they purchased a Themis bar preparation course include:
Very Good:Very happy with the bar prep course and passed on the first try
Very Good:More than enough graded essays with feedback
Good:Their study plan is realistic and doable
Good:Plenty of multiple-choice questions
Good:Liked the practice exams
Good:Presenters who were familiar with the state laws for the jurisdictions they cover
Good:MBE questions prepared them for what to expect during the real bar exam
Good:Felt the prep course helped them pace for the actual test
Good:Taught them helpful strategies to reduce the number of possible answers
Good:Felt it was flexible and you could move to different topics if you wanted to
Good:Does a good job of teaching black letter law
Bad:Felt that the course did not go into enough depth on some subjects
Pros and Cons
Here are some of the good things people have said about bar courses from Themis:
Great presenters who were knowledgeable about state subjects
Flexible format with online set-up that allows you to study at your own convenience
Videos are much more digestible and offered in 20-minute segments
Flashcards for multistate subjects
Easy to track progress and identify weaknesses
Helps you memorize rule statements better
Counselor calls you to check on your progress and provide support throughout your prep course
Affordable with tons of discounts, including one that applies when taking the exam from another state.
These are some criticisms students have made about this prep company and its study materials:
Not available in all jurisdictions
Outlines were not as robust as BARBRI’s
May not go into enough depth in certain subjects that test takers may find challenging
Some of the things about both bar study courses are similar, so they may not be worth considering as dealbreakers. These include:
Test preparation schedule: Both programs are based on a typical 8 – 10 week study schedule.
Retake guarantee: Both programs offer you the ability to take the prep course again if you fail the bar exam on your first try after taking the course, but the rules and guidelines are slightly different.
On-demand: Both programs offer online videos you can watch on your own schedule, although the quality of the presentations may differ.
Public interest scholarship: Both programs offer a public interest scholarship or discount for students who are or will pursue public interest work, although the price of the discount and guidelines on how to secure this pricing may differ.
1L/2L materials: Both companies offer free study materials for 1L and 2L students to introduce them to their courses and help them prepare for final exams.
Pass rates: Both companies offer strong pass rates, with about 85-90% for first-time test takers. Average pass rates are higher when students have completed more of the program.
Online breakdown: Both programs also offer online interfaces that let test takers see what questions they are missing and highlight weak areas.
Essay grading: Both programs offer the option to have examiners grade essays, although the number of essays or quality of grading may differ.
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
Need more structure
Prefer to have someone else determine their study schedule and guide them during the bar preparation process
Prefer a live, in-class option
Themis may be best for students who:
Are working or nontraditional students
Have less time to study or cannot study in person
Want to study at home
Want more online and mobile tools at their disposal
Want to pay a lower price
Meet one of the discount options that are currently available
Final Tips
Whether you ultimately decide to go with BARBRI or Themis, the main thing you should keep in mind is that bar exam prep is long and difficult. However, if you follow the outlines that the bar prep course provides you and mechanically go through preparation, you will increase your odds of passing the exam. Some other studying strategies that you may find useful include:
Take practice tests to get yourself physically and mentally prepared for the real test.
Carefully read the answer explanations for all of the questions, whether you got them right or wrong. This will help you reinforce your understanding of the law.
Use the tools provided by your bar prep course to identify your areas of weakness and spend more time on those subjects.
Start studying for the bar exam as soon as possible.
Learn what study method best helps you retain information and use it as much as possible. This may be watching videos, listening to lectures, completing interactive handouts, using flashcards, or other methods.
Consider taking a free MPRE course with the bar prep course provider to see how you respond to their teaching methods.
Consider supplementing your bar prep course with other tools or services. Many students who successfully passed the bar exam the first time also used AdaptiBar.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
Crush the Bar Exam has given BARMax Review the award for Best Bar Review Course! Their bar exam prep course has earned the #1 spot due to its flexible course offering along with all of the following reasons:
Affordable price for those on a strict budget
Suggested study calendar to keep you on track
Audio lectures by Harvard-trained law professors
1,750+ real multiple choice questions from past Bar exams
Real practice essays and PTs with model answers and/or point sheets
BARmax, unlike other courses, has mastered the art of studying on the go. Life is hectic and everyone is juggling 20 things at once; that’s why you need a course that’s going to keep up with all you have to do.
No matter what device you use, laptop or smartphone, you are able to pick up quick study sessions anywhere with BARMax. This medallion signifies that BARMax has gone above and beyond to create a course that will help you pass the Bar exam so you can start practicing law in your given jurisdiction.
If you’re simply looking for the best Bar prep course to help you pass, BarMax is your best bet!
Many courses are “mobile optimized” but really have limited functionality on a smaller screen. BarMax is one of the best on-the-go study courses and it is available at a much lower price than some of its competitors.
Despite the relatively low cost, there’s a lot of value for this review course, as it is comprehensive and comes with great planning tools. BarMax is a great Bar review course and will get you to the promised land even if you’re constantly on the move.
PROS
1. Flexibility
The BarMax online prep course gives you the ability to carry all the information you need around in your pocket. Having access to stacks of books through the app makes this course the easiest to use on the fly or whenever you have a spare moment to study. Studying for the bar exam is almost fun when you can do it on your iPhone or iPad at the coffee shop, gym, or beach. Internet access is not required to access content through the BarMax app, and you don’t have to waste time driving to class.
