We get lots of questions about the best bar prep course. In fact, this is our most common question:
What is the best bar review course?
It depends on what you mean by “best” prep course. Let’s break down the bar preparation courses first.
The three major bar prep courses are Barbri, Themis, or Kaplan. You should probably not do a bar prep course that isn’t one of those.
All three courses will give you all the material you need to pass. So, there is no “best” in terms of whether you are able to learn enough to pass. Many people pass every year using any one of the programs.
So, when determining what the best bar prep course is for you ask yourself, “Will it help me pass?” and “What is the price?”
Ideally, the best bar prep course will be the one that ensures you pass, but you have to spend the least money for. How do you figure that out? Well you could ask people older than you what they used and how they liked it. Take a look at their study guides see if the presentation of the information is to your liking. Most likely it doesn’t matter and you will pass regardless of which of the three you choose. So, you’re left with how to choose. Here is the analysis many law students do to determine which bar prep course is right.
Barbri
This is the “top notch” bar exam prep course that most big law firms reimburse their future associates for. After a Big Law summer associate gets an offer, the law firm says “Go buy Barbri, we don’t care if it is the most expensive, we will pay you back and here is a stipend so you don’t go hungry while you study.”
This is a great deal for Big Law incoming associates. They get the “top notch” program for free. These people should take this option.
Should you if you aren’t going into Big Law and nobody is paying for you? Probably not. Barbri is consistently the most expensive course. They brag about their super high passage rates. But, their program is used by a lot of really smart students who got big law job offers, so those students would’ve probably passed anyway and we can’t credit the bar prep program for causing their success.
Themis
Themis is a great middle option. They have very high pass rates, great (sometimes entertaining) content in their program and they are usually in the middle as far as pricing goes. Additionally, Themis will have deals where if you sign up early or as a group, you may be able to get a discount.
Themis is a perfect option for students that don’t want to pay for the most expensive course but do want a great program with high pass rates.
Kaplan
Kaplan is often the most affordable option. That alone is a reason why a lot of students pick it. They realize that it won’t matter which course they choose, if they put in the work, they can pass. So, they go with the one that saves the most money.
Another benefit of Kaplan (and the other programs as well), is that they allow you to become a representative. So, every week for a few semesters during law school you sit at a table in the cafeteria and try and convince your fellow students to sign up for Kaplan. If you get enough students signed up or work as a representative for long enough, you’ll get a free course!
This is a great option for students on a tight budget. If you can get a free bar prep course, you should definitely take advantage of that opportunity.
Conclusion – Which Bar Prep Course is Best for Me?
There is no best bar exam prep course. It depends on your situation on which you should choose. Go with any of Barbri, Themis, or Kaplan and you will likely pass the bar if you follow the program and put in the work.