Thread: Washington State Bar Review - Rigo's or Barbri?

Taking the WA bar exam, thinking about Rigo's or Barbri. recommendation? personal experience to share?

I recommend BarBri

I took the WA bar this past summer and used the Rigos self-study. Although the very condensed outline helped me focus on the really important issues, many times it was so condensed that I couldn't understand what it was trying to convey. (This was particularly true for subjects I did not study in law school.) I also found a few errors in the Rigos outline, which, to say the least, was disturbing. The essay-grading was helpful. That said, if I have to do it again (please God no) I would use BarBri. The people I spoke with who recommended Rigos were busy practitioners who needed the super-condensed version. If you are fresh out of law school or recently graduated, use Bar Bri.

Rigo's is more personal, a little bit cheaper, but the essay feedback is a lot...tons better!! However, Barbri has the most traditional approach that worked for many. I would personally go with Rigo's, but if you are a really traditional user, and the typical outlines worked for you (like Emanuels and Black Letter), then go with Barbri cuz' after all they are the standard.

For me there are some advantages and disadvantages to both courses but at the end of the day for me personally Rigos is the better of the two. Rigos is a smaller outfit but with a higher pass rate; barbri is a big national chain which lacks personal attention (in my opinion). This does mean sometimes people think of them as 'the standard' but I don't think that this is the right way to view things. I respect 2school's opinion but the comment;

"if you are a really traditional user, and the typical outlines worked for you (like Emanuels and Black Letter), then go with Barbri"

...is misleading. Rigos actually publish through Emanuel and aspen publishing. Maybe this is a recent addition to their portfolio but for me Rigos gives you the quality of a national chain with the attention of the hands on smaller business. Indeed, their essay marking system is life saving!

At the end of the day you'll like whoever you pick as long as you pass first time. If you work really hard you'll probably do that with either course. However, Rigos really make sure they do everything they can on a day to day basis to ensure you stand the best chance possible.

ref:
Amazon.com: Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) Review (Emanuel's Rigos Bar Review Series) (9780735576179): James J. Rigos: Books

Rigos Professional Education Programs: Bar Review Course, CPA Review Course, CMA Review Course, Ethics Review Course.