2. BarMax Price
BarMax Bar Exam Review’s comprehensive state course price is much lower than the industry average. The price includes lifetime access to audio lectures from Harvard Law alumni, such as the legendary Arthur Miller, corresponding black-letter law outlines, and flashcards. There’s more than 1,750 real multiple-choice questions (MBEs), real practice essays, real performance test (PT) questions, personalized writing revisions, analytics and customer support by phone, email and in-app message boards. This is an incredible value.
If you’re worried about paying for their course, this company also offers 0% financing. Because of this, you’re able to get immediate access to any BarMax course and split the purchase into budget friendly 3, 6, 12, or 18 monthly payments. They also offer a public interest discount for students pursuing careers in public interest law.
In addition to the comprehensive state courses, Bar Max offers supplements for the MBE portion. For less than $100 a month, you can enroll in their full MBE prep course that includes audio lectures, outlines, flashcards and over 1,500 MBE questions. Alternatively, you can enroll in a more affordable question bank package for less than $50 a month.
3. Study Planner
BarMax provides a recommended study calendar that sets forth daily assignments and a clear overview of the material, including how much you will need to study. The calendar suggests a more reasonable study plan of 15-25 hours per week for 12 weeks. This efficiency is unparalleled. Additionally, since BarMax is the only bar review course to offer instant and lifetime access, it is an amazing option for students who would like to get started with bar prep sooner—a great idea if you are working full-time or are an international student.
4. Instructor Help
The instructors who design, organize, and teach BarMax’s study materials are among the best in the field. Because of this, you’ll have the ability to make the most of their expertise when enrolled in one of their prep course packages. If you need a little extra help on certain subjects, feel free to reach out to your instructor during Office Hours for some much-needed assistance. And if you need even more help, you can always opt for BarMax’s Private Tutoring; pay by session or as part of a whole package.
Ideal User
This course is especially suited for students who may be overwhelmed by the massive information overload that is typical in other review courses. Straightforward outlines and easy-to-understand lectures along with actual multiple-choice questions (MBEs) from previous bar exams, as well as flashcards and practice essays make this program less complex and more effective.
BarMax currently offers preparation for the bar exam in California (CA), Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)—currently used in 33 jurisdictions, including New York—the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the CA First Year Law Students Exam (FLYSE or Baby Bar) and the MPRE (free).
Black-letter law outlines for every subject with all pertinent material needed to pass the exam
Suggested study calendar
Audio lectures by Harvard-trained law professors
1,750+ real multiple choice questions from past bar exams
Real practice essays and PTs with model answers and/or point sheets
Flashcards
Message Boards for help with MBE questions
Two writing critiques (your choice of either essays or PTs)
Technical support team is available Monday through Friday, with emergency support available on weekends and holidays as well
Additional for-fee options include remote tutoring by phone/online, additional essay and PT critiques, and notebooks for those who prefer to study with hard copy and print materials.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
If becoming a lawyer was easy, everyone would do it.
There are some serious hurdles every legal professional has to overcome— but if you’re preparing to take the bar exam, the good news is that you’ve almost reached the end.
But don’t take that as an excuse to slack off. After all, you’ll need to study even harder than you did for the LSAT if you want to be among the 80% of law school students who pass on their first attempt.1 Furthermore, your performance on the exam can determine if you’re among the 72% of students who land long-term full time employment after passing.2
So how do you prepare? Simple:
Using one of the best bar review courseslisted below will ensure you’re both motivated and capable to overcome this hurdle and start your legal career.
Which Bar Course is Right for You?
We’ve put together a short list of questions that will help us determine which Bar course is the best pick for you!
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Your Answers
Check out our detailed analysis below:
Compare The Top 9 Best Bar Exam Prep Course in July 2021 :
Flexibility: While BarMax is now also available online, having access to stacks of books through the app makes this course the easiest to use on the fly or whenever you have a spare moment to study. Studying for the bar exam is almost fun when you can do it on your iPhone or iPad at the coffee shop, gym, or beach. Internet access is not required to access content through the BarMax app, and you don’t have to waste time driving to class.
Price: At $1,499, BarMax Bar Exam Review’s comprehensive state course price is much lower than the industry average. The price includes lifetime access to audio lectures from Harvard Law alumni, such as the legendary Arthur Miller, corresponding black-letter law outlines, and flashcards. There’s more than 1,750 real multiple-choice questions (MBEs), real practice essays, real performance test (PT) questions, personalized writing revisions, analytics and customer support by phone, email and in-app message boards. This is an incredible value.
Study Planner:BarMax provides a recommended study calendar that sets forth daily assignments and a clear overview of the material, including how much you will need to study. The calendar suggests a more reasonable study plan of 15-25 hours per week for 12 weeks. This efficiency is unparalleled. Additionally, since BarMax is the only bar review course to offer instant and lifetime access, it is an amazing option for students who would like to get started with bar prep sooner—a great idea if you are working full-time or are an international student.
0% Financing:BarMax also offers 0% financing, which allows you to get immediate access to any BarMax course and split the purchase into budget friendly 3, 6 or 12 monthly payments. BarMax also offers a public interest discount for students pursuing careers in public interest law.
Bottom Line: BarMax is such an appealing choice for students due to its reasonable price and flexible coursework. Students can take advantage of their generous payment program and offline-compatible study materials
Practice Questions: Whether you’re studying for the UBE, MBE, or MPRE, you can get all the practice questions you need with this review course. Quimbee offers 1,800+ practice questions with both their UBE and MBE prep courses. But if that’s somehow not enough for you, they also offer a staggering 4,900+ additional practice questions as part of their Study Aids monthly subscription package.
