Tips for foreign graduates taking the Uniform Bar Exam

Tips for foreign graduates taking the Uniform Bar Exam

If you are a foreign graduate taking the Uniform Bar Exam, you are not alone! We work with foreign graduates taking the Uniform Bar Exam every single administration. Here are a few tips specifically geared toward those who were not educated in the United States but who still wish to become licensed to practice law in the United States. 

Tips for foreign graduates taking the Uniform Bar Exam

1. Remember that you can do it!

We have foreign graduates pass the Uniform Bar Exam with high scores every single administration. The most common bar exam that foreign-educated graduates take is the New York bar exam. We have students from Dubai, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and several other countries study for (and pass) the Uniform Bar Exam. So do not be discouraged if you feel as though you are at a disadvantage. You are not!

2. Spend extra time on subjects you did not learn in law school.

We have some foreign graduates who plan on taking the Uniform Bar Exam but who have not taken some “core” classes (usually Constitutional Law, Sales, Evidence etc.). Some of these are foundational classes and they are very important! It is definitely possible to learn these subjects and pass the bar exam. Just plan accordingly!

If you did not learn specific subjects in law school, prepare early, or look into bar exam private tutoring. A commercial course that flies through the material may not be the right fit for you.

3. Use your strengths to your advantage.

You may have specific strengths that you developed through your study of law. For example, you may be a very hard worker and dedicate the hours you need to pass the exam. Or you may be excellent at memorizing. (We find that many of our foreign graduates excel at memorization! Use this to your advantage!). Or perhaps you are an excellent writer and very organized.

You will definitely come to the table with specific strengths. Acknowledge those from the outset. And plan on using them to your advantage.

4. Acknowledge – and strengthen – your weaknesses.

Some of our foreign graduates taking the Uniform Bar Exam complain about how different the bar exam is in comparison with what they are used to. For example, some foreign graduates have very little experience with multiple-choice questions. If you fall into that category, make sure you to combat your weaknesses ahead of time. Purchase real MBE questions. Consider seeking specific help for the MBE portion of the exam.

Other foreign graduates do not speak English as a first language and struggle with the wording of MBE questions or with timing on the multistate performance test (MPT) portion of the exam. If you fall into one of these categories, seek bar exam private tutoring or some other option that will help you surpass these challenges.

By addressing your weaknesses upfront, you will maximize your chances of passing the bar exam!

5. Plan out your bar exam experience well ahead of time.

If you are flying in from another country, you should plan out your bar exam days well ahead of time. Some things to consider:

• Figure out where you will stay while you are here. (You may prefer a hotel or an air BnB or something else!)
• If you are in a different time zone, how do you plan on adjusting to the time zone where you will take the bar exam? Some students fly in to the United States early. Others start adjusting their sleep schedules at home.  It is imperative to think about this well before the bar exam so you are well rested before the test.
• Make sure to get your flight and transportation figured out well ahead of time so you don’t run into any hiccups.

If you have any questions about the Uniform Bar Exam, please feel free to contact us!

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