When should you start studying for California bar exam?
Asked by: Prof. Edmund Lueilwitz II | Last update: October 14, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (56 votes)
One of the biggest mistakes students make is starting too late. While 10-12 weeks is generally enough time to prepare, delaying your start can make bar prep feel overwhelming. By the time you're two months away from the exam, you want to be in the review stage, not trying to learn new material.
When to start studying for California bar?
Early Bar Prep
Students who needed extra time to prepare for final exams may also need to start their bar prep a little bit early. There are many ways students can do early preparation on their own six months to a year before the bar. Review your final exam outlines in subject areas that are tested on the bar exam.
When should I start memorizing for the bar exam?
The two-week mark before the bar exam is usually a good indicator of when you should start emphasizing memorization. The problem is, memorization is actually one of the hardest parts of studying for the bar exam. Not because it's actually that difficult, but because memorizing is boring and tedious.
Should I start studying for the bar early?
Starting 3 months before bar prep is more than enough time unless you know you will be very busy those months prior. The earlier you start the less hours per day you'll have to study before the exam. If you start now you'll probably forget a lot of the information anyways, but there's nothing wrong with starting early.
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.
California Bar Exam: Everything You Need to Know (Subjects, Structure, and More)
Is 7 weeks enough to study for the bar exam?
1. You don't need to. Even an exam as intense as the 3-day California bar exam really only requires six or seven weeks to prepare for.
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 long do people normally study for the bar exam?
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.
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.
Can you study for the bar while working full time?
It is completely possible to have a full-time job and study for the bar exam. But you have to know when to turn it off for the night. Studying for the bar exam is about being honest with yourself on what works for you and what doesn't, what areas you really know, and which ones you need to spend more time on.
How to memorize for CA bar exam?
- Take the material in manageable chunks. ...
- Know when you have to memorize California law! ...
- Take breaks! ...
- Know that memorization takes time and repetition! ...
- Move on to other methods of studying. ...
- Focus on the highly tested law. ...
- Utilize assistance!
When should I stop studying before bar exam?
The Day Before the Bar Exam
On the day before your exam, many students take the day off, which is perfectly fine! If you will be studying, our suggestion is to study for no more than 5 hours. During this time, we encourage you to complete very passive tasks.
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 hard is it to pass a CA bar?
Is The California Bar Exam Hard? Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.
Can you go into a bar at 20 in California?
Any person under the age of 21 years who enters and remains in the licensed public premises without lawful business therein is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200), no part of which shall be suspended.
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.
What percent pass California bar on first try?
For California ABA-accredited law schools, the pass rate for first time test-takers was 81%, up 5 percentage points from 2023. The State Bar of California reported today that 53.8 percent of applicants passed the July 2024 General Bar Examination (GBX).
Which state is the hardest bar exam?
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.
When should I start bar prep?
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. For July examinees, that means starting in May. For February examinees, it means starting in December.
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 many hours should you study for the California bar exam?
As mentioned above, 400–500 hours is the recommended study time for the California bar exam, but this is only a guideline. The amount of time you need to prepare for the exam depends on how familiar you already are with the subjects and how well you retain material while studying.
Can you take California bar without going to law school?
In California, qualified applicants can take the bar exam without going to law school. Most law schools require a college degree, but some may only ask for equivalent course work, and some law schools focus on your legal interest and life experiences and not on your grades or LSAT scores.
What is the easiest state to become a lawyer in?
Going by the 2021 bar exam passing rates, Wyoming has the easiest bar exam to pass. However, we don't really get the full picture by just looking at the passing rates. Each state's bar exam can differ in difficulty and content.
Did Kim K pass the bar?
The Skims mogul has been able to keep up with her legal apprenticeship and plans to sit for the state bar exam in future. 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.