Multifaceted Education: For one price, Quimbee provides you with a large catalog of bar study materials in several different formats. If you want to learn new concepts through lectures, check out their library of professionally-produced video lessons. Alternatively, they provide text study materials in both print and digital formats— and much more.
Financing and Affordability:If you’re worried about paying for Quimbee’s UBE prep course, they offer flexible financing through Affirm. Additionally, paying for one of their bar prep packages will earn you credit towards other purchases on their site, which can add up into a pretty good deal.
Mobile App:Nowadays, it’s important for most students to have access to study materials wherever they are. Fortunately, Quimbee can accommodate this need with their free mobile app available on both iOS and Android devices. With this, you can access all your bar prep materials on your phone or tablet without losing connectivity or functionality.
Bottom Line: Quimbee offers a slickly designed and well-researched bar review course for law students all over the country. Whether you need to prep for the UBE or you just want to brush up on some MPRE concepts during your commute, this is a terrific choice to get the education you need
Varied Catalog: Crushendo has a huge library of study materials that can effectively prepare you for the MBE and UBE, including over 2,000 practice questions. But it’s not just multiple-choice questions you can use to study— they also provide hundreds of mnemonic devices, downloadable audio lectures, and flashcards.
Audio Lectures: Do you consider yourself an auditory learner? If you like to learn through listening, Crushendo offers a lot of content that will perfectly suit your educational preferences. Not only are their lectures easily downloaded for listening offline, but they even include audio flashcards that drill important concepts to improve your memory of them.
Access Granted:How long does it take you to study for an exam? You probably need all the time you can get, especially when preparing for something as tough as the bar. Fortunately, you’ll have lifetime access to Crushendo’s study materials with only one affordable up-front payment— so you’re free to take all the time you need!
MPRE Not Included:Although it’s common to see a bar prep course offer some sort of free MPRE content, Crushendo unfortunately does not. However, they do offer an affordable study guide for this exam that’s just as effective as the rest of their catalog.
Bottom Line: If you want to pass the last hurdle and become a lawyer, Crushendo is a fantastic way to do it. They offer great study materials that are affordable enough to keep you out of any more student debt!
Fully Comprehensive:Kaplan’s Complete Bar Review Course contains a large amount of resources and is available in just about every state. With this course students have access to unlimited essay grading, live lectures (in-person, or live-online, and on-demand), full-length simulated exams with review, a final countdown study plan, and 4,000 exam-like MBE questions.
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.
Flexibility: Kaplan not only provides their complete course in most states, but students have the option to attend course lectures either in-person or live online from the comfort of wherever. In addition all students will have access to their 24/7 Online lecture Library where they can review the course lectures on-demand. They also have a mobile app and through it users can access some of their bar review course materials on the go.
Price: This is going to be one of the more expensive options depending on which state you plan on studying for, but as you can see it comes with a ton of material. Prices for the Complete Bar Review Course range anywhere from the more affordable $1,895 in some states, up to around $3,600 in others.
Bottom Line: No one offers an educational package with the same level of quality as Kaplan. Their live courses are widely available and exhaustively comprehensive, although students will need to pay up for enrollment.
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!
Anxiety Relief:Answering practice questions can help most students prepare for their exams to an extent, but it can only help so much at preventing pre-test jitters. Thanks to the assistance of an experienced yoga instructor, Bar Prep Hero’s UBE Premium course provides audio files for students to listen to in order to relieve any anxiety they might have before taking their exams.
So Many Flashcards:If you thought the number of practice questions Bar Prep Hero provides is impressive, you’ll be blown away by how many flashcards are included in their MBE prep materials. 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.
Limited Accessibility:With so many appealing study materials included in Bar Prep Hero, you might be worried about having enough time to take advantage of everything included in your course. And while this won’t be an issue when enrolling in their MBE Premium or UBE Premium courses, this may be a concern for their lowest-priced option. With only one year of access, you might feel like you need to rush through the thousands of questions and flashcards before it expires!
Bottom Line: This is a bar review course with one focus— preparing students for exam conditions and exam content with a large volume of multiple-choice questions and flashcards. If that’s what you need to take your tests with the highest confidence, Bar Prep Hero is right up your alley.
Smart Studying: The best way for a smart person to study is by using smart study products. That’s the reasoning behind the bar prep study materials provided by this company. Their Priority Outlines focus on the most relevant concepts for each section as they appear on the bar exam— down to what percentage of the questions cover each one!
Free Trials: For those of you who aren’t sure if SmartBarPrep is really capable of providing the bar exam study resources you need, there are plenty of free resources available for you to try out. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the essay portion of the exam or you want something more state-specific, there’s something available to give you a taste.
Smart Flashcards: In addition to their other smart study materials, perhaps the most impressive feature offered by this bar review course is their Smart Flashcards. These can be accessed on your desktop computer or on any mobile device, and they allow you to identify and strengthen your problem areas. You’re not going to find this anywhere else!
Price Variation: Since the bar exam varies from state to state, SmartBarPrep varies the costs of their prep courses as well. This isn’t a big deal for students in some states, like California— but it means that students in states like Oregon will end up paying higher prices due to these variations.
Bottom Line: This isn’t like any other bar exam prep course currently on the market— which is a positive for some and a negative for others. If you’re even slightly interested in SmartBarPrep, check out their free resources.
