The privileged do not look at tutoring as remedial. They see it as part of their general education. To get a leg up on their competition, they get tutored. If you have ever attended a private school, you know what I am talking about. Whether you have some issues that need fixing or just want to be number one, one thing is for certain, you do not need to be privileged to be tutored for the bar exam.

Things have changed, and a bar course alone cannot improve your chance of passing beyond your class rank. Studies have shown that students pass in GPA order, and if you want to improve the odds, you need to do more than just take a bar course.

I highly recommend you consider tutoring as part of your bar preparation.

If you are taking the February 2016 Bar Exam, a bar exam tutor should be part of your study program and will make it much more efficient and effective.

The cost is affordable. As I said, you do not need to be privileged, except in attitude. Most people do not think of tutoring unless they have a problem. If you failed the July 2015 exam, think of getting a tutor to work with you in preparation for the next exam. If you just graduated and want to do all you can to ensure your success, a tutor can make the difference.

Selecting a tutor is the difficult part. Many tutors are well-meaning people who passed the exam with a high score, but they are not trained educators and can inadvertently confuse you. Get recommendations from friends, do your Google searches, but investigate and do some research before you choose a tutor.

The right tutor can keep you on schedule. If you are having trouble with a particular section of the exam, or a particular substantive topic, a tutor can evaluate your skills and give you strategies and methods for improving your proficiency. A tutor can help drill you on the rules of law and give you personal feedback on your Essays, MPT, and MBE problems.

If you are taking the bar exam for the first time and are in a bar course, a tutor is an effective study companion. They can help you get the most out of your course.

If you failed and are studying again, a tutor can help you understand why you failed and work with you to correct your weaknesses and improve upon your strengths.

Tutoring is not just for the privileged. It is for all of us. Look into it. I think you will find it can make a huge difference.

For the next bar exam, be privileged. Hire a tutor.

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Professor Joseph Marino has been a fixture in the world of legal education for the past 40 years. Whether you’re just starting law school, about to take the bar, or an attorney in need of CLE, he and Marino Legal Academy are here to help. He is the Director of Marino Bar Review and the Marino Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He writes a bimonthly column, Ask the Professor. Visit the Marino CLE page on ATL, connect with him onLinkedIn and Facebook, or email him via info@marinolegal.com.

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