Bar Exam Basics: The California Bar Exam

The California Bar Exam is as daunting as any bar exam in the country. The preparation for an examination of this magnitude is like no other test anyone will likely take in a lifetime. All the California Desert Trial Academy’s (CDTA) California State Bar tested courses are uniquely taught in a real courtroom environment by real lawyers and judges. Our 4-year law school program prepares students to take and pass the California Bar Examination.

Most students are used to studying a few days in advance for a test in an undergraduate class. For many tests, the preparation may require only a few days of serious, intense studying. A bar exam is like no other test. At a progressive school like CDTA, the bar exam preparation window, therefore, begins immediately on the first day of school at CDTA.

The California Bar Exam is a two-day test consisting of three parts:

1. The Multi-state Bar Examination (MBE)

1. • The MBE is a six-hour test consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions that apply to hard skill courses such as Constitutional Law, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law/Procedure, Evidence, Property, and Torts.

2. Five Essay Questions

1. • The California Bar also tests an applicant’s ability to answer essay questions with a morning session of three one-hour questions and an afternoon session of two one-hour questions. To score the maximum number of points in answering these essays, an applicant must demonstrate proficiency in applying and using legal principles. An applicant’s answers are expected to demonstrate the ability to analyze the facts of the question, distinguish between material and immaterial facts, as well as discern the key points of law and fact which ultimately decide the question.

3. Performance Test

• • The California Bar Exam also includes one 90-minute performance test in which applicants must complete certain tasks using a “case file” or library of documents and instructions. The questions contained in the performance test are designed to test an applicant’s ability to understand and apply select legal authorities in the context of a real-world problem.

 

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) is a 21^st Century law school that moves students toward a successful legal career on the first day of class. We train and prepare students to develop the necessary test-taking skills for successfully passing any, not just the California, bar exam. We believe that practical experience in tandem with legal knowledge is the best road to a successful, rewarding, and prosperous legal career. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.