Authentic Study Materials: All of AdaptiBar’s practice questions are licensed questions that have been released from past bar exams. By practicing with authentic MBE questions (instead of simulated questions written by test prep companies) you’ll be better prepared for the questions you will see on the actual MBE exam. AdaptiBar offers more than 1,749 real MBE practice questions and 215 simulated questions (1,964 total), giving students a lot of first-rate practice material at an affordable price.
Technology Adapts to You: AdaptiBar’s software automatically adapts questions to your ability level based on your performance. In the Practice Questions mode, students are presented with certain types of questions until they consistently perform well on that particular type. The Past Performance Table tracks how many questions have been answered and calculates the accuracy of your answers, so you’ll be able to target and improve on your weaker areas.
Restricted to MBE Exam: Students looking for a comprehensive review course to help them cover all the material on the bar exam will be disappointed, as AdaptiBar focuses exclusively on the MBE portion of the exam. As a result, AdaptiBar is most effective when used as a supplement to a more thorough review course.
Bottom Line: AdaptiBar offers an enticing study package with powerful adaptive learning technology and real questions from the exam. Unfortunately, they only offer a study course for one section of the BAR
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.
Efficient Learning Modules: Their video lecture library is made up of shorter, more manageable 15-20 minute video segments. This can help students stay more engaged with their lessons and increase retention of study material. Themis allows students to learn at their own pace and in a very manageable format.
Availability: Themis’s course is currently available in 44 jurisdictions, so some student’s won’t be able to take full advantage of the course. That being said, for the states that they do offer a review for, students will receive a fully comprehensive course tailored to their state bar.
Bottom Line: Themis has done a great job breaking down their educational modules into shorter lengths of time, making it easy to squeeze in a quick study session. It’s too bad they have limited physical availability.
Comprehensive: Barbri has been a big name in bar exam preparation for close to 50 years. They offer an in-depth review that includes live-online or in-person lectures, multiple outlines, online study materials with progress tracking, a mobile app, simulated exams, multiple workbooks, and essay feedback.
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.
Price: Barbri may have the most experience with bar exam preparation, but they definitely make their students pay for it. No matter which state your studying for, Barbri is going to be one of the most expensive options. Their prices range from $1,400 up to $3,895 depending on which state you are preparing for.
Bottom Line: If students are willing to shell out the premium cost for BarBri, they will be rewarded with an extremely comprehensive BAR review course with full availability in all 50 states.
Need some more info about the bar exam? 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. They also have financing options and a money-back guarantee, making it much easier to justify paying their enrollment fees.
What is Barbri’s pass rate?
Although BARBRI doesn’t publish exact pass rates for their students, they provide some approximated data that help paint a clearer picture. According to them, 9 out of 10 BARBRI students pass their exams with up to 25 more points than the average exam taker.3
How do I choose a bar prep course?
In order to determine which bar prep course will be the most helpful, it’s a good idea for you to identify your preferred learning style based on Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.4 Once you’ve identified the style of learning that’s most effective for you, choose a course that offers study materials suited towards that learning style. For example, a video-heavy course like BarMax is great for visual-spatial learners, and a course like Quimbee that has a lot of practice questions is ideal for logical-mathematical learners.
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.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
Using AdaptiBar’s patented, adaptive technology, licensed MBE questions,
and diagnostic tools on any device, you will receive the best possible preparation for the MBE
that is proven to accurately predict your MBE score. The AdaptiBar program also includes a mobile app for all devices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5vHHwBfeS8
PROS
1. Authentic Material
100% of practice questions in the program are licensed questions that have been released from past bar exams. By practicing with authentic MBE questions (as opposed to those written by test prep companies) students will be better prepared for the questions they will encounter on the actual exam. AdaptiBar recently added 200 new simulated questions in Civil Procedure and 15 in Real Property for 1,964 MBE practice questions.
2. Score Predictor
The AdaptiBar course keeps track of your overall accuracy rate as you answer practice questions while you study. The company claims that the accuracy rate generated by AdaptiBar is a relatively accurate predictor of the score you will receive on the bar exam, although some students report that the questions on the actual MBE seem more difficult.
3. Adaptive Technology
The AdaptiBar software automatically adapts questions to your strengths and weaknesses by tracking your performance as you answer questions. In the Practice Questions mode, you will be presented with more of the questions you struggle with, one question at a time, until you become better at questions of that type. The Past Performance Table allows you to see how many questions you have answered overall and calculates your accuracy in answering them to help guide your study sessions and show you which outlines to review more thoroughly.
4. Improves Time Management Skills
AdaptiBar also helps with exam pacing by keeping track of how long it takes you to answer each question. This will help you determine whether you should spend less time on particular questions and move through the exam more quickly, or spend more time on a question if it helps you select the correct answer. You only get 1.8 minutes to answer each question on the bar exam, and AdaptiBar’s time tracking feature will help you learn to use your time wisely. You can also use the interactive Message Center that guides you through the entire process of preparing for the MBE. As you study, AdaptiBar will assess your performance and provide you with progressive feedback and advice on what step to take next.
5. Customizable Practice Exams
The MBE Simulator & Prep course comes with NBCE’s practice exams 1-4 (100 questions each from 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2013). You can also create an unlimited number of customized practice exams to take under exam-like conditions. In the Practice Exam Mode you can choose subjects and subtopics and the number of questions in order to generate an exam tailored to your needs. Submit your exam for grading to receive a detailed exam report that breaks down your performance with respect to topic and timing in addition to detailed explanations for each answer.
