I finally passed the California Bar! After 5 years of graduating from law school and 4 years since I last took the exam, I passed! I am 100% sure that Professor Harris’ tutoring program was essential to my passing the Bar. After being out of the loop for so long, he made my transition back into study mode as smooth as possible. I did not know where or how to start and he told me what to do and how to do it. His calendars, materials, practice essays and PT’s, and most importantly, his feedback were incredibly helpful! He was straightforward and was able to simplify the studying process in a way I could have never done on my own. He made the exam approachable and definitely, less intimidating for me. — Adriana Calderon, Esq., passed the February 2018 California Bar Examination

TUTOR NOTE: the February 2018 Cal Bar Exam had a 27.3% pass rate. According to the Cal Bar’s General Bar Examination Pass Rate Summary, the 27.3% pass rate was the lowest in the 67 years covered on the chart). The other pass rates lower than 30% on any exam (February or July, or the Spring or Fall exam as it was known before February 1988) from 1951 – 2018 were:

Spring 1983 27.7%

Spring 1984 29.5%

Spring 1986 28.1%.

In other words, job well done to all applicants passing the February 2018 Cal Bar Exam!

I just found out that I passed the February 2014 bar exam and I have Steven to thank for that! Before working with Steven, I struggled terribly with the California Bar Exam. I work at a large firm and had been practicing in another jurisdiction for about 8 years before moving to California. I have two very young kids, I was working full time and I hadn’t taken a Bar Exam in over 8 years. I really had no idea what I was in for until I failed the test.

I heard about Steven and his tutoring program through word-of-mouth and my decision to work with Steven before this last exam was one of the best decisions that I made! I worked with Steven for about three months and focused on the essays and the PTs (since I was only required to take the attorneys’ exam). Steven’s tutoring program is very structured, but manageable, and I really needed that. His schedule of writing one essay and outlining one essay every single day, kept me on track for this last exam. Also, Steven had me write one full PT at least once a week and would give me detailed feedback on where I went wrong, what I needed to do to accumulate more points, and how to better manage my time on each PT. One of the most beneficial components of Steven’s tutoring program was the constructive feedback on my practice essays and PTs. I met with Steven once a week at Hastings to go over the essays/PTs that I had turned in the previous week. Steven’s feedback was honest and very detailed. There was no “grade inflation” at all. Another key component to the tutoring program that really helped me was the WINNIN’ TIME! and The Trigger List books. Steven’s approach is to have you write your practice essays “open book” in 70 minutes. WINNIN’ TIME! is a single volume book that includes manageable outlines for all of the subjects tested on the bar exam. What makes it so helpful is that the rules you need to write in your essay answers on the exam are included right there in the book! Also, The Trigger List became essential once we got closer to the exam and undertook Steven’s “Essay Review Week.” During that week, I reviewed numerous sample essay questions and answers so that I could see exactly what issues I needed to spot to write a passing answer. After a grueling “Memorization Week,” I felt prepared for the exam.

Even being prepared for the exam, I still felt that it was a difficult test. In particular, there were two essay questions that were very challenging for me. I defaulted to Steven’s “requires…because” language and did exactly what he told me to do and I passed! Steven and his tutoring program were instrumental in helping me pass the February exam and I am very appreciative for that.

Thank you Steven for all of your help! — Heather S., Esq., passed the February 2014 California Bar Examination

Steven came highly recommended to me by a friend who hired him on her third (and successful) attempt at the bar exam. I hired him for my second attempt, and passed! I chose his “a la carte” program which provided me with tools I believe were essential in passing the exam. His WINNIN’ TIME! book is perfect for memorizing all of the issues you will ever need to know for the exam, without wasting time reading a lot of background information. It’s very easily digestible and it was my “bible” during bar prep.

Steven’s PT lectures were also extremely helpful. We talked about knowing how many issues the PTs test on every PT exam ever which made it so helpful to know if I was identifying too many or not enough issues. He also gave great time-saving advice for how to go through all of the information provided in a PT.

I think the most important part of this program for me was the 11-day memorization plan. I never thought it would be possible to memorize, almost verbatim, 300+/- pages. The friend who recommended Steven to me told me that on the exam day, it was as if she were taking an open book exam because she had memorized everything in WINNIN’ TIME! I had a very similar experience. Once I sat down on exam day, every subject was at the tips of my fingers and I quickly wrote down the mnemonic I memorized for each subject and was able to see all of the 100+ issues for each subject. This was so important because my problem on my first try was issue spotting. With Steven’s memorization plan, I was able to make go through every possible issue for each essay and make sure I wasn’t missing anything. Steven’s Essay Review Week was also helpful to identify what issues are always clustered together, even if they don’t really make sense. That is helpful because if you don’t cluster certain issues together, you fail!

