How many hours of bar prep a week?

Asked by: Wanda Grant  |  Last update: September 7, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (33 votes)

While your study time, days and location are extremely flexible, passing the bar exam requires time and commitment. Plan on spending approximately 40 hours per week over 8-10 weeks studying for the bar exam. During the few weeks of bar prep, treat your studies like you would treat a new, important job.

Is 7 weeks enough to study for the bar exam?

Suffolk strongly recommends that graduates take a minimum of six weeks (eight is better) to prepare for the bar examination. This period requires advance planning and preparation in terms of employment situations, vacation time, family support, and financial matters.

Is 2 months enough to study for the bar?

If you're taking the February bar, usually right after the holidays – either last week of December or the first week of January, depending on when the bar is this year. So, it really depends, but most people study for eight to ten weeks full-time, unless there's a special circumstance.

How intense is bar prep?

It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Almost every law school graduate exclusively dedicates the two months following graduation to bar prep. The goal of a bar prep course is to condense most of the law school curriculum into a two-month period. That means studying and preparing almost every day during those two months.

What does a bar prep schedule look like?

You should spend at least 400 to 600 hours studying for the bar. If you begin studying earlier, you can spend about 20 to 30 hours a week studying. If you begin studying later, or your bar exam was scheduled close to your graduation date, you should spend at least 40 to 60 hours a week studying.

What an average week is like preparing to sit for a U.S. bar exam | BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep

33 related questions found

How many hours a week should I bar prep?

While your study time, days and location are extremely flexible, passing the bar exam requires time and commitment. Plan on spending approximately 40 hours per week over 8-10 weeks studying for the bar exam. During the few weeks of bar prep, treat your studies like you would treat a new, important job.

Is bar prep stressful?

Studying for the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is an incredibly stressful and anxiety-inducing endeavor. So much is put into passing one exam, which is a major hurdle standing between you and your admittance to the bar.

Which bar prep has the best pass rate?

Compare One-Timers to Barbri, Kaplan & Themis

While many bar review companies claim high pass rates, One-Timers is the only one to guarantee it. One-Timers has a 98.3% pass rate with first-time ABA students who graduated in the top-half of their class.

How do you survive bar prep?

  1. Don't cram two years' worth of material into the weeks leading up to the bar exam. Instead, revisit your notes from your first- and second-year law school classes on a regular basis.
  2. Train your mind and your body to simulate the test every day you study. ...
  3. The bar exam, much like law school itself, takes grit.

Is the NCLEX harder than the bar exam?

The Bar Exam is typically seen as harder than the NCLEX. This is because the Bar Exam covers many intricate legal topics and has a lower pass rate, around 60% on average. In contrast, the NCLEX focuses on nursing concepts and has a higher pass rate, around 80% on average.

How many hours does the average bar study?

How many hours should I study for the bar exam? A good general goal to set is 400 hours of study time. However, this may be more or less, depending on a few things: How well you did in law school, particularly your first year (the better you performed, the less work you will need to put in to pass)

How hard is the bar exam without going to law school?

The bar exam pass rate of an apprentice is about ⅓ of that of a student who attends an ABA approved law school, according to a study by Priceconomics. With a passing rate of approximately 27% for apprentices, it is clear there are topics that can be missed, that a traditional law school is sure to cover.

How far in advance should you study for the bar?

The typical recommendation is that you spend a total of roughly 400 hours studying for the bar exam. If you can manage full-time study of 40–50 hours per week, you should begin about 10 weeks before the exam date.

How many hours is barbri bar prep?

With the traditional BARBRI Bar Review, candidates should expect to study 40 hours per week over 8-10 weeks.

When should I memorize for bar exam?

While there's no bright line rule for everyone, the short answer is: soon. Memorization can be accomplished within just one or two weeks before the bar exam, so don't worry if you haven't started. But the most effective way to memorize for the bar exam is to start three to four weeks before the exam.

How many days a week should I bar prep?

In general, we recommend you treat studying for the bar exam as if it was a full-time job. So if you study 9-5, five days a week (assuming you are studying efficiently!), you should be on track to pass the bar exam! However, there are a few factors to take into account that may change this recommendation.

How do you survive bar hopping?

Bar crawls can be intense, so it's essential to pace yourself. Make sure to drink water in between drinks and avoid overindulging. Remember, the goal is to have fun, not to get sick or blackout. Some Ticketholders have said they have 1 drink per hour and stick with drinks instead of shots.

Has anyone ever gotten a perfect score on the bar exam?

Has anyone ever gotten a perfect score on the bar exam? Have you ever seen an essay exam answer written during an actual state-administered exam that the CA Bar Examiners scored a perfect 100? We never have either, which is why we're bringing it to your attention.

What state has the easiest bar exam?

Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.

Do most people fail the bar exam the first time?

Notably, the most substantial disparity occurred in July 2022, with 36 percent of CALS graduates successfully passing the bar exam as first-time applicants, while only 13 percent of graduates from unaccredited schools achieved the same outcome.

How long are most bar prep courses?

Most bar prep courses are around two months long, but you may want to spend more or less time studying depending on personal considerations.

Do firms pay for bar prep?

Even some small firms will cover some (or all) bar prep expenses. Check out our post on How to Ask Your Firm to Pay for Bar Exam Preparation for more information about how and whether to ask your firm about the availability of this benefit.

Should I start bar prep early?

BARBRI Early Start helps you build a solid foundation that will stay with you throughout the bar exam. Simply put, people who start early have a better chance of passing the bar.

What bar exam is the hardest?

Which bar exam is hardest? California is considered by many to be the most difficult bar exam. It has a relatively low pass rate and a relatively high minimum passing score and covers a lot of state law.