6. Test Drive
Try AdaptiBar’s course offerings for free to see if this program is a good fit for your study habits and ability level. You can register for a free trial that includes a small selection of simulated practice questions along with the adaptive technology and all other features of the MBE program on their website. Try it today to see if AdaptiBar is the right supplementary program for you.
CONS
1. MBE Practice Only
Many students studying for the bar exam are looking for a comprehensive review course to help them cover all the material necessary to pass their exam. However, AdaptiBar focuses only on the MBE portion of the exam which is why it should only be used as a supplement to a more comprehensive bar exam review course.
Ideal User
This focused MBE review program is best for students who plan to use MBE preparation in conjunction with a more comprehensive bar exam review course. Self-motivated students who can find the time and dedication to study on their own without a set schedule of classes or reminders will get the most out of AdaptiBar’s self-paced online course.
One nice feature is that explanations are provided for both correct and incorrect answer choices to help you understand why you got a question right or wrong. It helps to know that you got the answer correct for the right reason, not just because you guessed or because you chose the right answer through a flawed reasoning process. Students can choose between the Practice Question and the Exam Question modes. You can also create a customized Past Questions report of all the questions that you previously answered in both modes that can be sorted by various categories for further review and practice.
The Early Access Option is a good choice for those who want to get a jump start on their studies. For an additional $125, this option allows you to access course materials before your session is scheduled to begin. Best for visual learners, AdaptiBar also offers online video lectures and flashcards to help you study and memorize key MBE topics.
My Suggestion
AdaptiBar’s adaptive technology is good for helping students pinpoint their weaknesses and drill those content areas until they improve. Their Practice Questions and Exams make their course an effective tool to help students prepare for the MBE portion of the bar exam, but it should not be used as your primary study materials because it doesn’t cover all areas of the Bar exam. Click below to purchase AdaptiBar’s course.
1,964 practice questions (1,749 Licensed Questions; 200 Simulated Civil Procedure Questions, 15 Real Property)
Exam Simulator
NCBE’s Online Practice Exams 1, 2, 3 & 4
Adaptive Technology
Practice Question or Exam Question Modes
1,000+ Flashcards
Online Video Lectures
Customer Support via Phone & Email & Live Chat
Free Trial
Pricing
Save $30 on all AdaptiBar Prep today!
Users can now sign up for AdaptiBar and pay with PayPal Credit. PayPal Credit offers “No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months” so it is a great option for students interested in financing their bar prep.
MBE Simulator & Prep
Price: $395
Includes: 1,964 Practice Questions, Exam Simulator, NCBE’s Online Practice Exams 1, 2, 3 & 4. Course may be accessed either Aug. 1st – Feb. 29th (February bar exam) or March 1st – July 31st (July bar exam).
Baby Bar MBE Simulator & Prep
Price: $295
Includes: 814 Licensed Questions, Exam Simulator. Course may be accessed Nov. 1st – June 30th (June bar exam) or July 1st – Oct. 31st (October bar exam).
Smart Online Flashcards
Price: $95
Includes: Lifetime access to 950+ flashcards to help review for all MBE subjects.
Video Lectures
Price: $15+
Includes: Add-on option of online video lectures by Professor Jonathan Grossman. Only available in conjunction with and during an active prep course. Unlimited access to streaming videos that will not have to be purchased again if you need additional study time for the bar exam.
To compare AdaptiBar to other Bar exam prep courses, please click the button below:
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
One skill that is expected to be cultivated and refined during law school is the ability to write well. This makes sense, since good writing will be essential for many legal careers. You will likely need to write memos, client letters, motions, petitions, briefs and other legal documents— so good writing is important! Consequently, the bar exam takes note of this and makes writing an essential component of it.
Whether you’re taking the Multistate Essay Exam or a state-specific bar exam, you will be writing lots of essays during the bar exam and in your preparation for it. So here’s what you need to know about essay writing on the bar exam and strategies you can implement to improve your score.
Check out the most important bar exam essaywriting tips below!
Most states use the Multistate Essay Exam. If you’ll be testing in one of these states, here are the basics you need to know:
There are 6 essay questions in total. This part of the test is 3 hours, so you have 30 minutes per question. Also, the subjects for this portion of the test cover:
Agency
Partnerships
Corporations and limited liability companies
Civil procedure
Conflict of laws
Constitutional law
Contracts
Criminal law and procedure
Evidence
Family law
Real property
Secured transactions
Torts
Trusts and future interests
Wills and estates
While any of these topics are fair game, these particular topics make up the majority of the MEE:
Civil procedure
Contracts
Corporations and LLCs
Family law and trusts
Future interests
Consequently, you may want to spend extra time preparing for these areas of the law while also studying for the other subjects.
The good news is that there are guides you can use to determine the most highly tested essay rules. These bar exam study resources will identify these rules and teach you additional rules of law.
Here’s another important tip: focus your time on these major rules instead of wasting too much energy on nuanced rules that are less likely to be tested.
