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v100, I can see a firm being like 'wtf?! you trying to get us to pay for an ipad, what you think this is?!!!' and that it will negatively hurt my reputation. It is a V100 but an office that rarely deals with people having to take the bar exam since it mostly hires laterals already sworn in, in the current state.

They already agreed to reimburse "whatever bar course I want"

Just a personal opinion, i think it depends on where you stand in that firm.....
As a recent graduate, I'd be thankful with the bar prep only. I-pad? hm.....not feeling comfortable.

I would say the odds of getting reimbursed for an ipad are probably 50/50. They are either going to reimburse it or they aren't.

Themis doesn't charge you for an iPad. It's just a bonus when you sign up for the course. So of course your firm will reimburse you for the cost of the Themis program.

This is the entire reason why Themis offers the free iPad - so people pick their course over Barbri's. I know plenty of people who did not have a problem with this (including me last year).

I did this without any problem. It also helps that Themis, even with the Ipad, is significantly cheaper than its competitors. So you can either ask your firm to reimburse you $2,995 for just Barbri, or you can ask your firm to reimburse you $1,995 for Themis and you get a free IPad. Easy decision.

Tiny Rick! wrote:Themis doesn't charge you for an iPad. It's just a bonus when you sign up for the course. So of course your firm will reimburse you for the cost of the Themis program.

This is the entire reason why Themis offers the free iPad - so people pick their course over Barbri's. I know plenty of people who did not have a problem with this (including me last year).

Themis told me the e receipt is going to look something like this

Themis Bar Review Course: ~$2000
Technology package (Ipad included) $500
Total: $2,500

Your firm still won't care. And if you'd like to confirm, ask HR or recruiting. They will tell you yes in advance and then you can sleep at night.

redsox550 wrote:

Tiny Rick! wrote:Themis doesn't charge you for an iPad. It's just a bonus when you sign up for the course. So of course your firm will reimburse you for the cost of the Themis program.

This is the entire reason why Themis offers the free iPad - so people pick their course over Barbri's. I know plenty of people who did not have a problem with this (including me last year).

Themis told me the e receipt is going to look something like this

Themis Bar Review Course: ~$2000
Technology package (Ipad included) $500
Total: $2,500

I bet they don't even read what the $500 is for. Just submit it.

redsox550 wrote:

Tiny Rick! wrote:Themis doesn't charge you for an iPad. It's just a bonus when you sign up for the course. So of course your firm will reimburse you for the cost of the Themis program.

This is the entire reason why Themis offers the free iPad - so people pick their course over Barbri's. I know plenty of people who did not have a problem with this (including me last year).

Themis told me the e receipt is going to look something like this

Themis Bar Review Course: ~$2000
Technology package (Ipad included) $500
Total: $2,500

It's cheaper than barbri still, so the person handling reimbursements won't bat an eye most likely at the "technology package" item. (this was my experience, V100 firm). Even if they do ask you to clarify what that means, doesn't seem like a big deal.

How about if I ask them to also reimburse Adaptibar?

redsox550 wrote:How about if I ask them to also reimburse Adaptibar?

Firms usually have a rule against reimbursing study aids. You can always figure out for sure by ASKING YOUR FIRM. Plus you don't need it.

Points for the thread title

Yeah, to be honest it's basically in the hands of the person doing reimbursements at your firm. Ask what the policy is - they will be happy to answer you with specifics.

If it were a small firm where the Partner(s) had visibility, I might be intimidated....But seriously, staff, including Recruiters and Billing, is there to help you and will generally be friendly, open, etc., as long as you're nice to them - unless they're having a bad day.

ur_hero wrote:Yeah, to be honest it's basically in the hands of the person doing reimbursements at your firm. Ask what the policy is - they will be happy to answer you with specifics.

If it were a small firm where the Partner(s) had visibility, I might be intimidated....But seriously, staff, including Recruiters and Billing, is there to help you and will generally be friendly, open, etc., as long as you're nice to them - unless they're having a bad day.

Thanks for the advice guys, the only issue with the "just ask" approach is, imo there is a DRASTICALLY better shot at this slipping through if I dont specifically go up to someone and say "HEY if Themis will charge you guys $500 dollars for a $400 Ipad that is not necessary and in addition to the bar course you already are paying for, you think thatll be cool bro?"

So the only way to do this is to submit and hope for best, which may or may not be a worthwhile risk. Random datapoints / opinions from the interwebs hypothetically can impact how risky I think it is.

Get the Conviser BarBri thing off Ebay, the essay book, and Adaptibar. You'll save a grand. That's all I did and I passed with flying colors. The lectures are a waste of time.

waxecstatic wrote:Get the Conviser BarBri thing off Ebay, the essay book, and Adaptibar. You'll save a grand. That's all I did and I passed with flying colors. The lectures are a waste of time.

If the firm is paying for a free Ipad i might as well get it. Plus I am 99% sure they wont reimburse me for for ebay purchases... dont think u read the thread

redsox550 wrote:

waxecstatic wrote:Get the Conviser BarBri thing off Ebay, the essay book, and Adaptibar. You'll save a grand. That's all I did and I passed with flying colors. The lectures are a waste of time.

If the firm is paying for a free Ipad i might as well get it. Plus I am 99% sure they wont reimburse me for for ebay purchases... dont think u read the thread

Well in that case yeah. I would still maybe get something from BarBri like a model essay book since their stuff is top of the line. It's very cheap if you get it used and nothing ever changes in terms of the law. Don't know much about Themis.

I mean if someone's firm is paying for a course there is no point at all in scrounging cheap used stuff somewhere.

Why wouldn't they? It's the whole incentive. I signed up for Kaplan for $500 of gift cards.