Steven is very direct and to the point. I had a lot of faith in Steven during my bar prep, and hiring him gave me peace of mind. I felt confident sitting down on exam day, and I felt I definitely had more “tools in my tool belt” than I had the first time. I highly recommend Steven to first time takers because nobody wants to take this exam more than once! Cut to the chase and hire Steven! — Alexandra Wilson Esq., passed the February 2017 Cal Bar Exam

I just passed the February 2017 CA Bar Exam on my second attempt following an attempt in July 2016. I know that I would not have been able to pass without participating in Steven Harris’ tutoring program; it was instrumental in helping me to achieve a passing score for many reasons.

The first time that I studied for the Bar, my approach was to memorize as much law as possible in the hope that this would be enough to pass. When I received my scores, it was clear that this was ineffective. On my first phone call with Steven, he explained that memorizing the law was one piece of the puzzle, and that I likely needed to improve my issue spotting and writing abilities. He was absolutely right, and his comprehensive approach helped me to round out my skills in these areas. His book The Trigger List highlighted issues that I may have missed in my own writing or outlining of an essay so that I would not miss them the next time around. Over the course of my preparation for February, my issue spotting improved dramatically as a result of utilizing Steven’s issue spotting techniques. Further, the essays that Steven assigns are carefully curated to ensure that his students have the opportunity to practice writing all of the essay types tested over the last 25 years.

My approach for Performance Tests during the July Bar was disorganized and inconsistent despite doing every PT recommended during my Bar preparation program. Steven’s tailored approach was game-changing. On the days of the PTs on the February Bar, I felt confident that no matter what the task was, I would be able to put enough into my response to accumulate points. Steven’s approach is methodical and consistent, regardless of the type of PT or the volume of information. Before Steven’s program, I felt exhausted even thinking about completing a PT in time. After his program, I felt energized and confident before even starting, because I knew I had a plan to succeed.

Overall, the most helpful characteristics of the program are its structure, volume, and pacing. Every day was carefully planned out, but never too overwhelming. The pace ramped up appropriately at the end, so that I felt I was going into the test at the peak of my knowledge, but without the burnout that I experienced in July. The amount of practice and reading is perfect to learn the right amount of information without feeling overburdened with an onslaught of law and resources. Here, I found WINNIN’ TIME! to be the best resource I could have ever used. The Bar preparation program I used had confusing charts, paragraphs, and diagrams that were impossible to digest and sometimes conflicting. Winnie’ Time is concise, accurate, and manageable.

I would recommend Steven’s program for tutoring, the PT class, and books without reservation to anybody preparing for the Bar Exam. Steven is invested in his students’ success, and is approachable with any question or hurdle that comes up during prep or during the three days of the Bar. Knowing that you have someone on your side is incredibly helpful during the more difficult days that inevitably arise while preparing for the test. With his approach, a test that I thought I could never conquer was no longer impossible.

Thank you, Steven! — Shar Giridharadas, Esq., passed the February 2017 California Bar Exam

I strongly recommend Steve Harris’ Tutoring Program. No matter where you are in your Bar preparation, or in life – whether this is your first, second, third, or 3+ time studying for the California Bar exam, working with Steve will ensure that you are adequately prepared to tackle the beast that is the Cal Bar.

I took a very atypical path to sitting for the Bar Exam in February 2014. I graduated from an Ivy League law school in 1997, passed the Arizona Bar, and practiced in Arizona for a couple of years. My husband and I relocated to California in 2002, and after taking a break from the work world to be a stay-at-home mom for my two daughters, I registered to take the California Bar exam in July 2007. My daughters were 6 and 3 at the time, and I was working full time at a non-legal job. I paid for a traditional bar course, but the program did not offer a lecture site (not even for video lecture) in my city, so I studied by listening to course lectures on an ipod; creating and reading outlines; writing practice essays and PTs, and taking MBE questions. By the time I received the news that I had failed the 2007 exam, I was working as a career law clerk for a federal judge. This position allowed me to do the intensive legal research and writing that I love, but of course, did not require me to have a California Bar license. Therefore, while I was certainly disappointed to have failed the exam, I was not motivated to retake it immediately. I figured I would cross that bridge when I came to it.

Well, fast forward 7 years, and I was suddenly faced with the necessity of having to take (and Pass) the California Bar. My position was coming to a close (due to a large job/life transition for my boss), and I would, once again, need to look for legal work in my small town with no California Bar license. In the past, the first thing ANY prospective employer asked (whether public, government, or private) was “have you taken the California Bar?” I knew there was no way around having to sit for the exam again. This time around, I was working full time in my court position, and I would again be studying with huge family demands (my husband also has a full time job, and we now have 3 children – 13, 10, and 2!) I knew that I would need something extra-special – something that would not just get me through the Bar exam, but would get me through with the feeling that I had really given it everything I could possibly give. That “extra-special” something was the Calweasel tutoring program.

