What is the Bar Exam and How Do You Prepare for It?
A qualifying test that allows those with law degrees to practice law in a jurisdiction, the bar exam is composed of different parts that include essay questions and multiple-choice items. Take note though that bar exams in each state is different. This is because every state has its own regulatory board. It’s best to take the bar exam in the place or state where you mostly likely plan to practice law. An ideal way of knowing more about the kinds of bar exams a state requires is to surf the net and check out the official site of a specific state bar association. Another way is to seek data from your school’s career office.
Enrolling in review schools
An option for you to be well-prepared for the bar exam is to enroll in a review school. In a review school, you will be guided accordingly as you review the different subjects of law. When enrolled in a review school, it’s good to treat the bar review like a full-time job. This means you have to commit yourself into your bar review classes. A bar review school could give some exercises anchored on topics from past bar examinations.
Travel and accommodations
If you are taking the bar exam in another state, make sure to book the flight early and have reservations for lodging. Looking for a place to stay when you arrive at the exam venue can cause unnecessary stress. It’s best to have the logistics arranged even before you leave home. Also, keep in mind possible problems that may occur in relation to the number of students taking the exam such as traffic on the actual exam day.
Other tests
Aside from the bar exam, there are states that require law degree holders to go through character evaluation before they are allowed to practice law. The MPRE or the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination is a group of standardized exams that have to be taken across all states, save for the following jurisdictions — Washington, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, and Maryland.
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