How To Study For The Bar With Less Than 2 Months Left! (Guide to Passing the Bar Part 2)

I Failed the Bar Exam, Now What? (Guide to Passing the UBE)

By Jonathan Choi


I failed the bar exam: four times. No, you did not read that wrong, I failed four consecutive times. To put it another way, I've spent two years trying to pass this godforsaken exam. If you are reading this because you failed the bar exam, do not lose heart, and don’t give up. It's okay to be angry, sad and confused, but do not give up. I passed on my fifth attempt with a full-time job, and so can you. 

As much as I would love to share my life's journey in passing the bar (and perhaps I will in the future), this blog is about helping you pass the bar. As a disclaimer, I want to make clear that this is my opinion formed through my subjective experiences. I am by no way claiming that this is the way for everyone. Also, please be mindful that I am not endorsed by any of the products I mention in this post. I just want to help.

When I began studying for the bar after graduating from law school, I decided to try Barbri. After failing the bar twice, I switched to Pieper. That didn’t work either, so I used a combination of materials to finally pass on my fifth attempt. Now I am in no way claiming that Barbri or Pieper are bad programs. In fact, most of my friends that went through these courses passed with flying color. I believe they are good programs that work for many, but perhaps not for everyone, including me.

Okay enough with the gibberish. I will first explain what I did in steps, and then I’ll show you my study schedule.

Step 1: Create your own outlines for core subjects (Contracts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property and Torts)

This is a crucial step. While there are many outlines that are prepared for bar takers, it is very important to create your own. Why? Creating your own outline pushes you to pay close attention to every piece of law you are called to master. I made the mistake of not doing this on my first two crack at the exam.

Step 2: Create a shorter outline for each core subjects with a maximum of 3 pages per subject.

I know. You already did this in Step 1. However, it is tough to review all 30-50 pages of outline per subject when you are nearing the exam. The reason for the first outline is to fully understand the law. The purpose of this second outline is for you to commit the material to memory.

Step 3: Solve at least 2,000 real MBE questions!

This is perhaps the most important step. This was the game changer for me. You must solve as many MBE questions as you possibly can. The MBE is worth 50% of your grade, and the return for each question you answer correctly is unmatched.

How should you study for the MBEs? Solve and study real MBE questions. I know many bar prep courses spent a considerable amount of time trying to mimic the MBEs, but they are not the real thing. When I began to study for the bar again for the third time, I decided to focus all my energy on the MBEs. Through much recommendation (and by many who swore by it), I picked up the Strategies and Tactics for the MBE by Emanuel (hereinafter S&T). Now, this book was amazing. It broke down real MBE questions in understandable fashion. I especially loved their introduction section for each subject because it taught me how to effectively approach the MBE. The S&T, however, was not enough. The S&T was a powerful introduction to the MBEs, but it was just that: an introduction. The book only offers 600 questions. You might think that’s a lot, but it is not. 

After failing the bar the fourth time I realized I needed to solve more MBE questions. I decided to try AdaptiBar (once again, I am not endorsed by any of the materials I mention in my blog). AdaptiBar is an online MBE simulator. They offer many programs, but I went with just the MBE Simulator option. The Simulator was nice because it also included a mobile app that you can use to answer MBE questions on the go. The good thing about AdaptiBar is that it offers over 1,700 MBE questions. The con is, however, that their explanation isn’t as detailed as the S&T. That is why it is good to study with both materials.

I cannot stress how important it is to solve as many MBE questions as possible. When I mean solve, I mean really try to understand each question. No matter if you get the question right or wrong, thoroughly review each question and answer. Ask yourself, why was the question you selected right or wrong? Why were the other answers wrong? What made them appealing if you had to struggle between two answers?

When I began to do this, something clicked after solving about 1,200 questions. I began to see patterns. No, I am not joking. I saw the clever traps laid by the bar examiners, and I was even able to guess what type of wrong answers would be present in the answer section before even getting there.

Long story short, I don’t care what program or study material you use, just solve a lot of real MBE questions. At minimum, you should solve at least 2,000 questions.

Step 4: Focus on the MEEs and lightly review all other subjects

Look, at least half of the MEE questions come from the core subjects. While other subjects are important, no one knows what will come out on the day of the exam. Truth be told, on my fourth and fifth attempt at the bar exam, I glanced at these other subjects only once. You read that correctly. I didn’t spend more than one day on these other subjects. Now I am not encouraging you to do the same. I did this because I had a full-time job, and I thought it was a waste of my time to spend so many hours on subjects that may not even show up on the actual exam. I decided to invest 90% of my time on the core subjects by solving as many MBE questions as possible.

So how did I study for the MEEs? I got the Multistate Essay Exam Review by Rigos Primer Series. The book had some decent pointers for each subject, but I ignored them all and went straight to the questions. I solved the questions by outlining my answer, and then comparing it to the model answer. That’s it. I didn’t write any of it out. Again, most of my time was spent on solving MBE questions.

Step 5: Know how to attack the MPT

The MPT is obviously important because it is worth 20% of the total passing score. I used Google and Youtube for tips and tricks on taking the MPTs. In total, I must’ve done 5 of them. Well, if I include the bar exams, I took 11 (2 from the NY Bar Exam, 4 from the UBE and 5 on my own). I really didn’t spend much time on this because I simply didn’t have time. However, the MPT is worth 20%. That is huge. I do apologize for not providing much help here.

Tl;dr

1. Make outlines for core subjects, one long one, then a short one.

2. Solve at least 2,000 MBE questions**

3. Lightly review other subjects, and solve MEE questions.

4. Know how to attack the MPT.

Now what if you don't have time to do all of this? Just solve as many MBEs as you possibly can. Solve a few when you wake up, on your lunch break, while you use the restroom, before you go to bed, just solve, solve, solve.

Here is the schedule I used for the July 2017 bar exam.

Do not give up. I know the road is tough, and I know it seems impossible to pass. I know because I failed the bar four times. Don’t lose heart, and keep going. Others may suggest that you change your career path, but don't listen to them. Instead, pursue your dream. 

Lastly, I must profess that I am a Christian. I believe that God has a purpose for us all, and that everything works according to His time and purpose. Sometimes life doesn’t make sense when it tells you that your best just isn’t good enough. That’s what the bar exam told me every time I failed. What kept me going was the fact that pass or fail, I am a beloved child of God. In the end, an exam is an exam. Do not let your self-identity and emotions be dictated by an exam. Believe it or not, like me, you are also a beloved child of God with infinite value. May that encourage you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I am more than happy to help.