ADHD, years since last attempt, student passes July 2024 California Bar Examination

I’m not even sure how many times I had taken the bar at this point but I do know that I was successful at this last attempt because of Steven Harris and his wonderful program.  He nullified every excuse I had.  Even with ADHD and a significant gap since my last attempt, the material was set up in a straightforward way that allowed for a better grasp of such a voluminous amount of information.  The honest feedback combined with constant encouragement in the 1-on-1 program was the recipe I needed to complete this goal that had been beyond my reach for all these years.  For this, I am eternally grateful. — Arrie C., Esq., passed the July 2024 California Bar Examination

 

[Additional note:  this was quite a journey.  Our first meeting was held while the student was abroad, there were real-life intrusions involving health, family, and work, but the student used the program and passed a challenging Cal Bar Exam!]

LLM student passes the July 2024 California Bar Examination!

Dear Professor, 

I hope you are doing well. I was a student in your Spring 2024 Critical Studies 1 class, and I am thrilled to announce that I passed the July Bar Exam!
Thank you for your support and utmost dedication to best prepare us for the exam. I could not have done this without your fantastic materials and your critical feedback throughout the semester.
Thank you! — German attorney, LLM student, Esq., passed the July 2024 California Bar Examination

At-risk student passes the July 2024 California Bar Examination!

I remember when I first walked into Professor Harris’ class.  He so much gives off the vibe of a down-to-earth, practical Professor – one who really knows the game  I remember thinking to myself this is a guy who actually knows what he’s talking about, no BS.

More importantly than that, Professor Harris is the kind of guy who’s seriously personally invested in his students.  I am not a typical student of his.  I was burnt out from law school, and I struggled in Professor Harris’ class due to personal issues.  However, Professor Harris took the time to reach out to me to have a heart-to-heart and that really turned things around.  Everyone believed I could pass this exam except for me.  Professor Harris helped me believe in myself again.  This is the kind of thing people talk about when they want to pay it forward and I hope to do so.  Thank you Professor Harris. – UC Law SF alum, Esq., passed the July 2024 California Bar Examination

WINNIN’ TIME! comes through on the July 2024 California Bar Examination!

WINNIN’ TIME! reflects the meticulous effort put in by Professor Harris to get the rules and the essay writing process to the most efficient and streamlined degree possible.

I must have read through Section I “How to Use this Book” 5-6 times. I thought there was so much valuable insight about the exam in this section. Even though I eventually took detailed notes, I would still go back and reread from the source just to keep all of the advice fresh in my head. I heavily credit my passing with engaging with this section to a high degree.

Professor Harris’ essay philosophy was so key for me doing well on the exam. My essay organization definitely got sloppy over the course of law school. Professor Harris’ method helped whip me back into shape. His philosophy revolves around time management, maximizing points, and good organization which really is the name of the game. I meticulously followed Professor Harris’ essay writing organization regarding clear headings and efficient rule statements for a potential “stoplight grader.” Spoon-feeding your writing to the graders is so smart. Why make them work to understand what you’re trying to say? In that gray area where you maybe fudged the rule a little, or your analysis is just a little weak, I think it makes a lot of sense to present it in such a clear and concise fashion that you actively encourage the grader to want to give you the points.

Indeed, it’s critical that you practice his extremely refined and formulaic approach because it helps you move forward even when you panic on the exam.

In Section II, look for areas where Professor Harris has done the heavy lifting for you and trust in the work he’s put in. Don’t reinvent the wheel. WINNIN’ TIME! becomes more effective the more that you trust in Professor Harris’ method and recommendations. At the beginning I tried to personalize my rule statements or get them to be even more efficient, and eventually I just had to give up! I just couldn’t beat him at his own game. Studying for the bar is a time crunch, and I trusted the method and just memorized what he came up with and it worked great. Honestly, there were times where I was struggling to understand a concept in MBE and I would reference Professor Harris’ book to get a clearer understanding. (Worked great for Evidence!)

Other specific examples of very helpful sections include the intro paragraph blurb for Community Property that you need to drop at the beginning of every essay, or the Evidence Boilerplate. These really helped crack open these topics for me. Professor Harris also gives extremely important advice about Remedies. Don’t be someone who fails to write the basis for a remedy and fails the exam!!!

Lastly, Professor Harris’ writing style is very personable and encouraging. It’s really comforting at a high-stress time like studying for the Bar. You can really tell that when he wrote the book, he was so personally invested in the success of every individual who would ever touch it because that compassion positively oozes off of the page. I also appreciate that he provides very practical advice regarding study plans for a variety of different lifestyles of students. – UC Law SF alum, Esq., passed the July 2024 California Bar Examination

Books were instrumental to passing July 2024 California Bar Examination!

Thank you, Professor Harris. I really appreciate the email! I will definitely recommend you if I learn of anyone planning to take the February bar. Your class and books were really instrumental to preparing for this exam and I can’t thank you enough! — UC Law SF alum, Esq., passed the July 2024 California Bar Examination

UC Law SF alumna passes the July 2024 California Bar Examination

Hey Professor, I passed the California Bar!

Your books and all your wisdom and all your techniques you taught in all of the class I took with you were truly invaluable.