Keep reading for more important study tips to help you pass the MEE:
Bar Essays Studying Tips
The first part of learning how to tackle the essay writing portion of the bar exam is to develop a solid study plan. Your plan should incorporate the following:
Learn More About the IRAC Method and Format
You may have used a variety of writing styles in law school, such as IRAC, CRAC or CREAC. However, the IRAC structure is the most commonly used one on the bar exam, and is what bar examiners will expect. Hence, you need to be familiar with this writing system:
I – Issue
R – Rule
A – Analysis
C – Conclusion
This system ensures that you write concisely and only include the necessary information. It’s not flowery and won’t contain a lot of excess content— which is a good thing, since you’re on such a constrained time limit!
As you practice, read through your answers and label each sentence with an I,R,A, or C. if a sentence cannot be labeled under one of these letters, it probably does not belong.
Practice Essay Writing Each Week
When you spend so much time studying for the bar exam, it may feel tempting to skip practicing the lengthy essay portion of the test. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes made by most test takers.
Bar essays are an essential component of the test; they can often help leverage a higher score if you don’t do as well on some of the other test portions. Furthermore, while reviewing the rules of law is important, writing about them can show you understand them and know how they apply.
Basically, don’t leave practicing these essays until the end of your preparation. Instead, make practicing essays part of your weekly study plan!
Practice Under Timed Conditions
When you first begin practicing the essay portion of the bar exam, you may not want to time yourself so that you can be sure you are spotting all the issues and honing your writing style. However, toward the middle of your study time, you will want to start practicing under timed conditions.
It is not enough to know how to write a good essay. You need to know how to write a good essay quickly. You need to be able to quickly discuss the most important issues and know when not to elaborate on others.
The best way to study for these questions is to find previous MEE questions and practice them under timed conditions. Then, review the analysis to determine how you did.
Review Rules the Last Two Weeks of Your Study
Focus on memorizing as many rules of law as possible during your last two weeks of studying. You’ll need to be able to recall these basic rules as part of your essay writing without hesitation, so be sure that you can recite rules of law without even thinking about them.
Okay, so now it’s the day of the bar exam— you need to know how to truly tackle these questions in the moment of truth. Here’s what you need to do:
Plan The Time You Have for Writing Essays
Before beginning this portion of the test, you should have a plan on how you will manage your time, such as:
First 10 minutes: Read the essay prompt. Maybe read it multiple times. Don’t rush this part; your ability to recall this information will be essential to answering the question. Also, outline your answer as you read through the prompt.
Next 15 – 17 minutes: Write your answer.
Last 3 to 5 minutes: Review your answer to check for competition and to make necessary edits.
Stick to this timeline for every question. If you start going over 5 minutes on every question, you won’t have enough time to tackle the last question. Ultimately, it’s far better to get out an analysis of all the questions than to answer one question perfectly and not even address another.
Make an Outline
Making an outline can help you organize your thoughts and create a plan on what you will be writing about. Mark up the prompt as you go— you may want to highlight or underline certain information to help your recall later.
Try to make this outline clear, such as making a bullet list of items related to the prompt. If you run low on time, you can always copy and paste this information to provide a semi-answer to the prompt. Write your rule statement and list the relevant facts that will support your analysis. Also, consider how much time you will need to discuss each subpart of the answer.
Apply the IRAC Structure
Now it’s time for you to apply what you’ve learned. Use IRAC to fully answer the question.
Issue
Briefly state the issue in a bolded heading. Issues are usually clearly stated on bar exam essay questions rather than hidden in a fact pattern, so this should be an easy way to pick up points. Restate the issue and move onto the next part of your answer.
Rule
State the rules that apply to the case. This is where rote memorization comes into play, since you need to be able to state the proper rule that applies to the question. Bold key terms to show that you know what rules and terms apply. This will get you the points you need on this section.
The summary of rules should be clear and concise and should demonstrate that you understand what is involved. Only address those rules that actually apply to this case and address the specific question.
Analysis
Show how the rule applies, given the particular fact pattern. This will be the longest portion of your answer. However, your analysis should still be shorter than your analysis in your legal writing class. You can pick up (or lose) a lot of points in this portion of the answer! You need to demonstrate that you know how to apply the law to the facts. Generally speaking, the more facts you’re able to explain, the higher your score will be.
Most of the facts in the fact pattern will be there for a reason— and you need to explain why these facts matter in your analysis. Provide a step-by-step analysis of how the facts support your conclusion. You may be able to score extra points by identifying counter-arguments or a majority and minority view.
Conclusion
End with a brief conclusion. One sentence is fine here. Perhaps unlike law school exams, there is usually a “right” conclusion. Some writing structures will use a conclusion first and then end with a conclusion, but this is not recommended on the bar exam. If you start with the wrong conclusion, the grader will look for ways to prove why you are wrong while grading your answer; therefore, save your conclusion for the end!
Provide a step-by-step analysis of how the facts support your conclusion. You may be able to score extra points by identifying counter-arguments or a majority and minority view.
Organize Your Content
Make your essay simple to read by taking advantage of all the tools at your disposal. Use paragraph breaks to organize your content, creating a clear I, R, A, and Csection. Additionally, bold and underline key words and principles of law. Many essay graders will be scanning your work, so make it easy to identify that you understood the legal issues involved by drawing their attention to these key terms.
Also, use transitional words to qualify certain statements and to explain where you are going with your answer. This makes it easier for the grader to follow your analysis, as well as helps you to stay on track.
Answer the Question
Seems obvious, right? Listen:
While it seems simple to just answer the question you are asked, many bar exam essay questions include numerous fact patterns, potential rules of law that apply, and even some red herrings. Be sure that you only answer the question that is asked; don’t go off on a tangent that will not score you any extra points!
