Getting into and graduating from law school is a monumental task in and of itself. But the process doesn’t end the day you walk across the stage and receive your Juris Doctorate; to practice, you still have to get admitted to the state bar. California has a notoriously difficult bar exam, but that’s not the only thing that causes confusion in the process. California also requires you to jump through a series of hoops—in addition to the bar exam—to gain admittance. This post explores steps you can take to ensure that your California bar admission process is as timely and smooth as possible. [Read more…] about Best Practices on a Smooth Admission to the California Bar
Bar Exam Toolbox Blog
Podcast Episode 46: Should You Take Bar Classes in Law School, and When?
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we’re talking about whether, and when, you should take bar classes in law school, and which classes will help you prepare successfully for the big day.
In this episode we discuss:
- The different schools of thought on bar prep
- Focusing your studies based on your strong areas and which exam you’re planning to sit for
- How you can figure out which subjects are most likely to be tested
- Classes that are great for everyone to take
- What classes you should strongly consider enrolling in, and which ones you could probably skip
- When is the best time to take bar classes?
- The importance of optional courses, such as upper-level electives, writing classes, and bar prep classes offered by your school
Thanks for listening!
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Planning to Handwrite the Bar Exam – Ask These Questions First
It used to be common to take the bar exam using a bluebook. Now, the vast majority of people use a laptop to take the bar exam, while a very small minority writes. This may be due to a generational shift, and a resulting reliance on technology. People now “keyboard,” they don’t “write” – just look at examples of signatures. Other than your parents, how many people do you know who still write letters, checks, or thank you notes? Instead, most of us communicate with our phones – not actually talking on them. We text, email, and use social media sources on our phones. We use laptops for work or school – but we do not “write.”
What if you are one of the few who really wants to handwrite the bar exam? Everyone is telling you to reconsider, but should you? It depends. If this is something you want to do, first ask yourself some very serious questions:
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Tips on Studying for the Bar Exam While Working at a Law Firm
No matter when you take the bar exam, studying for the exam can feel hectic and stressful. This feeling is only compounded when you’re attempting to study while already working in the fast-paced and deadline-driven environment of a law firm. The need to study and work at the same time can come up for any number of reasons, including because you’ve already started at a firm in a new state and need to take the bar in that jurisdiction, or because you’re studying while contemplating a jump to a new state. Whatever the case may be, there are some strategies to get through, and succeed, while juggling work and study. [Read more…] about Tips on Studying for the Bar Exam While Working at a Law Firm
Podcast Episode 45: Why Are MBE Scores Dropping? And What to Do About It as a Bar Taker
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we’re focusing on strategies and tactics to help you beat the trend of declining MBE scores, seen in recent data released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
In this episode we discuss:
- Possible reasons why MBE scores are down
- How much individual bar takers should be worried about this trend
- Good resources for finding real released MBE practice questions
- Smart tools to help you focus your MBE study
- How many practice MBE questions are enough to prepare you to pass
- The importance of doing your exam prep under as close to exam conditions as possible
- Some alternative ways to mix up your MBE study routine
Thanks for listening!
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5 Tips from 5 Recent Bar Examinees
As a Bar Exam Toolbox reader, you know better than most that there is no shortage of information and resources available to you as you prepare for the bar exam. There are a host of bar prep courses, there are practice exams, and there are bar exam tutors, to name a few. However, as is often the case, harnessing the collective knowledge of people who have recently been through this experience will pay the greatest dividends. Straight from the horse’s mouth and all that.
In this post and in that spirit, we catch up with five recent bar examinees to get their take on the most important lessons they learned during their bar exam preparation. [Read more…] about 5 Tips from 5 Recent Bar Examinees