It’s not coking out today folks, go have a coffee

Respectfully I'm so sick of seeing the commentary from NY passers making the top of this feed. I'm looking to stalk this thread for news about NJ results (as irrational as that sounds lol) but enough with looking for guidance on high passing scores! I'm sick of it being about NY still lmao just wait to discuss at least idk

Just here to complain at this point

Hi everyone,

I really contemplated sharing this post, as I didn't want to repeat what a lot have already asked for, but yet I still feel I could benefit from your experiences.

I'm foreign educated, did my LL.M. in NY, and I failed July '26 (NY) with a total score of 236 - my breakdowns were as follows:

• MBE: 113.8
• MEE/MPT: 122.3

Specific breakdowns for the MEE/MPT were:

• MEE 1: 62.49
• MEE 2: 29.84
• MEE 3: 30.94
• MEE 4: 35.73
• MEE 5: 51.52
• MEE 6: 57.07
• MPT 1: 41.27
• MPT 2: 41.87

To be fairly honest, I already acknowledge that I didn't spend as much time preparing, as I couldn't find the best way to study right after graduating the LL.M. and going through my recent ADHD diagnosis. My issues on test day were not time related (except MPT 2), I finished the MBE with somewhat of confidence by 45mins+ each session. Whereas MEE/MPT, I used up every minute. I thought that was because I spent (whatever little) time I studied solely on the MBE.

When preparing, I spent a few weeks on Barbri, didn't like it at all, then opted to go with GoatBarPrep, Adaptibar, and Grossman videos (last two weeks). I never was able to lock-in for more than a few hours, and spammed questions however didn't do much reviewing afterwards, I averaged 58-60% on Adaptibar.

I acknowledge one thing, I didn't do as much effort to expect a passing result, but my dilemma and where I'd really appreciate advice is as follows:

1. I work full-time now, should I register for Feb' 27, even if it is less time to prepare (I can only start after mid-Nov) and how difficult it would be to jump 30 points with scaling in Feb?
2. If so, was anyone in my situation, what worked for you? What do you recommend? Any specific resources?
3. If not, should I just take the time to rest and prepare for July '27?

First of all - congratulations to all that passed! I am so happy for you.
Second of all - to all that didnt pass. I am sorry. It sucks. Take a breather - like a week or whatever, do whatever you have to do and come back - a friend recently sent me a couple of videos from ig to motivate me. “The truth is, that you cannot create anything of value without both self doubt and self belief”

This is because i really believe, after the score I received + with a career break, that i am truly not meant for this field. I scored a 209 from 200 (j24). I didnt expect to score that low. If i failed, and i believed there was a 50/50 chance of failing/passing, i expected maybe the min to be 250…. But 209? Like a thorny sharp sword through my heart. Devastation is not a word close to what i felt in that moment. Anyways I recognize the issue is me - i struggle with focusing and remaining focused, and retaining info. This is something I GENUIENLY struggle with in all aspects of my life, so i am seeing this as an opportunity to really address the core issue (me) and be a better individual by Gods will.

Anyways, i am curious on my score breakdown for July 2024, but unfortunately I don’t have a copy. Before i call them, is there any way i can get a copy for it? Payment is not an issue.

Thank you all, and good luck <3

I'm incredibly frustrated. Paid for what was advertised as 4 months of themis access to now learn the full course doesn't open up until Nov 18th. I only have access to the uworld question bank. What the hell?? I work in big law and was trying to front load my studying as much as possible by watching all the lectures early and doing practice essays/mpts but i guess that just isn't going to work out. Very deceptive advertising on Themis's part.

Brand new NY J26 Themis bar prep books. Self-collect just across Hudson River in Union City, NJ (10-15 min bus ride from 42 PABT).

See everyone tomorrow (again)

Advice

Hey guys! I’m wondering if the Adaptibar Flashcards can be bought seperately since I already have uworld. I really like the Flashcards because it’s question-oriented and very detailed.

Anyone knows how to approach this issue?

Hi everyone - I have everything for my packet ready to go. The one thing holding my back from sending off my application is the fact that one of my previous employers has recently passed. He was a solo practitioner, it was only me, 2 other interns, him, and his secretary. I tried calling 2nd dept who said to put my issue in an email. It’s been a few days and I’ve heard nothing on how to go about this for the Affirmation. I really want to submit this asap; but I have no idea what to do. Has anyone experienced this or heard of anyone who went through this??? What do I do? How do I go about this since I obviously cannot get an affirmation for this… thank you 🙏

Can you now sit the California bar exam online from overseas at a Pearson testing center? If so is it only once or is it likely to be for several years

I'm considering sitting for the February 2027 NY bar after four unsuccessful attempts and would really appreciate advice from anyone who's been in a similar position.