I appreciate your efforts and your dedication in helping students like me pass this beast of a test.

I am very grateful. Wooohooo!  — UC Law SF alumna, passed the July 2024 California Bar Examination

Repeater uses MBE/PT/Essay tutoring and passes February 2024!

I re-took and passed the February 2024 CA Bar Exam with Professor Harris’s guidance and encouragement.
After failing the July 2023 CA Bar Exam, I was so upset, but not surprised.  I was so nervous on the day of the exam that everything I learned and practiced went out the window in a panic.  I felt lost after receiving my results and I didn’t know where to turn.  Until I remembered that Professor Harris had mentioned in class that he offered individualized bar prep tutoring.
Working with Professor Harris was one of the best decisions I could have made as a re-taker.
First, he really knows his stuff, and he makes sure that you do too.  He has studied the ins and outs of this exam, and he knows the Bar Exam testing system like the back of his hand. His books are incredible.  WINNIN’ TIME! is brilliant. I marked up and memorized every single page of that book.  His book about MBE tips and tricks (MBE Primers and Flowcharts) is even better — it’s so good, it’s not even on the market.  I would have failed a second time without that MBE book.
Second, by the end of bar prep, my confidence was back.  Studying for the bar can be really depressing.  Sometimes, all you need is a push from someone who knows your academic potential, and Professor Harris did just that.  I really appreciated the personalized feedback and study schedule, and one on one weekly phone calls to discuss progress and cheer me on.
I’m forever thankful! — UC Law SF alumna, Esq., passed the February 2024 California Bar Examination

Repeater passes February 2024 California Bar Examination!

When I learned of my unsuccessful attempt at the July 2023 Bar exam, I recognized the need for a change in my strategy. This realization led me to seek out a private tutor. After carefully considering four potential tutors, I found Steve to be the ideal match. In just our initial conversation, Steve immediately pinpointed the areas where I had blundered in the exam. His dedication to ensuring my success was immeasurable, and I knew he would spare no effort in guiding me towards passing.

Steve’s course proved to be exactly what I needed. With a meticulously laid out calendar, it provided clear directives on what to focus on, which subjects to review, and crucially, when to commit information to memory — a point I’ll delve into later.

One of my primary challenges during my initial preparation was the lack of clarity on which rules to prioritize, what to memorize, when to memorize, and how to effectively apply them. Steve’s provided books became invaluable resources that empowered me to succeed in the February 2024 exam. Each book played a pivotal role in enabling me to effectively utilize learned or memorized information across both the MBE and essay sections.

Weekly meetings with Steve, where we delved into essay assignments and outlines, instilled in me a sense of confidence and purpose for each subject. The feedback he offered felt almost unfair as it was incredibly detailed, guiding me towards improvement even when I thought my work was good enough to pass as-is.

My lowest score in the exam came from the PT section, where I struggled due to the lack of a clear strategy from my previous preparation service. However, under Steve’s guidance, with his structured approach and feedback, I felt supremely confident this time around. His voice echoed in my mind, directing me towards pertinent information and helping me navigate through complex issues I found myself facing on the exam.

Memorization had always been my Achilles’ heel. I grappled with what to memorize, when, and how, as previously stated. Yet, Steve’s method proved indispensable. Through his guidance, I was able to confidently recall essential information during the exam, even in the midst of the challenging MBE section. Steve’s method, tailored to even the most memory-challenged individuals like myself, proved to be a game-changer.

Finally, Steve didn’t just bolster my confidence; he shared his wealth of knowledge and patiently addressed every query I had. Moreover, my mental burnout was nearly non-existent, as I suffered with my last attempt. However, with Steve, there’s no room for excuses—only tangible results as he knows when you should rest and study. Committing yourself to Steve’s program almost ensures success, as I can clearly prove. If you’re ready to dedicate yourself, Steve will undoubtedly guide you towards passing with flying colors. – Cal Western Alum, Esq., passed the February 2024 California Bar Examination.

UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings) alumna passed the February 2024 Cal Bar Exam!

I re-took and passed the California Bar exam with the help of Professor Harris. He pushed me to re-conceptualize the exam through his essay writing and PT frameworks and feedback, and MBE tips. Professor Harris was my tutor, coach, mentor, and sole dedicated support system in preparing for my exam. He adjusted my study calendar multiple times when I fell off track due to working full-time, feeling burnt out, and life getting in the way. He taught me invaluable bar exam study methods culled from his many years of experience. The night before the bar exam, I did some last-minute review and briefly read Steven’s clear example for how to apply a particularly tricky analysis. The following day I did not panic when I was faced with that analysis on an essay. I could recall Steven’s framework and successfully apply it on the exam. Thank you, Professor Harris, for believing in me and preparing me to pass my exam. — UC Law SF alumna, Esq., passed the February 2024 California Bar Examination

Parent of student who passed the February 2024 California Bar Examination!

Steve,

My son worked with you on the February 2024 Cal Bar Exam, and I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks and gratitude for your program. I took the bar 34 years ago and fortunately passed the first time. You provided excellent strategic and tactical information for my son. He was focused and confident, and most importantly, had a plan of attack.

Thank you,

A grateful parent of a student who passed the February 2024 California Bar Examination