Doing bar prep while still in law school? Forum

[Manali]

My school offers a Pass/Fail 2 credit course called "Writing Strategies for the Bar Exam". Has anyone taken a bar prep class for credit during law school? Would it look weird to do this before even graduating? Would it make bar prep less hellish?

[Good Guy Gaud]

P/F courses are TCR. You should take the class regardless of whether it's necessary.

[ronanOgara]

Why would it look weird to take a Bar Prep class while in school?

[Manali]

Why would it look weird to take a Bar Prep class while in school?

I'm just concerned that employers would prefer to see a more substantive course on my transcript. The Pass/Fail aspect of it sure is tempting, though!

[Good Guy Gaud]

Why would it look weird to take a Bar Prep class while in school?

I'm just concerned that employers would prefer to see a more substantive course on my transcript. The Pass/Fail aspect of it sure is tempting, though!

FWIW, I don't believe anyone is going to look at your transcript that closely. I think only one firm I applied to asked for my transcript. You'll be fine. And if the class eases any bar-related stress, it's worthwhile.

[ronanOgara]

Why would it look weird to take a Bar Prep class while in school?

I'm just concerned that employers would prefer to see a more substantive course on my transcript. The Pass/Fail aspect of it sure is tempting, though!

I don't think employers are going to be concerned with you taking a course that likely improves your ability to pass the Bar.

[zot1]

Don't do it.

[Manali]

Don't do it.

Why not?

[zot1]

Because bar prep is stressful and you don't need to add this stress before you have to. Bar prep burnout is a real thing. Why start so early?

[skeenbr0]

IRAC and headings are your friends. There, now you know How to Write a Bar Exam Essay. (And a final, for that matter.)

It might actually be helpful. I would say studying for the bar is about memorizing law, learning to spot the tricks in the multiple choice questions, and learning how to accumulate points on the essays. You should have skill three down by the end of the class. I don't see how learning one of those skills early on in the friendly confines of a pass / fail class would lead to burn out.

[KTnKT]

IRAC and headings are your friends. There, now you know how to write a bar exam essay. (And a final, for that matter.)

It might actually be helpful. I would say studying for the bar is about memorizing law, learning to spot the tricks in the multiple choice questions, and learning how to accumulate points on the essays. You should have skill three down by the end of the class. I don't see how learning one of those skills early on in the friendly confines of a pass / fail class would lead to burn out.

+1

[JazzOne]

My school offers a Pass/Fail 2 credit course called "Writing Strategies for the Bar Exam". Has anyone taken a bar prep class for credit during law school? Would it look weird to do this before even graduating? Would it make bar prep less hellish?

Would you be willing to share your law school? PM me if you'd prefer.

[Manali]

Would you be willing to share your law school? PM me if you'd prefer.

Drexel.

[murdock83]

My school offers a Pass/Fail 2 credit course called "Writing Strategies for the Bar Exam". Has anyone taken a bar prep class for credit during law school? Would it look weird to do this before even graduating? Would it make bar prep less hellish?

Mine had one. I believe everyone was required to take it the last semester of 3L and it lasted half a semester. It didn't hurt. Everyone just cared about the Bar that last semester anyways, as most people were burned out from regular course work. I think any perspective toward the exam can help.

[skeenbr0]

I went to Denver, and they were offering this class at least as far back as 2008. It is apparently now called "Legal Analysis Strategies," so maybe there was some concern about disguising a for-credit bar prep class on transcripts, but it could have just been a catchier name as well. Honestly, I would expect to find a similar class at any T-2 looking to improve its bar pass rates.

(DU also offered a free-with-purchase-of-law-degree "bar success program" during the bar prep period, where you could be assigned a writing professor to go over your BarBri essays until you were killing it, and where you could take several practice exams before the real deal. Honestly, if schools keep admitting students who may or may not pass the bar based on their scores and enabling them to get into enormous amounts of debt, it's the least they can do.)

[PishPosh]

I took a bar prep class my last semester of law school. It had Barbri materials and lecturers. I am glad I did-- it totally refreshed contracts, torts and evidence. It definitely made those subjects easier when real bar prep came along.

