Bar Advisor

Discounted Bar Prep Materials

2013-05-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

Bar exam results are being released this time of year.

If you want to buy bar prep materials at a discount, now is the time to be looking on Craigslist, Amazon, and Ebay because people who passed the bar are looking to unload their study materials.

If you are still in law school and plan to self-study for the bar exam, get your bar study materials now, at a discount, rather than paying full price for them later.

And, don't forget to check out these free PDF guides:

Ultimate Bar Prep Resource Guide

and

How to Study for the California Bar Exam for $500 or less

Bar Exam Basics -- Free Ebook

2013-04-24T12:25:00.001-07:00

If you are getting ready to take the bar exam, make sure you have all the basics taken care of to ensure your best chance of success.

To help you do this, subscribe to the Bar Exam Mind newsletter and get your free copy of the 54-page ebook, Bar Exam Basics: Foundational Bar Exam Tips.

Click here to be taken to the newsletter sign-up page.

PS -- If you don't want to sign up for the newsletter, you can buy a copy of the book for your Kindle or Kindle-enabled device for only $2.99.

Bar Exam Affirmations

2013-04-13T12:14:00.001-07:00

Ever thought about using affirmations to help you create a positive bar exam mindset? Here is a collection of ten bar exam affirmations to get you started:

Bar Exam Affirmations from BarExamMind

Smarter Review -- Cheat Sheets

2013-04-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Smarter Review is a company that prides itself on making bar exam studying more efficient.

If you need a quick resource for the MBE or for the New York bar exam, check out Smarter's Review's new Cheat Sheets.

Here is how the folks over at Smarter Review describe their Cheat Sheets product:

Because the materials are so focused, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you’ll be able to learn the law and ace your practice. No other bar review product gets you ready after only a few weeks of study. As a result, these materials have been called, “bar review anti-materials.” (Source: http://www.smarterreview.com/faqs/)

If efficient bar prep sounds good to you, check it out.

And, if you decide to buy, don't forget to use my discount code BarAdvisorInsider to save 15% off the purchase price.

Photo credit.

July 2013 Bar Exam

2013-03-12T14:00:00.001-07:00

It is that time again. Time for another bar exam cycle to begin.

In this post, I want to let you know about some important posts and resources that can help you pass the bar exam.

If you don't have much time, download my free PDF Ultimate Bar Exam Resource Guide (no email opt-in, just click the link and grab it) and read it when you get a chance.

But, if you have some more time, keep reading.

Bar Exam Basics

Take some time to read my posts on diligence and anticipation of conditions. These are two concepts that are critical to bar exam success.

Then, check out my posts on BarExamMind.com about performing a "bar exam level set" near the start of your bar studies and about how to create a mindset that will help you pass the bar exam.

Lastly, sign up for the Bar Exam Mind newsletter to receive your free 54-page e-book filled with bar exam advice.

MBE Preparation Resources

The MBE was my least favorite portion of the bar exam. I felt like the questions were designed to trick you as much as they were designed to test your knowledge.

Be sure to read my posts about how to approach the MBE (here and here).

If you like outlines, you can get my MBE outlines here.

Finally, check out my review of Adaptibar to see if it might be a resource you can use.

Essays and Performance Tests

To get my initial take on how to write bar exam essays, check out this post.

My introductory performance test approach is available here.

Test Day Tips

Finally, read my thoughts about what to do during the bar exam itself. Read it now, decide what you want to implement, and then move ahead.

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If you have any questions about the bar exam, please leave a comment below and I will respond. You can also email me using the CONTACT link at the top right of this page.

Good luck on the bar exam!

July 2013 California Bar Exam

2013-03-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

As an alumnus of the California bar exam, it has a special (read: painful) place in my heart.

So, I like to do a post just for you lucky souls who get to tread the path of woe through the California bar exam.

I jest, of course. It isn't that bad.

It is a lot of work, but totally doable.

