Working with Steven was a Godsend. Thanks to Steven I passed the July 2023 California Bar exam on the first try and with a learning disability. My story is unique because I was working with a different tutor who was a complete disaster before I found Steven. From the beginning, I knew that I would need individualized help that a traditional commercial bar prep course could not offer. It is no secret that the California Bar exam is the hardest exam with such a low pass rate and I figured if everyone is using commercial bar prep programs then I needed to try something different for a better chance at passing.
My original tutor talked a good game but there was no real plan. Nothing was customized to my learning style. They were not always available for questions or feedback. I knew if I continued on that path I would not pass the bar. The difference between my first tutor and Steven is night and day.
Steven is an angel on earth. I sincerely mean that. Not only does he have a real plan and one that works, but he truly cares. Steven made a customized plan and calendar for me. I always knew exactly what I needed to do that day, there was no confusion. Steven listened to my concerns and he understood my learning disability. He made a plan that I could follow and complete in a timely fashion each day. Steven saw my old plan with my last tutor and knew that was unmanageable for someone with my learning disability. Steven had physical books for everything. It was so nice to have one resource instead of searching online, or through emails. He organized scheduled calls and we even zoomed which was nice to have face-to-face contact. Steven cared. After one day of the program, he called to check in on how it went and how I was feeling. It meant the world, especially after the ordeal I had gone through with my previous tutor.
One of the best parts about Steven’s plan is his memorization plan. He has a whole plan and book to memorize for the exam. Hallelujah!!!! He has organized it by subject and the definitions of the concepts are only as long or as short as they need to be. Steven even had me start the memorization part early because of my learning disability to space it out more. Steven has his plan but he really customizes it to you where you need it. Toward the end of bar prep, I was so anxious and little things were breaking my confidence. A huge one was my scores on the MBE questions. If I got below 70% I would start spiraling. Steven advised that I continue practicing but to stop looking at the scores. He said if the score is gonna get you in your head then don’t keep score. GENIUS!
When it came to essays Steven would have me do my essays open book with the WINNIN’ TIME! book of outlines open, he said you don’t know or have all the material memorized so why would you do it closed book now? GENIUS! Once again! By practicing the essays open book and timed I could focus on HOW to write an essay answer and hone my writing style. It was like I was looking for guidance and Steven gave me a religion. He gave me tools on how to write my answers no matter the subject and provided the phrases and transition words I needed so badly. It sounds so simple but trust me it is so easy to get lost in an answer without the right format and transition words. Steven helped me to get my answers to be sharp and that way the grader would never search for my answer because it was clear as day.
Prior to the exam, during the Essay Review period, he had me spend days reviewing specific, hand-chosen CA Bar exam selected answers and find the word or phrase that implicated each issue. This was HUGE for my success. I saw which topics the bar exam loved to test on and then could identify the key points that they were looking for in responses. He had hand-picked essays and selected answers in his Calweasel Essay Books to read as opposed to me searching for them on the CA bar exam site. It was perfect, I would use this again during the memorization period when I was memorizing an input and wondering how it would look in an essay or how they would ask a question on it.
Another amazing part of Steven’s program is how he approaches the performance test. He makes it so much easier than any other program I have seen. Steven made it simple and made sure I knew what was unnecessary and could be skipped.
Steven has videos of each topic on his website and I added those to my schedule when I had time. This helped me to have a deeper understanding of the concepts. I was able to learn everything I needed on specific subjects without taking a whole course.
Steven has all the tools and resources you need. All resources have been created by him and are not just another supplement you can buy and add to your resources. It shows how much he knows and is invested in your success.
Steven knows the California bar exam. He knows trends, how it’s tested, how to study, and what works. All of Steven’s predictions for the exam were spot on! It really does not matter your background, difficulties problem areas, or anxieties because Steven will get you where you need to be. I put him on a pedestal because he deserves to be on one. Without him, I would not have passed the CA bar exam on the first try. I had so much anxiety about this exam. I was so scared to fail the exam and have to take it again. Steven worked with me and helped with my anxiety and never dismissed my fears. Of course, I was nervous for the exam but I went in with so much confidence despite all of my anxiety because I knew Steven gave me all the tools and support I needed. I can never thank Steven enough for everything he did for me for this exam. I recommend him to everyone and anyone because I believe he can work with anyone. Steven cares and truly works with you. He carves out the time to meet with you and always gets you your essay feedback on time. His feedback is critical and helpful. Even in parts where you did a good job, he will provide suggestions of how he would write something. He doesn’t just tell you no good or good, he actually provides feedback to help you do better in the future. Steven’s books even include what to look for in a tutor if you do not go with him, one of them being to ask to see a sample of a tutor’s feedback for essays. Had I known about this tip I would never have hired my last tutor.
If you are in doubt about hiring Steven take it from someone who had a different tutor and went through numerous interviews to find a tutor, Steven is it!! He is the real deal. Steven’s books are pure gold. I wish I had them during law school for my finals. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and helped me to believe in myself for this exam. This is a tough exam especially mentally it is crucial to get the right guidance and support and that is Steven Harris! — USD Law Alum, Esq., passed the July 2023 California Bar Examination