Bar Exam Study Resources Other Than BARBRI

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One question we are often asked by students is which bar exam programs yield success. More specifically, they want to know how if it’s possible to study for (and pass) the bar exam with programs other than BARBRI. While it’s true BARBRI is thought of as the leader in the bar prep field, many students are looking for a different type of program that is not so expensive, or that allows for studying differently. We’ve found there are several other programs that are just as good as BARBRI and produce great results. Let’s look at a few we recommend.

For Help With the MBE

AdaptiBar is an online program targeted to help students get better MBE scores. They use only licensed questions written by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), the organization that writes the MBE. These questions have all appeared on previous exams and reflect the same form and content of those that will appear on your upcoming MBE. AdaptiBar continuously tracks your performance and applies patented adaptive technology that adjusts to your strengths and weaknesses.

What makes AdaptiBar unique is it does not just give you the answers. They provide detailed explanations, of every possible response (both right and wrong), from law professors and legal experts so that you can understand exactly why a response is correct or incorrect. In addition, AdaptiBar makes you feel like you are part of a community. Given you are doing this studying on your own, the company does what it can to make the user feel like he/she is part of a greater testing community. A user can upgrade to a program where he/she gets email feedback from a tutor to answer questions, what the company calls: “Virtual MBE Tutoring.”

Finally, the program helps you target areas where you need help (e.g. Individual Rights). The technology can do for you what a book cannot. It prevents you from just answering questions that you get right over-and-over again. It helps you target and highlight your weak areas and makes sure you are covering everything on the MBE.

For Help With the Essay Portion

Lean Sheets streamlines the most important and frequently tested material for every bar exam subject into 2 – 3 page condensed outlines. Based on extensive research of past bar exams from multiple jurisdictions, these uniquely concise and manageable bar exam outlines contain only what you need to know to pass your exam.

They also provide useful mnemonics for memorization, and even include additional charts and diagrams to help visualize key concepts. Most importantly, Lean Sheets allow you to spend more time on essay writing and practice exams, and less time reviewing the black-letter law.

What makes Lean Sheets unique is it appeals to many different types of studiers. For example, if you’re running out of time and need a condensed list of the need to know law to memorize, these sheets can be a great starting place. If you are having trouble or don’t want to spend a lot of time creating your own attack outlines, Lean Sheets can help you, especially in the final weeks of memorization. Finally, if you are anxious or overwhelmed because of the size and volume of your bar materials, these sheets can be printed out and simplify your life down to a single binder!

For Help With the California Bar Exam Essay Portion

BarEssays.com is a great study tool for the essay portion of the California Bar Exam. They provide actual examples of real essays and performance exams by students that sat for the California bar exam. Since launching in 2007, thousands have used the BarEssays essay database to prepare for the essay portion of the California Bar Exam, with several entire law schools, review courses, and tutors providing access to all of their students.

What makes BarEssays unique is every essay is from an actual copy of an exam, taken during the California Bar Exam and graded by the California Committee of Bar Examiners. The essays are not manufactured by a review course or “model” answers. These are actual unedited essays, written by actual exam-takers, during the actual exam, with the same stress and time restraints you will have.

For a Large-Scale Bar Prep Experience

Themis Bar Review is a bar review course offered in 24 jurisdictions that you can take entirely online. Instead of sitting in a large lecture hall or convention center with other students listening to lectures, you listen to lectures and do all of your studying autonomously online. Themis offers a full bar review course like BABRI, but is offered at a lower price point than many other commercial courses. The program offers two ways to approach a study schedule. You can choose “Directed Study” or “Flex Study.” Directed Study is more structured and suggests you complete lessons and practice in a sequential order. Flex Study allows you to pick and choose what you would like to study on a given day.

This is important because many students feel that their bar review provider doesn’t give them any flexibility with their study schedule. It’s also a great option for students who are working since they can even extend their bar review prep period to allow them a longer study period.

Themis provides assessment questions so you can check your understanding and retention of information from a lecture. In addition, you receive personalized feedback when you use Themis. This feedback comes from your attorney advisor who gives you tips throughout the entire process. And your attorney advisor stays with you throughout your prep so you are getting consistent advice from one resource.

For the MPRE, MBE, UBE and Mobile Bar Studying

BarMax is a comprehensive bar exam review course developed by a team of Harvard Law students, alums and professors. The professors provide audio lectures paired with substantive outlines, and flashcards and multiple-choice MBE questions for relevant topics. The program delivers affordable and high-quality courses straight to your mobile device. We love that students can listen to lectures on their phone on the subway or at the gym, then answer MBE questions on their iPad at home or in the library, and have it all sync seamlessly. So instead of lugging around 50 pounds of books, you can download the entire course to your tablet or smartphone.

Certain components of the course are available as PDFs or through the web. They provide hardcopies for a nominal fee to encourage to students to study however, whenever, and wherever they want to without losing anything in their educational experience. The complete course consists of substantive outlines with audio lectures from law professors who are Harvard Law alums, flashcards, 1,571 real MBE questions, and real essays and PTs. The total number of flashcards and writing prompts will vary based on the course.

BarMax offers courses to help prepare for the MBE, UBE, baby bar, as well as the California, New Jersey and New York bar exams. You can also download the MPRE prep program for free. BarMax provides one clear and concise outline per subject, plus mnemonics and checklists to help you memorize the content.

It is possible to pass the bar exam without taking BARBRI. Before making a decision about what program is best for you, spend some time looking at other resources that may be a better fit for your learning style, budget and study preference.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we may be (minimally!) compensated if you purchase after clicking the link.

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Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:

• Is Taking BARBRI a Second Time a Good Idea?
• Can You Pass the Bar Exam Without Taking BARBRI?
• Are You Studying the Right Way for the Bar Exam?
• To Study or Not to Study? When Waiting for Bar Results, That is the Question

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