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Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 9:08 pm
by Federalist
Hello there!

Bar exam is more than two months away. I've already registered for the July '16 Texas Bar Exam, and I still haven't decided which bar review course should I take. I know that most of bar review courses begin in two weeks, but I also know that the closer the beginning of the course, the better offer you can get. All those "lock in price" seem for me to be just a marketing strategy.

I'm a foreign trained attorney, did my LLM in the US and passed the NY bar exam a couple of years ago. Back then I took LLM Bar Exam, and I was very satisfied with the results, not sure if because of the program or because of the tutor. The tutor was putting a lot of pressure on us and I believe this had something to do in the result. I could've chosen Barbri, but I chose LLM bar exam instead. I believe the LLM Bar exam structure is similar to the one in Barbri: online lectures, many books, MBE simulated questions, essays, essay grading, etc.

Now, I'm sitting for the Texas Bar Exam, and I'm not sure whether to take Barbri or to take Themis. I'd like to read any of your comments or experiences regarding TX or any other bar review. I'm the one paying for the course. Barbri was offered for me at $2,500 and Themis is at $1,800. Can you give me any tips on this decision? Thank you very much.

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:08 pm
by Federalist
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Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 8:56 pm
by Neve
I took the July 2014 bar exam for Texas using Barbri. I got the price down to about $2,000. Barbri was strong in their prep for the essays, but weak in their MBE prep. I did pass on my first try. Since multiple choice questions are my weakness and I learn best by flashcards, I also supplemented using Critical Pass flashcards (referral link - http://criticalpass.refr.cc/8SG3RXM ). I hope that in the two years since I took Barbri, the company has overhauled their MBE prep - however, if I were to do it over again, I would just pay the lower price for Themis or Kaplan (Kaplan is another prep company) and supplement with Adapibar and Critical Pass. I don't think Barbri is worth an extra $700.

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 3:01 pm
by Federalist
Neve wrote:I took the July 2014 bar exam for Texas using Barbri. I got the price down to about $2,000. Barbri was strong in their prep for the essays, but weak in their MBE prep. I did pass on my first try. Since multiple choice questions are my weakness and I learn best by flashcards, I also supplemented using Critical Pass flashcards (referral link - http://criticalpass.refr.cc/8SG3RXM ). I hope that in the two years since I took Barbri, the company has overhauled their MBE prep - however, if I were to do it over again, I would just pay the lower price for Themis or Kaplan (Kaplan is another prep company) and supplement with Adapibar and Critical Pass. I don't think Barbri is worth an extra $700.
Thank you very much for your advice! In that case, I believe I'm doing Themis. Thanks.

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 4:01 pm
by reasonableperson
If you want to attend lecture in person, do Barbri, if not, Themis - it's cheaper because they cut costs by it being 100% online.
They're identical and if you pass with one, you'll pass with the other, and vis versa.

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 5:36 pm
by Federalist
reasonableperson wrote:If you want to attend lecture in person, do Barbri, if not, Themis - it's cheaper because they cut costs by it being 100% online.
They're identical and if you pass with one, you'll pass with the other, and vis versa.
Currently I'm out the state, so I guess that I'll follow the lectures mainly online. Another reason for Themis. Do you know if the outlines and materials are similar? Do tutors and graders act similarly in both programs?

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 6:44 pm
by philippian413
Save the money do themis and if you need more mbe help get adaptibar. deleted.

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 6:55 pm
by Federalist
philippian413 wrote:Save the money do themis and if you need more mbe help get adaptibar. PM me and I can give you a code for discount for adaptibar.
Thank you very much!

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 9:52 pm
by reasonableperson
Federalist wrote:
reasonableperson wrote:If you want to attend lecture in person, do Barbri, if not, Themis - it's cheaper because they cut costs by it being 100% online.
They're identical and if you pass with one, you'll pass with the other, and vis versa.
Currently I'm out the state, so I guess that I'll follow the lectures mainly online. Another reason for Themis. Do you know if the outlines and materials are similar? Do tutors and graders act similarly in both programs?
Yes and yes.

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 3:34 pm
by austinmom
Federalist wrote:Hello there!

Bar exam is more than two months away. I've already registered for the July '16 Texas Bar Exam, and I still haven't decided which bar review course should I take. I know that most of bar review courses begin in two weeks, but I also know that the closer the beginning of the course, the better offer you can get. All those "lock in price" seem for me to be just a marketing strategy.

I'm a foreign trained attorney, did my LLM in the US and passed the NY bar exam a couple of years ago. Back then I took LLM Bar Exam, and I was very satisfied with the results, not sure if because of the program or because of the tutor. The tutor was putting a lot of pressure on us and I believe this had something to do in the result. I could've chosen Barbri, but I chose LLM bar exam instead. I believe the LLM Bar exam structure is similar to the one in Barbri: online lectures, many books, MBE simulated questions, essays, essay grading, etc.

Now, I'm sitting for the Texas Bar Exam, and I'm not sure whether to take Barbri or to take Themis. I'd like to read any of your comments or experiences regarding TX or any other bar review. I'm the one paying for the course. Barbri was offered for me at $2,500 and Themis is at $1,800. Can you give me any tips on this decision? Thank you very much.
I'm barred in NY (Used barbri and failed and then passed with Pieper). I just took February 2016 Texas bar with Themis and I would use them again. Save yourself the money. Clearly, you are disciplined. I liked the online format even though I previously went to a brick and mortar location for bar prep. I did think the state P&E stuff was lacking but the BLE website has everything you need. I passed with a 741 and 149.5 MBE. I bought Critical Pass flashcards but didn't really use them. I thought Themis MBE questions were good. As an aside, my last MBE score (July 2008 in NY was a 140.5). Good luck

Re: Texas Bar Exam. Barbri or Themis?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 7:22 pm
by Federalist
austinmom wrote:
Federalist wrote:Hello there!

Bar exam is more than two months away. I've already registered for the July '16 Texas Bar Exam, and I still haven't decided which bar review course should I take. I know that most of bar review courses begin in two weeks, but I also know that the closer the beginning of the course, the better offer you can get. All those "lock in price" seem for me to be just a marketing strategy.

I'm a foreign trained attorney, did my LLM in the US and passed the NY bar exam a couple of years ago. Back then I took LLM Bar Exam, and I was very satisfied with the results, not sure if because of the program or because of the tutor. The tutor was putting a lot of pressure on us and I believe this had something to do in the result. I could've chosen Barbri, but I chose LLM bar exam instead. I believe the LLM Bar exam structure is similar to the one in Barbri: online lectures, many books, MBE simulated questions, essays, essay grading, etc.

Now, I'm sitting for the Texas Bar Exam, and I'm not sure whether to take Barbri or to take Themis. I'd like to read any of your comments or experiences regarding TX or any other bar review. I'm the one paying for the course. Barbri was offered for me at $2,500 and Themis is at $1,800. Can you give me any tips on this decision? Thank you very much.
I'm barred in NY (Used barbri and failed and then passed with Pieper). I just took February 2016 Texas bar with Themis and I would use them again. Save yourself the money. Clearly, you are disciplined. I liked the online format even though I previously went to a brick and mortar location for bar prep. I did think the state P&E stuff was lacking but the BLE website has everything you need. I passed with a 741 and 149.5 MBE. I bought Critical Pass flashcards but didn't really use them. I thought Themis MBE questions were good. As an aside, my last MBE score (July 2008 in NY was a 140.5). Good luck
Thank you very much for the advice!