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I am a bar tutor and always interested in how people experience was with their tutor. What did they do that you liked, disliked, helped, etc. let's rate tutors so we all have a resource for future takers.

whats a bar tutor?

Raiden wrote:I am a bar tutor and always interested in how people experience was with their tutor. What did they do that you liked, disliked, helped, etc. let's rate tutors so we all have a resource for future takers.

Here is my take on the bar tutor issue - it helps to go in understanding that they have a business to run (for some bar tutors, this is their only form of employment). What does that mean? They will push their "products" on you. After failing the bar, you might be devastated - I know I was, especially when I truly believed that I passed.

If you did the work the first (or second, third etc.) time around and didn't cut it, start with looking at your score report and determining where you're weak. You still need a good overall program that a good tutor can put in place for you.

The thinking here is that your bar tutor should be a former bar grader. But if I had to say anything, it would be that you should use your tutor for whatever purpose you need them to in order for you to attain your goal. This is the same for anything (i.e. barbri, adaptibar etc.) Don't fall into the trap of thinking that since you threw money at it, passage is likely.

LockBox wrote:

Raiden wrote:I am a bar tutor and always interested in how people experience was with their tutor. What did they do that you liked, disliked, helped, etc. let's rate tutors so we all have a resource for future takers.

Here is my take on the bar tutor issue - it helps to go in understanding that they have a business to run (for some bar tutors, this is their only form of employment). What does that mean? They will push their "products" on you. After failing the bar, you might be devastated - I know I was, especially when I truly believed that I passed.

If you did the work the first (or second, third etc.) time around and didn't cut it, start with looking at your score report and determining where you're weak. You still need a good overall program that a good tutor can put in place for you.

The thinking here is that your bar tutor should be a former bar grader. But if I had to say anything, it would be that you should use your tutor for whatever purpose you need them to in order for you to attain your goal. This is the same for anything (i.e. barbri, adaptibar etc.) Don't fall into the trap of thinking that since you threw money at it, passage is likely.

I think if you're in a state that heavily favors the MBE, or if your issue is with MBEs/BLL than there probably isn't a big need for a former grader as a tutor

But for the CBX, for me, it was important to have a former bar grader -- writing is 65% of the exam. Barbri does an awful job at essay prep IMO -- they give you model answers that seem tough to replicate in an hour. The grading is all over the map with no consistency, and when there is no consistency, how can you know what you have to do to improve? A former bar grader can give you more exact feedback on what you must have in an essay and what you can leave out. How to write your essay to be short and readable, but complete. As I understand, the grading of the bar essays is holistic, and because of that, for me, it was best to get with a bar tutor who was a former bar grader since he had experience making those determinations.

Having said that, my tutor wasn't perfect. He was very tough, talked VERY fast, and sugarcoated nothing. I almost always felt like a dummy, because I would have to ask him to repeat or explain things a little slower. But, he could turn around an essay in record time with really good and specific feedback for improvement. And most of his feedback made sense, especially given the time constraints of the exam, and the time constraints of the grader reading my exam.

I totally agree with the bolded.....and its a trap I fell into. I bought lean sheets, critical pass, PT book, Barbri materials, tutor materials (came with the program, so there was no additional fee), another repeaters program, tutoring sessions, adaptibar, and baressays. It was too much, but I think like I felt that if I paid enough money and had all these great resources I would be guaranteed a pass. I did pass....but still.