Read over the instructions to the question and follow these instructions, even if that means ignoring something or assuming certain facts are true. Any time you devote to issues that are not relevant to the instructions takes away from time that can score you more points.
Manage Your Time
Now that you’re in the middle of your answers, keep a close eye on time. It can be tempting to take just a few more minutes to feel you completed a question, but this can come back to haunt you by taking away necessary time from another question. Set alarms if you need to — and are permitted to — so that you know when time is up for each section. Also, you may want to set a reminder a few minutes before your allotted time so that you can quickly wrap up the question before moving on to the next one.
With that being said, avoid writing a partial essay and then moving onto another one. It can take several minutes to regain your bearings and remember what the essay was about when you switch back and forth. Instead, finish each question in the allotted time and then move onto the next.
Avoid writing a partial essay and then moving onto another one. It can take several minutes to regain your bearings and remember what the essay was about when you switch back and forth.
Quick Tips for Essay Writing
Here’s a quick round-up of tips to keep you on track when preparing your bar exam essays:
Read the facts more than once. Don’t rush this part!
Don’t write a lengthy, historical background of the law. Instead, make it concise.
Don’t write a long analysis regarding policy if the question does not ask for it.
Present counter-arguments but spend less time on them than arguments
Provide a clear and decisive conclusion.
Pace yourself. The two-day bar exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Approach each question with patience and don’t try to rush it.
Don’t talk to anyone about your answers. This will undoubtedly make you doubt yourself; you don’t need a hit to your self-confidence at this time!
Have a fun plan for what to do after the bar exam to have something to look forward to.
Conclusion
So, there you have it— a plan to help you tackle the essay portion of the bar exam. Use these strategies to help boost your score and you will soon be a licensed attorney!
Thanks for reading and good luck on your exam!
Frequently Asked Questions About Bar Essays
How do you write an essay for the bar exam?
There’s a specific structure that bar examiners expect when you write answers to essay questions. This structure is called IRAC, which is short for “Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion.” When writing a bar essay, try and structure all of your sentences around these four subjects in a way that makes sense.
How many essays are on the bar exam?
The essay portion of the bar exam is called the Multistate Essay Exam, or MEE for short. It is made up of six different essay questions that you must write answers to over the course of three hours. The subjects can vary depending on what test you take, but all are related to the legal field and will require excellent logical reasoning and critical thinking to earn a high score.
How long should bar exam essays be?
Although there may not be a set word limit for your bar exam essay, a good rule of thumb is to write at least 1,000 words for each answer. However, you should avoid padding out your article’s word count with excessively detailed descriptions of legal concepts; stick to the IRAC format and ensure each word in each sentence has a purpose.
Is it better to write or type the bar exam?
There’s no universal answer to this question, since some students will prefer to write by hand and others will prefer typing. However, there are significant benefits to typing your bar exam essay questions over using a pen and paper, such as easy erasing and the ability to copy and paste. However, power issues on rare occasions have forced essay writers to resort to pen and paper, and it makes it impossible to lose progress due to a software error.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
For lawyers, the bar exam is a rite of passage. As if the whole process of becoming a lawyer wasn’t already difficult enough, it’s common knowledge that the bar exam is hardly a walk in the park either.
So how can you make sure you’re prepared to the fullest for your exams? By enrolling in a well-made bar prep course, such as this one:
Quimbee Bar Review is an exam prep course that uses an efficient design and clear messaging to provide you with unparalleled study materials. Let’s jump into the specifics of their offerings— including a look at the typical student’s experience using their service.
Keep reading to see if it’s a good fit for you!
Overview of Quimbee Bar Review
With roots dating back to 2007, Quimbee has grown over the past 13 years. Instead of simply offering a standard bar review course, this company claims to be “the study aid for law students.” It’s a bold statement, but does it actually hold up? When browsing their website, you’ll begin to see many of the appealing features that it offers. Their track record for success is immediately apparent when viewing students’ testimonials; they’ve helped over 370,000 law school students and graduates, including those from Texas A&M University, American University, University of Illinois, and Florida State University.
Essentially, Quimbee stands out due to their focus on the ideal student experience. What do we mean by that? On the surface, their goal is to design content that helps you study and saves you time. However, they’ve also stated customer service is a high priority for them— so you can always expect quality content and resources.
Quimbee bar exam prep offers these features:
Planned Tasks and Study Calendar
Diagnostic Exams & Rankings
Graded Essays
Performance Stats
Course Materials
What’s Included With Quimbee Bar Prep
Check out our in-depth analysis of Quimbee’s most appealing study features below:
Planned Tasks and Study Calendar
From the get go, they aim to keep you on track with daily scheduled tasks and a monthly calendar to help you keep an eye on the course ahead. There are also reminders for exam submissions, so you can stay on top of submission deadlines and never miss a beat.
Here’s some clarification about the scheduled tasks I mentioned earlier:
Quimbee assigns you tasks like viewing instructional videos. These tasks might also take the form of quick lessons that you are able to read through as well. The course subjects are broken into chunks which can be completed as these regular tasks. Consequently, the material that you work on is typically within the same vein or overall subject matter. This method is great for breaking down complicated topics in a way that doesn’t stress you out.