I've come relatively close to passing before, but my scores have been inconsistent. I genuinely believe burnout played a significant role in my most recent attempt, especially with everything happening in my life at the time. I don't necessarily think I knew less than before, which makes the drop from 254 to 235 particularly frustrating.

I'm currently working full-time as a law clerk in an area of law that I do not want to stay in (in California), and hoping to study around 20–25 hours a week, taking only the week of the exam off. I'll also be juggling some major personal milestones (like getting engaged!!!) and friends wedding, and the coming holidays during that time. I'm considering keeping this attempt private, aside from telling my partner, to reduce the pressure.

For those who've passed after multiple attempts or been in similar circumstances:

- What did your study schedule realistically look like while working full-time and managing personal commitments?

- Did you focus more on applying and practicing what you already knew rather than relearning everything?

- Was taking only the exam week off enough?

- Did keeping your retake private help with the pressure?

***I'd especially appreciate hearing from anyone who dealt with burnout or made significant improvements after several attempts. I'm trying to find a sustainable approach that still gives me a realistic chance of passing. With New York only allowing February retakes after four unsuccessful attempts, I'm also torn about whether taking another break is the wisest decision at this point.

Hi! Taking the February Virginia Bar Exam. I'm a repeat taker but I did not go to a VA law school. I'm wondering if there's anyone here who has gone to a VA law school and taken the bar? If so, any tips that your school gave you? What program works best? I've tried Kaplan and Adaptibar. I know the essays can be found online. I'm a visual learner too, so if anyone has any charts, etc. that they'd be willing to share, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I'm a foreign-trained lawyer preparing for the February 2027 Bar Exam, and I'd really appreciate some advice, especially from people who have already passed.

A little background about me:

I'm not a native English speaker. I started learning English less than three years ago. Although my reading comprehension has improved significantly, English is still a barrier for me, especially when it comes to writing.

I completed an online LL.M. at the University of Dayton School of Law, graduating in September 2026 with a 3.8 GPA, well above the average. I chose the online program because I still work for the government in my home country.

I consistently performed well on my LL.M. essays and written assignments. However, because the program was designed for foreign-trained lawyers, grammatical mistakes were not penalized. This makes me somewhat uncertain about how my writing will be evaluated on the Bar Exam, where I assume the expectations may be different.

I also have extensive experience preparing for competitive exams. I spent almost four years of my life studying for extremely difficult government examinations in my home country. Because of that, I've developed a pretty solid approach to multiple-choice questions, and I generally feel comfortable with this type of testing.

My current MBE preparation

I started practicing MBE questions about two months ago. I prefer studying one subject at a time, so I haven't started Real Property or Civil Procedure yet.

Although I'm still working, I've been studying approximately four hours per day, around 25–30 hours per week.

My routine consists of:

• 30–50 MBE questions per day.
• Always answering questions under timed conditions.
• Carefully reviewing the explanations for every question, including those I answered correctly.
• Reading outlines and reviewing the substantive law behind the questions.

One thing I've learned from years of preparing for competitive exams is that, at least for me, practicing questions is generally more effective than spending most of my time passively studying theory.

Since graduating in 15 September, I've been studying every day, with a particular emphasis on practice questions.

My MBE performance so far

All my results are from the NCBE question bank.

Here are my current averages by subject:

Overall MBE accuracy (excluding Real Property and Civil Procedure): approximately 74%, based on 970+ questions, with no repeated questions.

I've noticed a consistent pattern: my performance during the first 30–40 questions of a new subject is usually lower, but after that initial adjustment, my accuracy tends to stabilize around 70–80%.

That has been fairly consistent over the past two months.

My first mixed-subject practice tests

Over the past few days, I started doing mixed-subject sets for the first time, rather than focusing on one subject at a time.

My three most recent results were:

• October 21: 70% — 40 questions, timed, all previously unused - NBCE Questions.
• October 23: 87% — 30 questions, no 100% unused- NBCE Questions.
• October 27: 84% — 50 questions, no 100% unused - NBCE Questions.

An important clarification: until the last two tests, I had never repeated a question. The 70% mixed test consisted entirely of questions I had never seen before.

However, I eventually exhausted the available unused NCBE questions in the subjects I've studied, so I had to start including previously answered questions in my last two mixed tests.

