How to Approach the Bar Exam as an LLM

How to Approach the Bar Exam as an LLM

Students who are attending law school to obtain an LLM (Master of Laws) may face some unique challenges when studying for the bar exam.  But, with a little thought and preparation, there are many pathways to success on the bar exam for LLMs!  In this post, we discuss some things to keep in mind if you find yourself as an LLM student preparing for the bar exam.

How to Approach the Bar Exam as an LLM

Evaluate the Topics Tested

LLMs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  If you are an LLM student who also received a JD at a USA-based law school, your bar exam experience might differ from an LLM student who received their training in a different country.  So, before you get started with your studying, you’ll need to figure out some focus areas, which might impact when you begin to study.

Take a look at the topics tested on the bar exam in your jurisdiction.  Did you take classes on all of the topics in law school?  Some of the topics in law school? None?  Learning a topic tested on the bar exam, especially an MBE topic, from scratch is a lot of work and takes a lot of effort.  If you haven’t taken any classes on a topic tested on the bar exam or aren’t sure what some of the topics even are, then you’ll probably want to do some learning prior to the start of most commercial bar prep courses.  Hiring a tutor might also be beneficial if you find yourself in this place.

Look to Resources

As you evaluate how much time you might need to prepare for the bar exam, make sure you check in with your law school bar support or academic success department.  They might have resources available to you or just might otherwise provide you with valuable insight as you prepare to study.  If you aren’t sure where to begin, your law school can be a great starting point.

Pick a Bar Exam Prep Course

Even if you took every single bar-exam tested subject in law school, you will still want a bar exam prep course so you can better understand how what you learned is presented on the bar exam.  You might even notice some areas on the bar exam that are commonly tested but otherwise weren’t covered in your law school course.  For LLM students, picking a bar exam prep course is crucial, especially if you didn’t receive instructions on bar exam topics in law school.  Make sure you’re selecting a course that aligns with your learning style.

Most bar prep companies offer course samples so you can get a feel for what their courses look like before making a large investment.  Make sure you take the time to investigate bar prep courses so you can make sure you’re selecting the course that works best for you!

Supplement your studies!

Make sure you’re regularly checking in on yourself throughout bar prep!  Regular check-ins can help you better understand if you are on track with your studies.  As you check in, make sure you’re not just evaluating your course progress, but also your familiarity with bar exam-tested topics.  If you find a topic that isn’t quite clicking or seems too massive to undertake, it’s a great time to supplement your studies.  One-on-one tutoring may be especially beneficial in that regard.  Other supplements might also help you break down material into more manageable chunks to make it easier to understand.  Either way, make sure you’re evaluating your options so you can put yourself in the best place for success on the bar exam!

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