It’s socially acceptable to shit on math in America and law schools in general. It’s politically incorrect to dislike “travel” or “dogs.” And it’s considered weird to not sign up for an expensive bar review course when you’re studying for the bar exam.
Even though I have a lot to say about all of these, let’s stick to the topic and address that last one about bar review courses. Look at this article from Business Insider:
No, it doesn’t have to be this way just because you want to practice law!
You probably assumed that you NEEDED to go with a bar prep company after graduation. The question was framed as “what’s the best bar exam prep course” rather than “should I take a bar course?” You were bombarded with offers from the usual suspects (Barbri and the gang) since day one of being a law student.
So it’s not your fault that no one exposed you to the idea of alternate paths such as self-study. Also, there’s nothing wrong with using a course, as long as you use it properly.
It’s just that you don’t NEED a course (by default). You don’t NEED a tutor (unless you want personal guidance). Bar exam fees are high enough already.
You don’t have to spend $10,000 or $3,000 or anything close to that (besides registration fees) every time you take this test just for the chance to become a licensed attorney. (I’ll show you how below.)
I’m not wagging my finger saying you must or mustn’t enroll in a bar prep course. The right investments for you will pay off. I’m just saying you can think about it and consciously decide for yourself.
Start by checking for any internal narratives you may have about what you need to spend your money on to prepare for the bar exam. (Below, I’ll share my take on how you only really need THREE things for preparation.)
I’ll help you reexamine the default assumptions born from “big bar” lobbying by answering these questions:
- What are the costs of taking the bar exam?
- What are the drawbacks of “big box” bar programs? What can you do instead to address these drawbacks?
- What are the benefits of big bar courses?
- Should you sign up for one? (It depends)
- How do you prepare for the bar exam without a prep course or a big budget?
Continue reading “Taking the Bar Exam Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive”
!["Simple math told me it was cheaper to take and retake the [bar exam] 3-4 times using ... 'non-traditional' decent-priced materials ... than to spend an outrageous $6,000 on the BARBRI Prep Course (also apparently not made for anyone working full time)."](https://www.makethisyourlasttime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Magicsheets-Approsheets-simple-math.png)
