080: Bar Exam 101 - An Introduction

Welcome back! Today, we're talking about the basics of the bar exam. This episode might send shudders down your spine if you're a 3L looking to take the bar exam next summer, or perhaps you're thinking, "Hey, I'm a 1L. Why should I be worrying about this so early?"

Well, the reality is the bar exam is a pretty big deal and is one of the final hurdles to becoming a lawyer. So whether you're taking the next bar exam or taking it a few years from now, you need to understand the basics, to ensure you prepare effectively and only have to take it once!

(We're pleased to announce our episodes now contain a transcript, which you'll find below. Enjoy!)

In this episode we discuss:

• Bar exam basics, especially California and the UBE states
• What the UBE consists of (MPT, MBE, MEE)
• What the performance test covers and how to prepare
• What to expect on the MBE and how to prepare
• Being strategic and matching your bar exam planning to your career objectives
• Questions to ask yourself as you decide which bar exam to take
• The changes coming to the California bar exam
• Should you wait to take the CA bar exam?
• Will CA be harder or easier after the changes?
• Planning ahead for the bar exam as a 1L and 2L
• Other state bar exams you may encounter
• Choosing the right bar review provider and whether you need to buy immediately as a law student
• What are accommodations and how can you get them for the bar exam?
• Should you take bar electives in law school?
• The future of the bar exam

Resources

• National Conference of Bar Examiners (http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube/)
• Thinking Ahead to Get Ready for the Bar Exam (podcast) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-26-thinking-ahead-get-ready-bar-exam/)
• The Top 5 Bar Exam Mistakes Podcast (sponsored by Adaptibar - with $55 discount) (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-47-the-top-five-bar-exam-study-mistakes-with-ariel/)
• Adaptibar (http://barexamtoolbox.com/vendors/adaptibar/)
• Themis Bar Review (http://barexamtoolbox.com/vendors/themis-bar-review/)
• Lean Sheets (http://barexamtoolbox.com/vendors/lean-sheets/)
• Sketchy Law (http://barexamtoolbox.com/tools-bar-exam-success-sketchy-law/)
• Can You Pass the Bar Exam Without Taking Barbri (http://barexamtoolbox.com/can-you-pass-the-bar-exam-without-taking-barbri/)
• Bar Exam Tips: Mastering the MBE (podcast) (http://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-52-bar-exam-tips-mastering-mbe/)
• Seeking Accommodations in Law School and the Bar Exam (http://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-72-seeking-accommodations-law-school-bar-exam-dr-jared-maloff/)
• All our Bar Exam Related Podcasts (http://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast/)

Episode Transcript: Download a copy of the transcript

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on iTunes. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact).

Thanks for listening! Good luck on the bar exam.

Alison & Lee