Bar Exam Tutoring

Amicus Tutoring takes a one-on-one approach to test preparation. Lee Faller Burgess believes that working with a tutor on an individual basis helps students study smarter by creating targeted test preparation approaches that will lead to better exam results. Whether you are taking the bar for the first time and looking to supplement a classroom program or tackling the test after getting disappointing results, Lee can help you navigate through the study process to get ready for the next exam. Please see the Testimonials page for student comments about working with Lee.

If you are getting ready to re-take the bar exam: If you are seeking tutoring after a disappointing bar experience, it is crucial that you work with a tutor who you deem can effectively evaluate what went wrong on your previous bar experience and empower you to be successful in the future. Lee believes students are empowered through learning the best way to study based on their individual needs, by getting detailed and constructive feedback, and by learning the skills necessary to be successful on exam day.

If you are taking the bar for the first time: It is important to remember that if you are taking a commercial bar review course—it is one course designed to help thousands of people at a time. Not everything may work for you! And if you need different or additional support, you should ask for help! Many students who have disappointing bar experiences know that things aren’t going well during their first bar preparation period. If that is you, Lee can help you work on your exam-taking skills and give you the much-needed feedback that many people feel is missing from a commercial bar review experience.

Lee’s job isn’t just to tell you how to do it; it is to give you the tools to succeed! Lee cannot be in the exam room with you. You are the only one who can produce winning results on exam day. Lee sees her role as empowering you by giving you the skills necessary to be the best exam-taker you can be. You will feel confident that you know what a good essay looks like. You will be confident you know what a good performance exam essay looks like. You will have your plan of how to attack an essay or performance exam. You will even have a plan if you don’t know the law! But you will not be lost. You will have a new set of tools that you can draw upon to make this bar experience different from the last!

Lee makes sure that your study techniques match your learning style: One of the great things about working with Lee is that she uses different approaches to match your learning style. This process really is about getting you ready for the bar exam, not just some imaginary student. Do you learn best from flash cards? Outlining? Flow charts? Do you struggle with time management? Writing style? Organization? The key is to utilize the study skills you already have and build on them based on the needs of the bar exam.

So what do these programs actually look like? Most students benefit from meeting at least once a week and getting weekly feedback from Lee on their work. Some students want a little more structure and some a little less. With this in mind, Lee will develop a tutoring program to meet your needs. Below are three popular programs for students.

Associate Program: Weekly support and feedback.

Weekly hour-long meetings with Lee (in person or remotely via phone, video-chat).
Audio lectures on exam-taking strategies (essays and MBEs).
Exam-taking preparation tools/materials.
Feedback on your last bar exam.
Detailed feedback on eight practice essay exams.
Detailed feedback on four practice performance exams.
Customized study schedule with weekly goals.

Review & Revise Program: Biweekly support and feedback.

Biweekly hour-long meetings with Lee (in person or remotely via phone, video-chat).
Audio lectures on exam-taking strategies (essays and MBEs).
Exam-taking preparation tools/materials.
Feedback on your last bar exam.
Detailed feedback on four practice essay exams.
Detailed feedback on two practice performance exams.
Customized study schedule with weekly goals.

Electronic Support Program: Electronic support only. Some students are only looking for electronic or e-mail-based support. These programs are available as well.

Audio lectures on exam-taking strategies (essays and MBEs).
Exam-taking preparation tools/materials.
Detailed feedback on four practice essay exams.
Detailed feedback on two practice performance exams.

Please contact Amicus Tutoring for pricing information or to develop a program that is right for you.

Bar Exam Tutoring FAQ:

Do you provide materials?

Generally, Amicus does not provide materials. Most students Amicus works with are either currently taking a bar review course or have already completed one. Most bar review courses provide very complete materials. Amicus also believes that part of the study process includes, with direction and support, creating your own study materials — outlines and attack plans to help you review. Amicus does provide some study guides and attack plans for various subjects to assist with essay preparation.

I have failed once. Do I really need a tutor?

If you have failed the bar once, the best thing you can do is change your study habits so you don’t have the same experience the second time. It is heartbreaking to hear students who are sitting for the bar a third or fourth time say they just wish they had worked with a tutor earlier and given themselves a better chance at passing. If you have failed, you need to change the way you approach the bar exam and create a new plan for yourself. This is exactly what Amicus Tutoring can help you do.

How is this different from classroom bar review courses?

When you work with Amicus Tutoring, your bar preparation focus is about you — what will work best for you as far as study techniques, writing practice, and scheduling. You are not the same as every other person sitting for the bar and Amicus can help you decide the best way to prepare for this test. Classroom bar preparation courses do a great job of covering substantive law. Amicus helps you turn that substantive law into passing answers.

Who gives me feedback on the essays?

All feedback is done by founder and tutor Lee Faller Burgess, Esq. Feedback is detailed and consists of comments on substantive law, issue spotting, writing style, and technique. Students find the feedback very helpful in re-shaping their answers into passing answers.

How do you accept payment?

Typically students pay for a program at the beginning of the bar preparation period. Pricing is available by request. Discounts are available for early-bird sign-ups and referrals. Amicus accepts payment by check, Paypal, and major credit cards.