Here are some links that you might find useful:

Study for the California bar for $500 or less
California bar exam outlines
Review of BarEssays.com
Review of Adaptibar (MBE prep)
California bar exam prep course decision matrix
General Performance Test tips

John Holtz PT Workshop (recommended by a Twitter follower)

General Essay advice

For those of you who want or need some help with anxiety or stress, check out these resources:

My Bar Exam Mind blog and book
Bar Exam Mental Edge
Mind Over Bar free training videos

Finally, be sure to download my Ultimate Bar Exam Prep Resource Guide for more great resources!

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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below or use the CONTACT button at the top right of this page.

The Final Countdown—Your Last Two Weeks

2013-02-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

And then there were two....

Today we have a guest post from Diana over at Themis Bar Review to help you get through these final two weeks of bar exam prep.

Take it away, Diana.

***

There are just two weeks left until the biggest exam of your life and you’re a wreck. By this point, you’ve given up on that exercise regimen, you’ve stopped eating healthy food, you may have even stopped changing your clothes every day. One minute you’re outlining the hearsay exceptions, the next, you’ve convinced yourself they’re all actually nonhearsay. Your parents are worried, your pets are starving for affection, and you feel like a total stranger to yourself.

Don’t worry, you’re fine! Hundreds of thousands of lawyers have gone through this rite of passage and many, many more will after you. You’re in really good company.

With only a couple of weeks left, you may be losing steam. But remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Now is the time to dig deep and finish strong. YOU CAN DO THIS. And, to help you with that final push to the finish line, I have 5 tips inspired by my iTunes library to make sure you do.

1. Let it Be

Add listening to this Beatles classic to your to-do list every day from now until the exam. You can’t possibly learn everything. No one can. If the Rule Against Perpetuities is still a blurry mess in your brain, move on. There’s really no use obsessing over an issue you’re not grasping. You’ve been reading outlines and practicing questions for weeks. You’ve been listening to lecture after lecture. One tricky rule of law is not going to make or break you on the exam. And believe it or not, more rules will sink in and click in your mind these last two weeks than your whole first month studying. You’ve learned more than you realize. Do not dwell on what you don’t know. Trust in what you do know.

2. Don’t Speak

Hush, hush darlin’. Now is not the time to debate your practice essay answers with your friends. Chances are, your answers are going to be different and there’s no need to freak yourself or your friends out. It’s only two weeks. Focus on yourself, your studies, the fresh air, etc., and don’t let yourself be distracted by other test takers.

3. 99 Problems

Jay-Z didn’t pass the bar, but take this song as advice and practice 99 bar review problems every day. Maybe 99 is a bit high, but you get the idea. Even if you’re sick of practicing your essays and multiple choice questions, you cannot stop now. At this point all the information you need is in your brain; practicing will help you recall it faster and more efficiently. Practicing will also help you become comfortable with how the rules tend to be tested in your jurisdiction and doing so under exam conditions will perfect your timing. If you’re in a jurisdiction with a performance test on the exam, practice at least one more of those in these final weeks. With only two weeks left, you need to keep practicing until all you can see around you are potential torts and crimes, and then practice some more. Do 99 problems and failing won’t be one.

4. Lay Down

So listen good, cause I’m tellin’ it straight. You don’t got no more time to waste. You need to focus on yourself in these last days. The last thing you want is to be sick for the exam. Get your rest, eat healthy, stay away from sick people, and take care of yourself. There is no greater barrier to your success than exhaustion, or the flu.

5. Breathe

There’s a light at the end of this tunnel, you shout, cause you’re just as far in as you’ll ever be out. You’ve studied so hard and it’s all about to pay off. This exam will not conquer you. (And, remember, even if you don’t pass this exam, you can take it again in July. That’s not the end of the world.) That’s it. Just breathe.

