Passing the Bar Exam
Lawyers are in Constant Demand
The United States of America prides itself as a lawful society where people accused of crimes are allowed to defend themselves. Contrary to some other countries, in the United States, a defendant is considered innocent until they can be proven guilty. The fact that the country takes such a strict approach to defending the rights of its citizens is a benefit to the career of a lawyer. Lawyers are people who have proven themselves, through education and licensing examinations, to have a mastery of the law. They are charged with the task of defending or prosecuting the accused in court or aiding corporations and individuals in aligning their processes with the law.
Becoming a Lawyer is a Long and Difficult Process
Because the American legal system has so many elements to it, the process of becoming a lawyer can be quite difficult and lengthy. In order to become a lawyer, one must complete law school and pass the bar exam in the state in which they intend to practice law. Before entering law school, a student must complete their undergraduate education and gain acceptance to a law school. In order to be accepted to a law school, they must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and achieve successful marks on the exam as well as their undergraduate grade point average.
Once they are in law school, the student must complete three years of study where they learn various areas of the United States’ legal code. Law school includes classroom instruction, examination of court cases, and the writing of legal briefs. After graduating law school successfully, students must pass the bar examination. This examination administered by states determines a person’s qualifications to practice law in the state.
Bar Examination Structure
The bar examination in most United States’ territories is usually two days long (some states have three-day exams) and consists of:
- Essay questions – Nearly all jurisdictions in the United States administer examinations with essay questions. These questions test the student’s knowledge of general legal affairs as well as the state’s own law. Some jurisdictions use the Multistate Essay Examination, which is a standardized exam prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners since 1988, while others create their own questions.
- Multistate standardized examinations – The other portion of the bar examination is a multiple-choice section. Most jurisdictions (48 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Republic of Palau) use the Multistate Bar Examination. This consists of 200 questions that test six subjects related to common law and the Uniform Commercial Code.
Preparing for the Exam
The Bar Examination is a comprehensive and difficult examination, but can be completed successfully with proper preparation. You should give yourself at least three months before taking the exam to start preparing. Regularly study for the exam by attempting and reviewing 40-60 practice questions a day. On every weekend, try writing one or two practice essays and have your peers review them. The best way to study is with other law students so you can combine ideas and exchange knowledge amongst each other.
