3Ls are already starting to think about the bar exam. One of the first things I usually get asked about are spring bar exam prep classes. In fact, I was just having a twitter conversation with Stephanie (a 3L who writes the Apparent Authority blog) and another 3L about this same subject. My general advice on these additional classes is that they are an unnecessary expense.
If your law school offers a free 2-hour class on getting ready for the bar exam, of course that’s fine as it’s a minimal time commitment and no extra cost. But enrolling in a semester long class or paying for commercial prep in the Spring has never seemed worth it to me. There are 3 basic areas (really just two) that students want help in before the summer, and they are:
1) Law that you did not learn during law school – Depending on the bar exam you take, you may have some additional subjects on the bar exam that you never took during law school. I don’t think this is cause enough to take an additional class before your actual summer bar prep class. The study materials and lectures you will get during your summer bar prep are more than enough material to receive a passing score, but of course you may want to spend a little extra time on those subjects that are brand new to you during the summer.
2) Help with the application process – If you are having trouble with this, talk to some of your classmates who are taking the same bar exam or simply call up the bar examiners and ask them your question. You are about to graduate law school, I don’t think you need an extra course to help you fill out an application.
3) Character and Fitness application (part of #2 above) – This one can be tricky. Many people feel they have something in their past that will prevent them from becoming licensed. However, the truth of the matter is that the worst thing you can do on this part of the application process is to be dishonest. So, be honest! This is the most consistent advice that I’ve picked up over the years for the character and fitness section. Of course, if you have a specific worry in mind regarding something in your past, you may want to check with a local attorney.
So, overall my advice is to save your money and if you do have the extra time and want to get a head start, get a good MBE self-study book like Strategies and Tactics for the MBE by Emanuel. This will help familiarize you with the MBE and what to expect. It’s got great black letter law (written in plain English) and about 550 practice questions. Reading that book is time well spent, and you can usually find it for around $50. Good luck!