I understand that the 84% and 87% results may therefore be somewhat inflated by familiarity with the questions. I'm not assuming those scores necessarily reflect my actual performance on completely unfamiliar questions.

Now comes my dilemma: Themis or a different approach?

I've already paid for Themis, and my course is scheduled to begin in mid-November.

However, considering my current MBE performance, I'm starting to wonder whether completing the entire traditional Themis program is really the best use of my limited study time.

My questions are:

1. Would Themis significantly improve my MBE performance?

Given that I'm already averaging around 70–80% in the subjects I've studied, I'm wondering how much additional improvement I could realistically expect from following the full course, especially the lectures.

Of course, I know my performance in Civil Procedure and Real Property is still unknown, and I need to address those subjects.

2. Would it make more sense to focus primarily on essays and the MPT?

I'm considering finishing Civil Procedure and Real Property, then shifting most of my attention to the written portion of the exam (MEE and MPT), while continuing to practice a smaller number of MBE questions daily to maintain my performance.

This is probably my biggest concern as a foreign-trained lawyer.

Although I did very well on written assignments throughout my LL.M., English is still a challenge when I have to express complex legal reasoning in writing. My LL.M. program was specifically designed for international lawyers, and grammatical errors did not negatively affect our grades.

I honestly don't know how different the Bar Exam grading standards are. How much do grammatical mistakes, awkward sentence structure, or less natural English affect MEE and MPT scores, assuming the legal analysis is correct and understandable?

I'm particularly concerned about having to write quickly under exam conditions, without the opportunity to revise my English as carefully as I could during my LL.M.

3. Should I follow the full Themis schedule or use it selectively?

Since I've already paid for the course, I definitely want to take advantage of its resources. But I'm not sure whether I should follow the entire schedule or prioritize certain components, such as graded essays, MPT practice, subject outlines, and simulated exams.

I have approximately 25–30 hours per week available until February 2027, so time allocation is a major consideration.

4. For those who have passed the Bar Exam

• If you were in my position, would you spend more time on Themis or start prioritizing essays and MPT?
• How much did Themis actually contribute to your success, particularly if you were already doing well on multiple-choice questions before starting the course?
• How much did writing in English affect your MEE and MPT performance? Were grammatical mistakes a significant issue, or was demonstrating correct legal reasoning more important?

I'm not trying to find shortcuts or underestimate the exam. I know the Bar Exam is extremely challenging, and I still have a lot to learn.

I'm simply trying to figure out the most efficient way to allocate my limited study hours, based on my current strengths and weaknesses.

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have passed the exam and can look back on what actually made the biggest difference in their preparation.

Thank you in advance for any advice, suggestions, or criticism. I genuinely appreciate it!

Unless you already have a very strong foundation in substantive law and thoroughly understand the MBE topics, rules, and exceptions, UWorld or Adaptibar alone is not sufficient to pass the MBE portion of the bar exam.

You need to understand the topics, legal rules, and exceptions within each topic before you can effectively apply them to MBE questions.

EDIT: Read the outlines and the books, watch the videos, know everything on all topics.

How long is the second department taking to process applications and scheduling swearing in ceremonies? I passed the July 2026 NY bar and just submitted my application today?

Have people submitted their applications by now? Was trying to get mine out as soon as possible

I graduated with an LLM from a school in PA, I was initially planning on working for a couple years ; “gain experience” and go back to my Home country. I already had a job lined up for me back home. Never intended to take the bar here in America. Due to circumstances, I’ve been given the opportunity to stay back here and honestly after deep thought, I might give it a shot. Looks like I’ll be staying in Wisconsin for the long run. And now I’m considering taking the bar in July 2027 and yes, I have adequate credits to sit for the exam. With what I’ve seen so far, they don’t require the MPRE and JD graduates don’t need to take the bar. I’ve been looking at commercial bar prep and it’s all centered around other states and I don’t see anything that specifies Wisconsin bar and I know that they follow a UBE pattern so does that mean I can use any state material for example, one designed for NY? I am very unfamiliar with Wisconsin jurisdiction and I’m going to take the year to prep myself. Unfortunately, I’m clueless as to where to begin. I don’t think I’m looking up the right thing to get answers as taking the bar was never in my plan until now.

Any foreign trained lawyers in Wisconsin who have taken the bar, how did you prep and what material did you use?

we are dead ass last ❤️ without any future date for release ❤️

is the January ceremony typically remote or in-person? I saw a previous post saying it was remote but the court calendar says in-person. typically, how far in advance will AD3 let you know which ceremony you're scheduled to attend? thanks!