rakhi

I want to sign up with one of them before August 31st for a good discount, please help me pick one, quickly!!

atash

I vote for Paul Pfau

Reasons:

Paul Pfau:
Just about everything that you need to know about how to pass the bar can be conveyed in about three hours of lectures. After that it's really just practice and feedback from the tutor to keep your eye on the ball.

My experience is that most people who fail the bar again, don't resolve themselves to practice sufficiently, once they are advised on what to do. Then, they blame the failure on the tutor. And, to some extent that's justified, because part of what a tutor should do is motivate you to practice.

Ultimately, however, it's up to the student to do the work. If you don't, then someone else will, and they will pass and you will not.

Steve from Bar Perfect:
Price is too high because you basically just practice in his office.. of course he gives you feedback and stuff, but it is not worth the money in my opinion.

Vivian Dempsey:
I heard that Vivian's essay approach is great, but her PT approach was confusing and didn't work for some people....you pretty much knew 90% of what she is going to tell you. know the law the bar tests on..

I think the $4000 price tag was not worth it....

Source: Lafonda and my research

samata

I vote for Vivian Dempsey

I took Vivian's bar review for the February bar last year and passed. I recommend her highly. She has a program designed for people that work for a living. I worked fulltime but took the week before the exam off. Her program requires four hours a weekday and 8 to 10 hours both Saturday and Sunday. I could not have done it without her teaching methods. It was like she got into my mind because I felt like she knew what I was doing wrong, why I was getting low essay and PT scores and schooled me to write correctly. I worked for me so it should work for you.

I did an essay seminar with Vivian Dempsey since it is obvious that is where the whole problem lies. I called her and asked her if the bar examiners actually read the essays. She said they don't mull over your essay, since one bar grader has a thousand or so of the same essay. What he does is this. He figures out fast the things that everyone gets, then focuses in on where the problems lie.

Example: Everyone one knows the elements of negligence. However, a lot of examinees mess up on proximate causation. Ms. Dempsey said that is where the graders will focus on... to see if you got that right. The easy stuff (is assumed). She said the key is to lay out the essay so the true testable issue is visible and easy for the bar grader to navigate through.

That being said, she gave me another pointer. With reference to CA Civ Pro and Evidence, she said figure out the testable issues. Look at Federal Civ Pro and Evidence, then look at CA Civ Pro and Evidence. Focus on those areas that are testable. What has the Bar tested on for Fed Civ Pro and Evidence. and find those testable areas where CA Civ Pro and Evidence differ.

You can't memorize all the law, focus on the areas that are testable.

One other point she gave me: If you are testing high on the MBE--(I got a 152 scaled) and stillnot passing, she said to consider that you are studying for the essay portion and the performance exam portion in the same manner that you prepared for the MBE. Hmmm, I
was thinking. I never really thought of it like that.

Haven't really figured out how to fix it... but the bottom line is probably know the law on those essay testable" areas, then practice, practice, practice.

**One last point, she lays out her essay like a grocery list in her model answers to lead the grader right to that section that she contends is the testable issue or sub issue. All the other stuff, they just gloss over.

Getting off my high horse and going back to study, so I don't turn out like the guy that took the exam 50 times.

Source: scales_2004

smita

Steve is actually pretty good!
I used Bar Perfect and passed w/ Steve. I thought he was really helpful and was honest.

bharath

Paul Pfau

I too have worked with Paul. I was not able to take the exam at the last minute so I can't speak to a "pass rate", but I can speak to his approach. I found his writing system to be quite helpful and his emphasis on the understanding the nature of the exam. His writing system gave me tools for getting my essays started and whole phrases and transitions that let me worry about the law and not on what word am I going to use next. Also, I found his study schedule to be VERY helpful. I'm not great at creating systems, such as how to study, what and when. He does that for you. You will need your own substantive law materials, he can help you find these materials if you don't already have it. While he covers the substantive law, this is not a comprehensive substantive review, in that regards, his approach might be better suited to repeaters.

I found him to be a compassionate, approachable person. He returns calls in a timely and helpful manner and will give you as much as you need, if you are willing to engage with him, he will meet your commitment. Best of luck as you head into the final weeks. This is do-able! Don't let the logistics and hype from the bar distract you. Stay centered within yourself. Nothing related to this exam has anything to do with your self-worth. If you have fallen into that trap, get some help now.

Source: Kris Bowman

raj

Anybody but Paul Pfau!!! Why are you guys all voting for Paul???

I know he has at least 3 locations if not more. One guy. Full time job. Over 200 students. One day a week. Can't call him whenever you want. $4000. Also, he has this really weird complicated method of organizing your essay which I never understood. Given, I only went to 3 classes, but I paid a significant amount of money. I decided my time was better spend studying on my own instead of listening to him talk about I don't know what. I would literally leave class and have absolutely no idea what had just happened. Anyway, I PASSED! but it was because of John Holtz seminar and Jeff Adachi's Bar Breakers and Bar Exam Survival guide. I also passed despite the fact that the software crashed on my computer on Day 1. part 1 and I lost a lot of time. You do not need a personal tutor unless you are really slow or have learning disabilities. If you went to a decent law school you just need to practice. practice. practice and even though Jeff Adachi can oversimplify and mis-state law sometimes his method works and most importantly it's easy to remember.

Source: myt_dee03

nirali

Paul Pfau and Cal Bar Tutorial all the way!

I too have worked with Paul. I was not able to take the exam at the last minute so I can't speak to a "pass rate", but I can speak to his approach. I found his writing system to be quite helpful and his emphasis on the understanding the nature of the exam. His writing system gave me tools for getting my essays started and whole phrases and transitions that let me worry about the law and not on what word am I going to use next. Also, I found his study schedule to be VERY helpful. I'm not great at creating systems, such as how to study, what and when. He does that for you. You will need your own substantive law materials, he can help you find these materials if you don't already have it. While he covers the substantive law, this is not a comprehensive substantive review, in that regards, his approach might be better suited to repeaters.

I found him to be a compassionate, approachable person. He returns calls in a timely and helpful manner and will give you as much as you need, if you are willing to engage with him, he will meet your commitment. Best of luck as you head into the final weeks. This is do-able! Don't let the logistics and hype from the bar distract you. Stay centered within yourself. Nothing related to this exam has anything to do with your self-worth. If you have fallen into that trap, get some help now.

Source: Kris Bowman