If I had a sixth song on my iPod, it would be called “You’re Going to Get Your Life Back Soon, Just You Wait,” and probably Beyonce would sing it and it would be at the top of the charts. You’ve been diligently studying for so long, being the boring one who can’t go to parties and movies and the mall like everyone else. But remember that it’s going to pay off. Just think, by the end of this month, you will be FREE! You can waste time watching all the YouTube videos and reading all the Facebook statuses you’ve been missing. You can do WHATEVER. That’s what’s waiting for you at the other side of this test. Your life! So, buckle down and make these last couple weeks count. Own this test. Then, sit back and enjoy being human again.

Have some awesome iTunes-inspired study tips of your own? Share them with us by commenting below!

About the Author:

Diana Belair is the Managing Editor and a Regional Director at Themis Bar Review. She is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and is licensed in both Colorado and Massachusetts. In her spare time, she loves creating awesome playlists for her iPod, reading the Blue Book, and learning Beyonce’s latest dance moves.

***

Thanks, Diana!

If you would like some more ideas about how to spend the final two weeks, here are a couple of posts you might also want to read:

Photo

One Month Until the Bar Exam

2013-02-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

How are you feeling?

Is your study program working?

Do you feel confident?

Here are some resources containing thoughts about this milestone:

Bar Exam Mind "One Month Until the Bar Exam" podcast

Some ideas from Vault.com

More from Solo Practice University

February 2013 California Bar Exam Predictions

2013-01-30T19:12:00.001-08:00

I was never one to look at bar exam predictions, since I preferred just to study everything. But, if you want some essay topic predictions for the February 2013 California bar exam, check out these videos from Bar Secrets:

Here is part I:

Here is part II:

For more

For more interesting videos, including debriefs of the July 2012 California bar exam essays, head over to the Bar Secrets YouTube channel.

Need more essay help for the California bar exam? Be sure to check out BarEssays.com.

BarEssays announces updated content

2013-01-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

I just received an important email from the good folks over at BarEssays.com.

They have just added over 200 real, graded essays from the July 2012 California Bar Exam, including high and low scoring essay examples for every July 2012 essay question and performance test. This is in addition to their huge database of answers from prior years' exams.

If you are taking the February 2013 California bar, these newly-added essays and PTs could be of great help, since it is likely that the grading preferences of the July 2012 exam graders will be reflected in the February 2013 grades.

In addition, if you sign up for the premium subscription, you will get access to model answers by a former bar grader. This includes model answers going back to July 2003 and through July 2012.

If you think BarEssays.com might help you with you bar exam prep, sign up now.

For more information, check out my review of BarEssays.com.

Bar Exam Podcasts

2013-01-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of some podcasts about the bar exam:

Bar Exam Mind podcast: This is my own podcast. I talk about how to have a good mindset for the bar exam, how to study for the bar exam, and offer some advice about exam day. No set publication schedule for new episodes. I add an episode when I think I have something useful to offer.

I Passed My Bar Exam podcast: My friend Dustin Saiidi has been doing his podcast since 2011, and has been updating it regularly. His last few episodes are a series of really helpful interviews. Check it out. [You might also be interested in Dustin's Bar Exam Mental Edge hypnosis/visualization program too.]

Celebration Bar Review YouTube channel: This is not strictly a podcast, but is a YouTube channel filled with all sorts of helpful videos about the bar exam. Topics include myths of the bar exam, how to study, and discussions of mindset and related topics.

Arizona State University bar prep podcast: This was last updated in 2009 and has some Arizona specific information. But, the podcast is a series of lectures by law school faculty about various subject areas covered on the bar exam. If you are having trouble with a particular area of law, you might want to listen to the episode covering that area.

***

Do you know of any podcasts or YouTube channels I should add to the list? Leave a comment below.

Review of Dominate the Bar Flashcards

2012-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

I recently received a review copy of the Dominate the Bar MBE flashcards from the good folks at DominateTheBar.com.

There are a lot of bar exam flashcard options out there, and Dominate the Bar is certainly worth considering.

The more than 900 flashcards come in seven groups, corresponding to the MBE categories: Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Torts, and Real Property. These sets give a thorough overview of the law tested in each area.

While I have not been able to review each card individually, the cards I did review have accurate statements of the law and provide good examples applying the law. What I really liked about these cards is that they are concise, the way flashcards should be, and not filled with overblown, complicated explanations better suited for a long-form bar review outline.

