With the law school year closing out many students in their third year are starting to think (or worry) about the bar exam. Here is a brief introduction and a few things to consider.
What Is The Bar Exam All About?
In most States, the Bar examination is a 2 day exam that you take between approximately 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. each day. (It is a 3 day exam in California) One day of the exam is made up of a test called the Multi-State Bar Exam (MBE) and this part of the exam is made up of 200 multiple choice questions. Everyone in all States takes the MBE on the same day and the exam covers 6 topic areas only (Contracts, Constitutional Law, Property, Evidence, Torts & Criminal Law). The other day of the bar exam is a State day where generally State law is tested. Each State makes up their own State exam and the exam will fall either on the day before or the day after the MBE depending on which State you are in. The State exam will usually be made up of essay questions but may also contain multiple choice and/or a practical memo writing section.
In the United States, you must be certified (sit for a bar exam) to practice law in every State that you wish to practice in. Generally speaking, this means that if your best friend was arrested in New Jersey for an offence, you could not represent him in court if you were certified to practice law in New York. There are exceptions to this rule but this is generally the case. As such, you will have to complete an application for each State you want to practice in. You should pay particular attention to the application deadlines and any other instructions that you are given. For example, some States, like New York, require a handwriting sample and a school certification to be sent in with your application. At least one student that I know of that went to Harvard did not send material that the New York Bar Examiners required, and the person found out at the beginning of July that he/she was not eligible to sit for the bar exam at the end of July. Do not let this happen to you.
How Should You Prepare?
The first step to passing the Bar exam is to sign up for a preparation course such as Barbri. I took a Barbri course and it played a pivotal role in me passing the bar exam. Barbri and other organizations have decades of experience with Bar Examinations and as such are experts. During the course, they will hold lectures, give you practice essay questions, give you practice multiple choice questions and grade sample exams. This is not the time to self-study as you will be at a significant disadvantage if you do. If you can afford it (cost is around $2500) sign up today! If you sign up with a reputable large bar preparation course, it is not necessary to take supplemental courses or to do any other studying outside of this course. They will teach you everything you need to know.
When Should You Start To Prepare For The Bar Exam?
It is not necessary to start studying for the bar until after you graduate. Some get very nervous and start in March or April but this is not needed. (actually, I think it is a bad idea as you need to take it easy so that you are refreshed for intense studying to come) For those who just cannot wait, Barbri sends advance study material to students in April. They do however clearly state that it is not necessary to start studying until after you graduate. Once you start your preparation course lectures and really get into studying you will really appreciate the few weeks of a break between your finals and your graduation date. Barbri will teach you everything you need to know during the two months prior to the exam. Trust me on this one.
Should You Be Worried?
No. See my post “Do Not Worry About Whether You Will Pass The Bar Exam Because There is Almost a 90% Chance That You will Pass It On Your First Attempt.” The key to passing is consistent studying.
