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Choosing a Bar Review Course

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published January 24, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Law schools do not prepare students to take bar exams. At best, students are offered law courses, such as Domestic Relations and Trusts & Estates, which rely on the type of local law that bar exams do test. This is especially true of the local law schools, as opposed to the national ones, which utilize majority view, model law or federal rules when discussing legal principles. As a consequence, the commercial bar review industry was developed to meet students' unmet need of having to learn local law and learn it fast to be successful on the bar exam.

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Distilled to their essence, the review courses provide students with the most up-to-date version of the law tested on a given bar exam. They provide sample questions, either from old exams or questions constructed in the style of a bar exam; and they give guidance on test-taking techniques, study habits and scheduling. This is true for general review courses, as well as those which specialize in particular parts of the exam, for example, MBE preparation courses.

Going It Alone

Some people do choose to go it alone and forego the traditional bar review course. They are rarely first-time takers, who typically need the structure, guidance and materials provided by the review courses. They are most often candidates who have previously taken a bar exam and who have previously experienced the challenges of preparation. If you decide against taking a bar review course, make sure you have the following:
 
  • Practice questions and/or old exams;
  • Updated legal information;
  • Sufficient intestinal fortitude to stay the course

You can get sample questions and model answers from previous exams from your state boards of bar examiners. As noted earlier, candidates can get sample MBE questions from the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Your local law library can provide access to the most recent pronouncements on the areas of law that will be tested on the bar exam. In certain instances, the search may be facilitated by legal publishing houses which can now provide the law of certain jurisdictions on CD-ROM. For example, Butterworth Legal Publishers will provide CDs on thirty-four (34) jurisdictions, including Virgin Islands law. Their number is (800) 542-0957. Lawyers Cooperative Publishing will provide CDs on New York and federal law. They can be reached at (800) 762-5272. West Publishing similarly provides CDs for New York. Call them at (800) 255-2549, ext. 175.

In addition, there are review courses for in-home use which offer study programs for the bar exam to be used on your personal computer. They provide outlines, lectures, teaching questions, and bar simulations. The costs vary and program availability tends to be limited to a few states. Law school newspapers often run advertisements for these courses. Check Reed Law Group, discussed below. They provide in-home study programs, along with the more traditional course. For the CD-ROM or in-home programs, you will obviously need access to a personal computer, one with CD-ROM capabilities.

A Review of the Reviews

If you do choose to take a bar review course, do your homework first. I am often asked to recommend a bar review course. My response is always the same. Take the course which best fits your personality and study style. You hear about the courses while in law school. You see their tables in the school lobby or student lounge. Many courses have student representatives who may seek you out. If you are out of law school, you can check your local legal periodical or write to the bar examiners. Although they will not endorse particular courses, the Board may distribute lists of them.

Check the courses out before signing up. There are review courses for the "intellectual" which give you more "black letter law" than you need to practice law, let alone, to pass the bar exam. Other courses will have reviewed prior exams and the areas which have been tested to predict which subjects and legal principles will appear on up-coming exams. There are bar review courses which specialize in various types of exam techniques, e.g., mnemonic devices. And some bar courses try to combine elements of all the above and then some.

Notwithstanding the variations, most of these courses have the same basic structure.
United States

There are two parts to most bar review courses, live or taped lectures on the substantive law and practice questions to be answered under simulated exam conditions and mailed in for grading. The lectures are the core of most courses. Unlike law school, there is little class participation. The majority of the time will consist of note-taking while listening to 3-4 hour lectures. Each lecture will usually begin with a hypothetical question. The remainder of the lecture could involve the analysis and resolution of the question using applicable legal principles. Although there may be preparatory chapters which can be read prior to a lecture, the lecture notes are the primary teaching tools and repetition is the key to learning.

First, you read the designated courses materials before class. Then the same information is presented to you by a law school professor or practitioner during the lecture. You take relevant notes on it. You hear a discussion of it. When you go
home, you review the information, rewrite it and outline it.

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The mail-in essay questions continue the repetition, by testing the student's understanding of the relevant legal principles. Answering the mail-in questions may seem a painful experience, but it is extremely worthwhile. Your scores will be low at first (partly because course administrators don't want you to get too confident too early); and sometimes the comments (which graders are encouraged to write plenty of) may not seem too fair or accurate. The exercise is nevertheless quite beneficial, in that your grade lets you see how you stand in relation to your peers. Practice exams are graded on the same scale as the bar exam. If the essay is graded from 1-10, your practice exam will be returned with an overall score using the same scale. You will also see how that score was arrived at. You will see what part of your answer was worth a point, what part was worth half a point and so on. The exercise also provides you the opportunity to determine the areas you have mastered and the extent to which you need to deal with exam anxiety.

Some courses offer students the opportunity to take a simulated bar exam. Take it if offered. Up until that point, students may have had only their past performance on law school exams to predicate their future performance on the bar exam. Your response to the bar exam may be quite different. One student recalls that during the MBE, "the questions began to float off the page." She had not previously sat through a full day of MBEs and was not prepared for the fatigue, boredom and anxiety she would later experience. A "dry run" will inform you of ways in which the pressures may affect you. Knowing what to expect allows you to plan ahead.

Take cost, for instance. These courses are not cheap. Shop around before you buy. The costs can start around $1,000 for the basics and with "extras," those costs can increase by up to another $1500. The extras can be obtained as an adjunct to a larger course or through an independent program. Many programs offer repeater courses, multistate workshops, essay writing workshops, special lectures for out-of-state students and for those taking two exams, and a class on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

Take advantage of "trial" offers before you put your money down and if money is an object, find out about scholarships, discounts for those going into public service, and employment as a bar review sales representative. This way you can get the course for free or at a discount and receive a bounty for each student you sign up. For example, West Bar Review, the "new kid on the block" is hiring student representatives. To apply, contact West at (212) 535-6811. A prospective employer may pay for the course. One student in need of funds was able to get his local bar association to guarantee payment which he would make when he started his post-exam employment. Be creative. All they can say is no, and they just might say yes.

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About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
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