BAR PREPARATION
The Bar examination may be a distant thought for many of you, and for some, it may be a recurring nightmare. Whatever your frame of mind, the bar exam is an inevitable rite of passage if you want to practice law. You need to be informed about the bar exam and the steps you need to take to prepare.
What is a Bar Examination?
In almost every state in the United States and in some territories, recently graduated law students sit for a state bar exam. For instance, if you are interested in practicing in Pennsylvania, you would take the Pennsylvania Bar Exam. The bar exam measures a candidate's competency to practice law in a particular state. Successful bar exam candidates receive a license evidencing their competency to practice law in a given jurisdiction.
Passing Your Bar Exam
Passing the bar exam is a pivotal last step in becoming an attorney. There are many things you can do, as a student, to achieve this success. Much of the law school curriculum is geared toward providing you with the necessary foundation for success. In addition, most students participate in a commercial bar review course after graduation. This course reviews (and, in some cases, introduces you to) those subjects that might be tested on your jurisdiction's bar exam.
Beyond Bar Classes and Commercial Review Courses
In addition to what you learn in your law school classes and the commercial bar review courses, Villanova Law also offers workshops and programs designed to help you assess and practice the skills necessary for passing the bar. These workshops cover each part of the bar exam - the essay, multiple choice and performance test portions. Thus, you have the opportunity to not only learn the appropriate substance but also to hone the necessary skills related to each portion of the bar exam.
Getting Started
Current students and alumni of Villanova Law are encouraged to view the material on the Bar Preparation Guide and contact Matthew Carluzzo, Assistant Dean of Students and Academic Success, to participate in the bar preparation workshops and programs as they are announced.