Is This Bar Exam Tutor For You? Two Factors to Consider.

Repeating the bar exam chips away at a bar exam scholar’s confidence. 

Add the incompetence of a few ill-placed legal academics to the mix and it leaves bar exam repeaters susceptible to mistreatment. Worse, it wastes their time and money. 

Here are two factors to consider when interviewing bar exam tutors: (1) Sensitivity; and (2) Specialization.

Sensitivity - A Learning Atmosphere

When a bar candidate struggles to pass the bar exam, desperation may hinder their hunches they typically rely on in the real world. Combine this vulnerability with reliance on a recommendation, review, or promotional propaganda and it is understandable why a bar exam repeater may fall into the clutches of a detrimental tutorial relationship.

Being an informed consumer of bar tutors begins with hearing what the tutor is covertly saying to you before hiring them. Displays of first-time passing arrogance or insensitivity to the repeater’s needs are not to be ignored in this preemptive meeting. It may take the mustering of self-respect, but any teacher who already makes you feel bad is not good. Even if you were told he is the answer.

From where I sat in the bar exam multi-repeater winning circle, Bar Exam Teaching 101 should include mutual respect in the teacher-student relationship. 

Creating a productive learning atmosphere for my bar exam scholars was of utmost importance to their success. When a bar candidate has a safe harbor, it impacts their receptiveness to my teachings, provides trustworthiness to work through the awkwardness of change, and provides the security these vulnerable intellectuals need to ask questions and engage to further elevate their bar exam game. 

Specialization - What Do They Do For A Living?

The iffiness of a bar review instructor being able to help a multi-repeater pass the next bar exam grows the more attenuated bar review becomes.

When someone is an expert, they act as an expert. They can’t help but create their own formulas, methods, materials, and lessons. 

When speaking to a bar exam tutor, they should guide the conversation with excitement. They should have questions and answers for you. They should want to know what you did before. They should tell you what they do differently, or additionally, for you. If the program treats bar exam repeaters the same as first-time bar review candidates, why would you pay for that again?  

If a bar exam prep program is not giving you anything you don’t already have, I would consider what you ARE getting out of it. Why would you need them then? 

Multi-repeaters who have cracks in their foundation should seek someone who can fill the holes and pack it to prevent structural failure. Alternatively, if the candidate has a solid foundation, they need to muster up their confidence to do what they need to do with the bar review they already invested in. 

In conclusion, considering the sensitivity and specialization of a bar exam tutor helps bar exam repeaters choose a worthwhile teammate.