How many hours should you spend studying for the bar?
Asked by: Lukas Erdman | Last update: October 18, 2025Score: 5/5 (32 votes)
If you were an average law student, then studying for the bar exam for about 400 hours will likely be sufficient. About 200 hours should be dedicated to learning the law and memorizing your outlines.
How many hours a day should you study for the bar?
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!
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.
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.
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.
How I Passed the New York Bar Exam and How You Can Do It Too
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.
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 hours is barbri bar prep?
With the traditional BARBRI Bar Review, candidates should expect to study 40 hours per week over 8-10 weeks.
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.
Is the bar exam getting harder?
Recently, California has had some terrifying pass rates. This includes a February 2020 overall pass rate of only 26.8 percent. In years prior, the pass rates were slightly better, but not by much. For example, the February 2018 overall pass rate was 27.3 percent.
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.
How many times fail bar exam?
You're in luck! There is no limit to the number of times you can take the bar exam in the state of California.
Is 2 months enough to study for the bar exam?
You should allow yourself 9 weeks of full-time studying (40-50 hours a week). If you are studying for the bar exam amidst other commitments, you will need to accommodate for less weekly hours by starting earlier (more like 15-20 weeks of studying).
How long do law students study a day?
Law Students' Average Daily Study Hours
All in all, however, law students typically spend around 30 – 40 hours per week studying. That may sound like a lot, but a good rule of thumb is that you should be studying at least two hours for every one hour of class time per week.
How to pass the bar exam in 10 days?
- Stop making flashcards and stop writing your own outlines.
- Start (or keep) memorizing.
- Don't answer 100 MBE questions a day.
- Bullet point essays.
- Work on the MPT section!
- Boost your confidence!
How long does the average person study for the bar?
How Long Does It Take to Prepare for the Bar Exam? The typical recommendation is that you spend a total of roughly 400 hours studying for the bar exam. If you are studying for the recommended minimum of nine weeks, that means 40 to 50 hours per week.
What percentage of BARBRI students pass the bar?
That is why all our competitors show “pass rates” around 90 percent, while the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), which administers the exam, publishes national pass rates in the 70%s. And if BARBRI were to add the types of conditions that other companies use, our pass rate would also be above 90%.
Is BARBRI free if you fail?
The BARBRI Guarantee allows bar exam takers who do not pass the bar exam a free repeat of the same BARBRI Bar Review course prior to sitting the next exam cycle.
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.
What time should I wake up for bar exam?
Wake Up Early
Make sure to set your alarm nice and early to avoid a last-minute scramble. For example, if you're taking the California Bar Exam, you'll likely have a 9:00 a.m. start time. That means you should be waking up around 6:30 a.m. depending on how far you have to travel to the testing site.
What part of the bar exam is the hardest?
Most people regard the MBE as the hardest portion of the bar exam. The questions are rarely easy or straightforward. They can be tricky and sometimes worded in a way that guides you to the wrong answer.
How many times did JFK Jr. take the bar exam?
Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He then failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third try in July 1990. After failing the exam for a second time Kennedy vowed that he would continue to take it until he was ninety-five years old or passed.
Is 295 a good bar score?
In order to pass the Uniform Bar Exam, examinees must earn a score of at least 260 on the MBE and MEE. However, a score of 280 is generally considered to be a good score, and a score of 300 to 330 (highest score on bar exam) is considered to be excellent.
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.