Each card has numbers front and back. This is so that you can keep the cards in order since often they build on each other or provide follow-up examples. I would recommend keeping them in order the first couple times you review them, and then decide how you want to start mixing them up. I would recommend mixing them up at some point, since reviewing flashcards in the same order every time is akin to reading an outline from start to finish and does not train your recall as well as randomized flashcard review. (I should note that in a few instances, the answer on the back of one card will be continued on the next card, so you will need to keep those cards together.)

The pictures below show an example of how the cards interrelate. The first card (no. 57) asks you to explain the basic rule for when a witness can be impeached, while the next card (no. 59) gives you an example fact pattern to apply the impeachment rules.

The cards themselves are printed on quality stock, which should survive even hundreds of viewings. You can also write on the cards with a ballpoint pen or a pencil if you want to add extra information to the cards, such a mnemonic or reference to a larger outline or bar review book.

If Dominate the Bar flashcards sound like something for you, you can get them directly from dominatethebar.com or from Amazon. There is also a smartphone app if you prefer digital format over paper.

California Bar Exam Prep Course Matrix

2012-12-12T08:23:00.001-08:00

Recently, one of the readers of this blog emailed me a copy of the bar review matrix that he had compiled while determining which bar review course to take to prepare for the California bar exam.

He has generously allowed me to share that matrix with you. If you are wondering which bar prep course to take, this matrix may help you make your decision.

The matrix contains the names of several bar prep resources available for those preparing for the California bar exam, as well as details about price, location, and more.

Download the matrix by clicking here. (MS-Word file.)

You might also be interested in this guide to studying for the California bar exam for under $500.

Finally, iIf you want to know about additional bar exam resources or are not taking the California bar exam, check out my Ultimate Bar Prep Resource Guide. (PDF file.)

How to Decipher MBE Answer Choices

2012-12-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled across the site of Rich Klarman, a bar exam tutor in Michigan.

His site has some great bar prep articles available for free download.

I read his article explaining the Formal Structure of MBE Answer Choices (PDF) and recommend it to everyone studying for the bar exam.

As I have written about elsewhere, I feel like the MBE questions are filled with tricks to get you to choose the wrong answer.

Klarman's article spells out some of these tricks. I wish I had read it before I started studying for the MBE.

Bar Exam Prep Guide

2012-11-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

If you are just getting started with your bar exam preparations, you might want to check out the Ultimate Bar Exam Prep Resource Guide.

It is filled with all sorts of great information about bar exam prep courses, bar exam books, bar exam blogs, and more. All the resources you need to pass the bar exam.

Check it out. It is free. Just click the picture below to view the PDF or right-click to download directly.

Bestselling Bar Exam Prep Materials

2012-11-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

I have been publishing this blog since March 2009. In many posts, I include links to various bar exam products sold on Amazon.com.

Below is a list of the top-10 bar exam preparation products purchased by my blog readers.

If you are looking for good bar prep books or even gifts for law students, this should be a helpful list to get you started.

#1
Passing the Bar board game -- I am a bit surprised that this is the number one seller. This game is designed to help you review for the MBE and includes some legal trivia questions as well.

#2
Daily Reflections for Bar Exam Study -- A small book containing short inspirational readings to help you get through your bar exam studies.

#3
Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays -- A highly-recommended book by Mary Campbell Gallagher who is the founder of BarWrite, a program designed to help bar takers master the written portions of the bar exam.

#4
Kaplan/PMBR MBE Review Flashcards -- I prefer to make my own flashcards for bar prep, but if you are looking for commercially prepared flashcards, check these out.

#5
Strategies and Tactics for the MBE -- Another strongly recommended book. This book is especially recommended by bar exam repeaters who had trouble with the MBE the first time around. I have seen several blog posts and videos in which repeaters state that this is the book that finally helped them make sense of the MBE.

#6
Bar Cards Complete Set -- Another set of popular flashcards, targeted for people taking the California bar exam.

