Bar exam prep: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What bar exam prep is

Bar exam prep helps law graduates review legal subjects, practice essays and multiple choice questions, and build a study schedule for the exam. Graduates book it when they are starting a bar review course, when practice essays are scoring low, or when they need a schedule that fits a job or family.

Signs you need it

  • The graduate knows the subjects but writes essays that miss the issues the question asks about
  • Practice multiple choice scores are low, and the graduate cannot say why each wrong answer is wrong
  • The graduate has a study schedule but keeps falling behind on the practice work
  • The graduate is overwhelmed by the amount of material across the subjects
  • The graduate has a test date coming up and needs help with timing on the essay portion

What the pro does

  • Reviews the practice results with the graduate and sets a study plan for the subjects that need the most work
  • Works through essay questions with an issue-spotting method, a rule and an application
  • Practices multiple choice questions in timed sets and reviews every wrong answer
  • Builds a study schedule with weekly goals that fit the graduate's time
  • Reviews each practice set with the graduate and sets the next focus for the following session

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • Whether the course is a short review or a longer program over several months
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • Private tutoring versus a small group study group
  • Which subjects the graduate needs to review
  • Whether practice essays, scored essay reviews and study plans are included

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and the start date
  • Whether practice essays and scored reviews are included
  • Whether a study schedule and progress reports are included
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and what materials are used
  • Cancellation and make-up policy

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you review essays, and how do you teach issue spotting?
  • Which subjects will we cover first, and why?
  • Do you use official practice materials, and how do you get them?
  • How will you help me build a schedule that fits my job and my family?
  • Are you a licensed attorney, and do you offer legal advice?
  • What is your experience with bar exam preparation?
  • What should I be able to do on the exam after the first month?

Red flags

  • Promises that you will pass, or a set score
  • Says it can give legal advice about a client's case or the graduate's own legal problem
  • Writes the essay answers for the graduate
  • Pushes a long package of sessions before a practice essay review

What you can do yourself

A graduate can do timed practice essays, compare their answers to the official model answers, and review each subject on a weekly schedule. Use the exam's official practice materials, which are often free or part of the bar review course. Hire a tutor when essay scores are flat, when the schedule keeps slipping, or when the graduate needs a clear method for issue spotting.

Licenses and permits

Bar admission rules are set by each state, and a tutor who is not an attorney in that state may not be allowed to give legal advice. Check the rules for the exam and the admission process with your state's bar licensing authority. Ask the tutor whether they are an attorney and in which states, and check with your state or local licensing agency for any rules that apply to test prep services.

Bar exam prep questions

Do I need a bar review course if I have a tutor?

Many graduates use a bar review course for the content and a tutor for essay feedback and scheduling. Ask the tutor how they fit with the course you use.

Can a tutor help with my legal questions?

A test prep tutor teaches exam skills and does not give legal advice on any case. Ask a licensed attorney for legal advice on a specific matter.

How much study time do I need?

It depends on the course and your starting point. Ask the tutor for a practice assessment first, then build a schedule with weekly goals that fit your work and family life.

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