LAW > Academic Achievement Program > Early Bar Exam Prep Chapman University School of Law
 
 
   

Early Bar Exam Preparation Program

In recent years, the pass rate for first time takers of the California State Bar Examination who attended ABA-approved law schools located in California has ranged from 69.4 to 79 percent for the July exam and 49.5 to 57.4 for the February exam. Statistics compiled by the California State Bar demonstrate that the pass rate is dramatically less for repeat takers. Therefore, in the spring semester, graduating students of Chapman University School of Law are offered an Early Bar Exam Preparation Program.

The program is not intended to replace the commercial bar exam preparation courses most students take during the two month period prior to the bar exam. Instead, the program supplements these commercial courses. Students are introduced to the components of the California State Bar Exam, receive testing tips and strategies, review the substantive law tested on the exam, and take simulated exams.

The program is conducted by providers of commercial bar examination preparation courses, as well as members of the law school faculty. The Early Bar Exam Preparation Program is provided at no cost to Chapman Law School students.

In addition, Chapman offers a graded 2 unit course entitled "Practice Preparation" which is designed to, among other things, prepare students for the performance section of the California Bar Examination.  The course focuses on the analysis and drafting of legal documents commonly prepared during the first few years of law practice and tested on the performance section of the California Bar, including memoranda, briefs, correspondence, declarations, separate statements in support of motions for summary judgement/adjudication, discovery plans, and written discovery. The course also focuses on the identification of client issues and the use of case precedent to predict the outcome of client problems.

 student-thinking

CAS

  • Applications for the July bar are generally available March 1, and for the February bar on August 1.

    Testing locations fill up quickly--apply the first day applications are available to reserve your preferred seat.

  • You can apply online for the bar exam.

    The moral character application must be submitted via hard copy, but can be printed out off the CA Bar website at www.calbar.ca.gov.

  • Dates and fees for the CA Bar Exam change every year.

    Regularly check the official CA Bar website at www.calbar.ca.gov.

  • Bar Exam fees can be anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500

    for the exam, the moral character application, laptop use, etc. Late fees can quickly add up, so sign up on time, sign up early!

  • You must file a separate moral character application.

    File it as soon as possible! It takes a minimum of 180 days to process the application.

  • The Bar is not the only exam!

    You must also take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). The separate application is available from the National Committee of Bar Examiners at www.ncbex.org.

  • Disability accommodations

    take a lot of time, effort and fees. Apply for them as early as possible!

  • You must first register as a law student

    before you may apply to take the exam or submit your moral character application. If you have not registered as a law student, do so immediately.

  • SSN# required.

    You must have a valid social security number to register to take the bar exam in California.
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