#7
Law in a Flash -- Various subject sets of flashcards from this publisher add up to make it the seventh most popular purchase.

#8
Critical Pass MBE Flashcards -- A recent entry into the bar exam flashcard category. These have been getting good reviews.

#9
What NOT to Write: Real Essays, Real Scores, Real Feedback -- One of the best ways to learn is to see actual examples of what works and what doesn't. This book gives it to you.

#10
Perform Your Best on the Bar Exam Performance Test (MPT) -- Another helpful book from M. C. Gallagher filled with advice and tips about the performance test.

I hope you found something on this list you liked.

PS -- If you need other gift ideas, check out this post.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/runytry/5188899842/

Smarter Review Promo Code

2012-11-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Smarter Review?

It is a relatively new bar review provider offering MBE prep materials and New York bar exam prep materials.

Check it out at www.SmarterReview.com.

And, if you decide to buy their bar prep materials, be sure to use promo code "BarAdvisorInsider" to get a 15% discount on your purchase.

To use the promo code, put it in the Apply Promo Code box you'll see on the check out page:

(If you decide to use the BarAdvisorInsider code, I'll get a small commission too, but there's no extra cost to you.)

Review of BarEssays.com

2012-10-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for some extra help passing the California bar exam, be sure to check out BarEssays.com. It is an awesome service that has collected a ton of real, graded essays and performance tests for you to review and learn what the California bar graders are looking for in a passing answer.

Check out my video review for more information.

j

Click to sign up for BarEssays.com.

Bar Exam Quick Tip: Review Outlines

2012-10-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

When you first start preparing your bar exam outlines, you often worry whether they are good enough to pass the bar exam. The best way to get rid of that anxiety is to look at outlines that prior bar exam passers used.

MBE outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/outlines/mbeoutlines/
California Bar Outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/outlines/california-bar-exam-outlines/
Oregon Bar Outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/outlines/oregon-bar-exam-outlines/

Study for the California Bar Exam for $500 or Less!

2012-10-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

This post is for all the people out there who have to take the California bar exam.

We all know that it costs a lot of money to take a bar prep course, even the "cheap" courses.

Fortunately, it is possible to study for the bar exam without breaking the bank.

I managed to spend "only" $1395 when I studied for the California bar exam.

What I didn't know at the time was that it is possible to spend much less.

To help you explore all the money-saving options, I put together a quick report about how to prepare for the California bar exam for $500 or less.

You can download it here.

It is a quick read and has lots of links to great resources.

If you find it valuable, please pass it along to anyone who you think might like it.

Bar Exam Quick Tip: Get Into Nature

2012-09-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Many studies show that getting in to nature helps with memory and mental stability. Use this to your advantage while you are studying for the bar exam.

If you found this tip useful, be sure to check out my guide to bar prep materials. It is a free PDF download with no opt-in, so check it out!

Advice from Bar Exam Repeaters

2012-09-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Advice is always more helpful when you hear it from someone who has gone through what you are going through now.

If you did not pass the bar exam this time, maybe you would like some advice.

Here are some links to posts by bar exam repeaters about what they changed in their preparations in order to help them pass the bar exam:

http://legallyfabulous.blogspot.com/2011/11/so-youfailed-bar-exam.html (Lengthy and informative post by a three-time Illinois bar exam repeater.)

http://jessie-zaylia.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-i-passed-california-bar-exam.html (This is a great video post by a three-time repeater of the California bar exam. Good discussion of what she did differently and how she eased her anxiety.)

http://erickregalado.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/2nd-time-was-the-charm-i-passed-the-california-bar-exam/ (Summary of how one examinee passed the California bar exam on his second try.)

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cozumel18/7398664734/

New York Bar Exam

2012-09-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

What is it like to take the New York Bar Exam?

This video tells you.

Bar Exam Tips Slideshow

2012-09-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Bar exam tips from BarExamMind

Passing the Bar Exam

2012-09-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

Awesome bar passage video!