We are pleased to welcome back to the blog Dr. Jared Maloff, a clinical psychologist. He specializes in helping students who need testing accommodations navigate the California bar exam. He has shared with readers how to apply for accommodations and the decision factors to consider when applying for help. Here’s back today to talk about how to apply for bar exam accommodations when financial concerns are an issue. Welcome back, Jared.
In previous posts I have discussed the underlying reasons why a bar exam test taker (and law students) who have signs of ADHD, learning difficulties and severe testing anxiety should consult a qualified professional to determine if they require accommodations in order to be competitive with other test takers. Recently an issue has been raised in which several prospective test takers have balked at the process and associated costs due to concerns that, in the end, the request for accommodations could be denied by the bar anyway.
Recent law school graduates are typically not a population with much extra money to spend and of course the vast majority are in significant debt due to their pricey law school loans. Financial concerns are of course valid to any individual, but one must be able to analyze situations to determine whether they represent waste or an investment. Hopefully most law school graduates view their student loans as an investment in their future.
Students with disabilities such as ADHD, learning disabilities, and severe anxiety must view the process of seeking reasonable testing accommodations as an integral aspect of their educational process. A law student with necessary accommodations has a better chance of competing with peers on an even playing field and of course the same is true of bar exam test takers. Reasonable accommodations for those who need them can help maximize the value of one’s pricey education. Those who graduate in the top 20 percent of their law school classes have better chances of landing solid jobs out of law school and passing the Bar is a necessary part of this equation.
While I cannot speak for all psychologists who specialize in helping students in need gain necessary testing accommodations students, I offer students several ways of feeling good about their investment in psycho-educational testing. I am able to accept many insurances which reduce costs to students and I am also able to help students analyze their chances of receiving accommodations ahead of time by reviewing relevant aspects of their life histories. For example I give all students the option of discontinuing the assessment process prior to compiling a comprehensive report. Reports are typically 20 to 25 pages in length and thus are the most costly aspects of the assessment process. When testing is completed I inform all test takers whether their test scores are indicative of functional disabilities that limit their ability to perform on the exam. The test taker is thus in control of how they invest their resources in the assessment process.
Transparency is very important and if a student does not meet criteria for having what the bar exam deems a disability I inform them of this before they pay their full assessment fee. While I am not familiar with the practices of other psychologists who specialize in this process I encourage students to ask their assessors questions regarding how strong their chances are of receiving accommodations. Life history, academic history, test scores and the manner in which all of this information interacts can give clues as to how the bar might respond prior to completing the extensive reports and other paperwork. Finding a psychologist who can competently and willingly respond to these kinds of questions can help students mitigate their anxiety regarding a commitment to the assessment process.
Dr. Jared Maloff is a clinical psychologist in Beverly Hills specializing in psychological and psycho-educational testing. The most frequent psycho-educational evaluations he conducts are geared specifically toward assisting students gain testing accommodations on the bar exam. He can be contacted at (310) 712-5480, jmaloff {at} hotmail-DOT-com and www.BeverlyHillsPsychologist.com.
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Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:
- Podcast Episode 73: Seeking Accommodations in Law School and on the Bar Exam (with Dr. Jared Maloff)
- Should You Apply for Bar Exam Testing Accommodations?
- Leveling the Playing Field: Testing Accommodations on the Bar Exam
- Stop saying, “I can’t”
- How to Cope With Bar Exam Stress
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