|
Statistically, according to the California Committee of Bar
 Examiners,
sooner or later, 75% of all bar candidates pass the bar exam.
Whether you will pass sooner or later, depends a lot on what
score(s) you have already achieved.
.
Can you be guaranteed a "pass"? No. Not by us. Not
by any other course. In fact, we would avoid any and every
course that offers a "guaranteed pass" program.
Such an offering implies that the offeror has no insight into
the true essence of the California bar exam, nor the inherent
differences in bar candidates.
Don't you think there is a significant difference
between a Stanford grad who just missed by 10 points and a
non-ABA grad who struggled to gets Cs in law school and just
failed by more than 200 points? Don't you think there is a
significant difference between a high-LSAT (>172)
and a low-LSAT (<155) candidate? Of course there is.
Unfortunately, there are courses out there that will tell
you otherwise, but your chances of going from a score in the
1,100s to passing on your very next attempt are close to impossible.
A score in the 1,100s indicates one of two things: (1) the
candidate studied overall no more than a few hours, or, (2),
if the candidate did study, the candidate is not naturally
blessed with the analytical thought process, or skill level,
that passes the California bar exam. Not all is lost, though:
the candidate can learn the thought process that passes the
California bar exam, and improve their skill level, but, still,
the candidate most likely will not pass on their very next
attempt.
Yes, belief in one's self is a powerful force, but passing
the California bar exam requires a high skill level, and positive
thinking, without the necessary skill level, will not pass
the exam. A score in the 1,100s, especially if the score was
achieved with effort, is a good indicator the candidate will
probably have to take the California bar exam 2 or 3 more
times, at the very least, even with proper tutorial guidance.
Anyone telling such a candidate otherwise is not being very
forthright and is simply marketing their course.
A few
years ago, a gentleman named Frank engaged our services. Frank
had just taken the California bar exam for the 11th time.
Frank's highest score had been 1286 and his most recent score
was 1211. "Frank, we'll be honest, your past 11 scores
indicate something is seriously wrong," we told him.
"We need to change the way you think, so that we can
change the way you write, and so that we can change the way
you analyze an MBE question. Honestly, we'll probably be at
this a couple more times."
Frank stuck with the process, stuck with Barperfect, and was
elated when he passed on his 13th try. (By the way, in 2005,
Frank litigated a multi-million-dollar verdict for his own
law firm.)
We know candidates with scores in the
1,220s that have passed on their very next attempt. While
it is a rarity, we have successfully tutored candidates from
this score range.
One candidate, Patrick, a graduate of Cal Western School
of Law, came to us with a score of 1228 after his first attempt,
and we told him that we could not guarantee he would pass
on his very next attempt. He did, but we worked very hard
together. He was in our Fullerton office 4-5 days a week,
even though he lived in the San Luis Obispo area. He took
the train to Fullerton, so that he could study instead of
drive, and we would meet him at the train station and we would
drive him back to our nearby office for intense tutorials.
Patrick passed, but only because he had set himself up for
success: he had quit his job and enrolled in an effective
tutorial.
If your score
is below 1,300, you absolutely should not work during the
process, either part-time or full-time. There is simply too
much to remedy. But if your score is in the 1,300s, you should
work only if you absolutely need to work, and part-time would
be better than full-time - but a free schedule would be best.
If your score is in the 1,400s, you can work, part-time or
full-time, no problem. (If, however, you begin the process
at least six months before the date of the exam in question,
working should not pose a problem for any candidate.)
You can pass on your very next attempt,
but only if you do what is necessary to remedy your weaknesses.
Sitting in a crowded lecture hall again is certainly not the
answer.
Unfortunately, we have run into candidates that have scored
in the 1,350-1,399 range the last three or four times they
have taken the bar exam. One thing these types of failing
candidates have in common is that they pay the repeater fee
to their mass-produced course and do not change a thing about
the way they are approaching the exam. More law is studied,
more law is memorized, but nothing has been done to perfect
their skill level. Oh, they might enroll in an essay-writing
course that is supposed to give them an "advantage,"
but a rehash of mechanical IRAC is the last thing a failing
candidate needs.
You will pass on your very next attempt
if you do not foolishly try to study by yourself. Keep in
mind, even though you came close, you still scored in only
the 55th or 60th percentile. (By the way, virtually every
candidate that Barperfect has tutored with a score of over
1,400 has passed on their very next attempt. In fact, we have
had only three such candidates, in the past 13 years, fail.)
Do not do it. Remember, there is more to it than acquiring
legal knowledge. If you are about to study by yourself because
you are low on funds and cannot afford professional guidance,
save some money until you are in a position to invest in a
tutorial review. Or, if you are about to study by yourself
because you do not have the time to work your way through
a regimented course, wait until the time is right.
When is comes to the California bar exam, it is better to
underestimate yourself than to overestimate yourself. Do not
study by yourself.
We recommend a thorough review of our Home
Page.
|