Diagnostic Exams & Rankings
Diagnostic exams are a key tool in identifying your strengths and weaknesses when heading into the bar exam. Naturally, Quimbee delivers on this feature in spades. WIthin your account you’ll have a Diagnostics section that allows you to take a number of practice exams. From there, you’ll receive your exam score as well as your overall ranking against the total number of other Quimbee students who answered the same practice questions.
The best part about this is that there is no strict schedule. You have the option to begin taking these exams at any time— you can take a different exam at different points along the way and more actively track your progress. This is ultimately helpful when analyzing areas of improvement leading up to the exam day.
Graded Essays
Although practice exams are helpful for preparing to answer bar exam questions, you might be wondering “How do I prepare for the written portions of the exam?”
Quimbee’s answer to this question takes the form of graded essays. Much like their other practice materials, these are designed to replicate the bar exam as accurately as possible. You’re presented with 3 separate submission windows, and you’ll need to submit your essay in the proper format— just like the actual bar exam essay portion.
Aside from simply allowing you to practice your writing skills, they provide you with another fantastic educational opportunity with this section. An accomplished attorney writing grader will look over your submission and provide detailed feedback.
Essentially, you can use this aspect of the course to hone your response skills in a low-pressure scenario that yields insightful and professional feedback.
Performance Stats
For the most part, you can expect any decent exam prep course to provide you with thousands of practice questions to work through. Quimbee is no different; over 1,500 questions are included in their course. However, the presentation of these questions — as well as the ability to track your progress — is refreshingly clear in a way that you don’t see in too many other prep courses.
The performance tracking features provided by Quimbee are far more granular than other providers since they break up each subject into specific topics. Because of this, you’re able to see intricate details regarding your competence in specific knowledge areas.
This ultimately provides you with a clear picture of your progress in the course. You’ll know exactly how well you’re performing in your legal education and how much of each topic you still need to study.
Course Materials
According to Quimbee, you’re not supposed to jump into this section until you’ve had a chance to complete your Diagnostic Exams. But once you’ve completed those and you’re ready to advance, here’s what this bar prep course has to offer: You’ll find a ton of downloadable PDF content, including 3 Quimbee Bar Review Outlines, NCBE Licensed Multiple Choice Questions, Licensed Essays, and Multistate Performance Tests. That’s roughly 70 downloads that are all relevant to your studies or even actual exam content in some cases. This section alone is worth the price of entry, but Quimbee treats it more like a victory lap almost after you’ve already completed their other materials.
Quimbee Pricing
Everything that we have mentioned up to this point is included in Quimbee’s Bar Exam Review for under $1000. If that’s out of your price range, they also offer Affirm financing that allows you to pay in smaller installments. For the amount of on demand video lessons and print content — as well as grading from actual legal professionals — this is an excellent deal.
Pros & Cons of Quimbee
For a more holistic look at Quimbee’s product, here’s a brief list of the highs and lows:
Pro – Simplicity: Using Quimbee is a breeze. All of their sections are clearly marked and you know exactly what you’re looking at at all times. Simply log in each day, check your study calendar and list of tasks, and you’ll keep up with your lesson plan no sweat.
Pro – On-Demand Video Content:Quimbee incorporates videos into your lesson plan, but you also have all of this content available to you on an On-Demand basis. Take control of your schedule and access videos at any time; this is perfect if you’ve got strict time constraints.
Pro – Real Time Statistics:You’ll never wonder or stress about your progress thanks to Quimbee’s real-time stats. As you progress through different tests, case studies, and multiple choice questions, you’ll be able to immediately check on your results and see how you are proceeding from a total overview perspective.
Con – A Whole Lot of Reading: Make no mistake; you’re going to be doing a lot of reading when preparing for the Bar. However, Quimbee really piles it on with a lot of downloadable lessons and PDFs. This makes up the majority of their content— so if you don’t love reading, you might want to find a different course.
Quimbee Bar Review – Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any unanswered questions about Quimbee? We’ve got the answers below:
❓Q: Can Quimbee prepare me for the Universal Bar Exam?
A: Yes! Quimbee Bar Review is designed to help you pass the UBE, which has been adopted by more than half of the legal jurisdictions in the United States.
❓Q: Does Quimbee Bar Review provide students with input from legal professionals?
A: Yes! With Quimbee you will receive personalized feedback from professional attorney graders on all written submissions.
❓Q: Does Quimbee provide any physical bar exam study materials?
A: Quimbee is a mostly digital course, but you can add a print option at checkout which includes Quimbee’s bar review outlines and an MPT workbook.
Ideal Student
Still trying to decide if you want to use Quimbee Bar Exam Review? Consider the following points:
If you want a large library of review materials, Quimbee is right for you.
If you want a study calendar with guided daily study tasks, Quimbee is right for you.
If you want access to PDF downloads and OnDemand Video content in an online platform, Quimbee is right for you.
If you do not enjoy reading, Quimbee may not be the best fit for you.
Final Recommendation
Quimbee makes the Bar Review process so simple and easy to follow that it earns an enthusiastic recommendation from us.
For the price of enrollment, you receive an immense value with an even greater amount of content. The study calendar helps you to stay focused and keep you on track, while their diagnostics and performance statistics are the best way to gauge your readiness and any areas that need improving prior to your exam day.
Valerie Keene is an experienced lawyer and legal writer. Valerie’s litigation successes have included wins for cases involving contract disputes, real property disputes, and consumer issues. She has also assisted countless families with estate planning, guardianship issues, divorce and other family law matters. She provides clients with solid legal advice and representation.
