How many weeks to study for CA bar?

Asked by: Miss Hilma Pfannerstill I  |  Last update: January 24, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (40 votes)

Study requirements Each six-month period, or one-half year, of study in the program must consist of at least 18 hours a week for a minimum of 24 weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks.

How long should you study for a California bar?

Time is of the essence!

In the 10 weeks prior to the bar exam, your bar studies will require the bulk of your time and attention. Most California Law graduates spend at least 50 hours per week studying in May and June and 60 hours per week studying in July.

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.

Can you study for the bar in 5 weeks?

Plan on roughly 400 hours of total study time. We recommend that students studying full-time begin 8-10 weeks (40-50 hours/week) before their exam. Those with extra responsibilities (e.g., job, children, etc.) should start studying as much as 4 months out (16-25 hours/week).

The Ideal Daily Bar Prep Study Schedule

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Is 11 weeks enough to study for the bar?

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.

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 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.

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.

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 long is barbri bar prep?

Full bar preparation administered over 6 or 10-months.

With BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep, you'll study either 20-25 hours per week over a 6-month duration or 10-15 hours per week over a 10-month duration for maximum flexibility.

Is the California bar exam the hardest?

Which State Bar Is Most Difficult? California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

What is the pass rate for California bar exam?

California's General Bar Exam pass rate of 53.8 percent is up from last year's July pass rate of 51.5 percent, and 2022's July pass rate of 52.4 percent. Preliminary statistical analyses show that of the 8,291 applicants who completed the GBX, 67.7 percent were first-time takers.

Is the California bar exam 3 days?

California Bar Examination

The exam is given over two days and consists of the following parts: Five one-hour Essay Questions. One 90-minute Performance Test. 200 Multiple-Choice Questions.

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.

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.

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 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.

Did Kim K pass the bar?

No, Kim Kardashian has not passed not the California General Bar exam but successfully passed the baby bar in 2021. She cleared it in her fourth attempt. Her journey illustrates the many challenges and frustrations that she has gone through in order to achieve this career in the legal field.

Did Mike Ross pass the bar?

Mike began taking the LSATs for other people as a living, after he was recommended to others by Nikki. At one point, Mike also took the bar exam for a bet and passed.

How long to study for the California bar exam?

In general, you should expect to spend at least two months studying for the bar exam. If you're not able to study full time in the two months leading up to your exam, you may wish to begin studying sooner.

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).

Is barbri early start worth it?

If you start studying early for the bar exam, you're more likely to pass: While plenty of students do very well by focusing on their BARBRI Bar Review course over 8-10 weeks, we have found that those who engage with BARBRI Early Start before the course begins are statistically more likely to pass the bar exam the first ...