If you can take a bar prep class for credit in law school--why not do it? My last semester I tried to make things as easy on myself as possible..

[Manali]

I took a bar prep class my last semester of law school. It had Barbri materials and lecturers. I am glad I did-- it totally refreshed contracts, torts and evidence. It definitely made those subjects easier when real bar prep came along.

If you can take a bar prep class for credit in law school--why not do it? My last semester I tried to make things as easy on myself as possible..

ETA- I went to a dreaded "T4" Suffolk.. I have a great job at a firm lined up and so do many people from my school!! SLS has a great rep if you want to work in MA. Not everyone wants to be a slave to big law. Off my soapbox..

Regarding your last point, it seems like higher ranked schools tend not to offer these sorts of courses.

[psu2016]

Why does every single blanking thread manali touches turn into "the rankings are meaningless and Drexel is the best school ever and definitely better than bc"?

[PishPosh]

Well I did try to delete that last part of my post LOL...

Drexel is awesome btw..

[skeenbr0]

It seems like higher ranked schools tend not to offer these sorts of courses.

Those probably aren't the schools that need to improve their bar passage rates. If you look at passage rates, there are a few regional exceptions, but the schools with the top pass rates tend to be places that are high on the national rankings as well.

[JazzOne]

It seems like higher ranked schools tend not to offer these sorts of courses.

Those probably aren't the schools that need to improve their bar passage rates. If you look at passage rates, there are a few regional exceptions, but the schools with the top pass rates tend to be places that are high on the national rankings as well.

I would agree with this to some extent. but judging from conversations I have had with my coworkers (i.e., law school faculty), I also think that there is an attitude of superiority at highly ranked schools. Many law school professors feel like it is beneath them to teach bar prep. I do not share their mentality. I think it is the duty of a professional program to prepare its students for licensure.

[Youppi]

I took a Virginia bar prep course for credit my last semester.

It was invaluable to me, as I was an evening student working full-time. I took off the week before the bar, but it was studying at night and on weekends until then.

Even if you can devote yourself full-time in the summer, an early start helps you get in the right mindset. If it's a decent course, you're off to a running start.

[Manali]

It seems like higher ranked schools tend not to offer these sorts of courses.

Those probably aren't the schools that need to improve their bar passage rates. If you look at passage rates, there are a few regional exceptions, but the schools with the top pass rates tend to be places that are high on the national rankings as well.

I would agree with this to some extent. but judging from conversations I have had with my coworkers (i.e., law school faculty), I also think that there is an attitude of superiority at highly ranked schools. Many law school professors feel like it is beneath them to teach bar prep. I do not share their mentality. I think it is the duty of a professional program to prepare its students for licensure.

You're a law professor?

[JazzOne]

It seems like higher ranked schools tend not to offer these sorts of courses.

Those probably aren't the schools that need to improve their bar passage rates. If you look at passage rates, there are a few regional exceptions, but the schools with the top pass rates tend to be places that are high on the national rankings as well.

I would agree with this to some extent. but judging from conversations I have had with my coworkers (i.e., law school faculty), I also think that there is an attitude of superiority at highly ranked schools. Many law school professors feel like it is beneath them to teach bar prep. I do not share their mentality. I think it is the duty of a professional program to prepare its students for licensure.

You're a law professor?

I'm an adjunct at a T1. I am trying to get a tenure-track position, but I will probably have to move down to a T2 when that happens.

[Manali]

It seems like higher ranked schools tend not to offer these sorts of courses.

Those probably aren't the schools that need to improve their bar passage rates. If you look at passage rates, there are a few regional exceptions, but the schools with the top pass rates tend to be places that are high on the national rankings as well.

I would agree with this to some extent. but judging from conversations I have had with my coworkers (i.e., law school faculty), I also think that there is an attitude of superiority at highly ranked schools. Many law school professors feel like it is beneath them to teach bar prep. I do not share their mentality. I think it is the duty of a professional program to prepare its students for licensure.

You're a law professor?

I'm an adjunct at a T1. I am trying to get a tenure-track position, but I will probably have to move down to a T2 when that happens.

How much do adjuncts usually make per class/semester? What sorts of qualifications are needed to become an adjunct--do rank/grades matter as much as for tenure track positions?