r/CABarExam • u/Needsallkindsofhelp • 4d ago
Previously passed the CA Bar, retaking it after 10 years — self-study or bar prep course?
This will be a weird post. I passed the California Bar Exam a while ago, but my moral character application was denied. I have now gotten through C&F, but my score has expired, so I’m taking the February 2027 exam. I’m trying to figure out how the hell should I study for this thing.
I graduated at the top of my class from HLS, was an appellate clerk, and have worked as a circuit court staff attorney since graduation (no bar passage required). I also tutor law students extensively, along with some bar exam tutoring.
Barbri worked for me before, but it's extremely expensive, and I suspect a substantial portion of the lectures would be redundant given my background.
AI suggested UWorld for MBE practice, SmartBarPrep for California-specific outlines and memorization, and Quimee or another resource for unfamiliar subjects. But…that approach scares me. I need to pass. Wondering if I should bite the bullet and purchase Barbri or Themis.
Anyone else been in a familiar situation or have any advice?
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u/caehlers 4d ago
You’ve just invested all of the time and money to get your moral character approved. I would hardly think that getting a bar prep course could be considered overkill. Besides the further you are out of law school and in the real world, the less intuitive the bar is.
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u/Mental-Zombie-7888 4d ago
I had the exact same experience. Passed the bar 2017, not passing C&F until 2025. Bar result expired. Retook bar July 2025 and passed. I did not work on any law related job since 2017 so every subject was new to me ( I did not go to law school at CA so that did not help either). But I passed at one try so it is totally doable. I used Themis, finished about 75%. Went through about half Uworld. I did not write out a single essay or PCT before the exam ( no time). But I practiced issued spot and outlining all essays on Themis. I also made my own outline and make sure I remember every essay tested law&rule.
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u/RubinLawOffice 4d ago
I took the CA bar about 10 years after taking the MA bar. Mine was the old two days out of three "attorney bar". I used Themis and studied on my lunch breaks, commute, weekends. I started early for the Feb bar - around Thanksgiving/definitely by early December. It worked for me.
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u/Concrete_Heels 11h ago
I would take bar prep. That’s just me. And also why I have a one state license haha
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u/Concrete_Heels 11h ago
Problem is you kinda have to write to barbri. Go learn how the graders (at least in my highly competitive state get paid per exam). You need to “fit in” it’s not a job interview.
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u/aspiringesquiree 4d ago
Since it seems like you just need refreshers of the highly tested topics, as well as how to write for the CA bar exam, I’d recommend Ed Aruffo’s No Bull Bar Prep program.
He’s currently offering free classes until the bar result release date.
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u/Phoenix1950 4d ago
I think a bar tutor is the way to go. Shop around. There are two criteria in my opinion.
The first is that the tutor has actually graded Bar Exams. The second is that you and they get along and relate comfortably with one another.
Adam Ferber and Ferber Bar Review on Yelp.
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u/PugSilverbane 3d ago
Grading bar exams isn’t like a real qualification. It’s a person who was able to use a rubric. It doesn’t particularly mean anyone knows anything.
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u/Additional_Bat_9837 3d ago
God. So weird. When I took the California Bar in 1990 my moral character was already approved. I am not sure you could even take the exam if it was not approved.
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u/StatusDisastrous6658 4d ago
I suspect a bar exam tutor ought to know whether the bar prep courses will be worthwhile