I found the Calweasel website after doing an internet search for Cal Bar prep courses. I sent Steve an email, expressing my interest in the program, and we arranged a time to talk by phone. After speaking with Steve, I decided to sign up for his 3-month tutoring program. The program included Steve’s MBE-workshop; one-on-one tutoring sessions; a uniquely-tailored study calendar, and grading for both assigned essays (including assigned essays in every subject matter) and PTs. The tailored study calendar was particularly attractive to me, as Steve prepares the calendar taking each individual’s situation into account. The study calendar is rigorous and challenging, but also reasonable. Unlike many other bar study programs, Steve’s program is designed for maximum efficiency – i.e. you can rest assured that you are studying precisely what needs to be studied, at the time you need to be studying it.

Of course, the process was not “all roses.” Many times throughout the study period, I was beset with doubts (about my ability to maintain my stamina; learn what I needed to learn, and successfully apply what I’d learned in the high-pressure testing environment). Over email and by phone, Steve would, for the most part, alleviate my self-doubt. At the same time, Steve made clear that there was little room for doubt, because the bottom line was that when test time came around, the time for doubts and complaining was over, and you just needed to perform. Steve could be very tough, but he told me what I needed to hear to get me out of my slumps. One thing I repeatedly heard from him was “do you want to pass, or not?” I would often begin to respond with “yes, but . . .” Steve wouldn’t let me get the rest of the sentence out, repeating, “do you want to pass, or not?” That’s what I needed to hear.

The 3-days of testing was grueling, and by the time of the third and last day of testing, I was exhausted. When I saw the first essay question of the day was property (my weakest subject), my heart sank, but Steve’s training kicked in. I did a quick mental review of the property outline in Steve’s WINNIN’ TIME! book (which is an essential component of his memorization program), and got a sense of what, at minimum, I needed to get down on paper. I knew that what was needed was going to be substantial (there were three fairly in-depth calls of the question), and I knew I had to do all I could to get it written down in the allotted time. I also heard Steve’s voice saying “baby’s gotta finish!” which was Steve’s code for get in, write what you need to get the points, and get out. I did the best I could, and moved on to the next question.

Driving home from the exam site on Thursday evening, entirely unsure that I had done enough to pass, I at least had the comfort of knowing that because I had thoroughly committed to the program, I had done everything I possibly could to pass. Thankfully, that also translated into finding that my name was on the pass list on results day!

For anyone considering Calweasel Bar Tutorial for bar study, I recommend Steven Harris’ tutoring program without reservation. – Cita Torres, Esq., passed the February 2014 California Bar Examination

Steven — Excellent! I passed! Thanks for your help! I passed in spite of the computer problems I and dozens of other people had on the first Tuesday PT. You may use the effusive email I sent you February 7 as an endorsement. –Eric

From: Eric Law

To: steven harris

Sent: Friday, February 7, 2014 12:56 PM

Subject: RE: Question about Third PT

Regarding the feedback you attached. I just wanted to respond immediately to tell you that I’ve taken four PT courses over the years, and I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED SUCH EXTENSIVE AND PERSONALIZED AND HELPFUL FEEDBACK, EVER! You are the BEST, Steven! Thank you! — Eric Law, Esq. , passed the February 2014 California Bar Examination

I used the WINNIN’ TIME! approach and it was immensely helpful in my passing the California Bar Exam. The outlines in WINNIN’ TIME!, the approach to issue spotting, and writing for tough questions like evidence and professional responsibility really paid off during law school and the Bar Exam. Steve, your tutoring and approach was well worth the time! — Enrico “Rick” Callender, Esq., passed the February 2015 California Bar Examination.

I was a two-time bar loser, and totally defeated. I thought that there was nothing I could do to help me pass the Bar. I even thought that I might have a learning disability because no matter how hard I tried, I could not maintain all the information that the CA Bar expects their applicants to memorize and apply.

Then I heard about Steven Harris through a totally random word-of-mouth recommendation. Although I initially did not want to try for a third time, my family convinced me to give it one last try. The rationale behind getting yet another tutor was that if this was my last attempt, I might as well go all out.

I spoke with Steven over the phone and from our first conversation he helped something click inside of my head. Passing the Bar wasn’t going to be about eloquent language and verbose, flowery statements of the law. Passing the Bar was a matter of point generation. How do you get points? You shut up and get to the bare basics!

I highly recommend Steven’s program if you are a Bar applicant that is obsessed with perfection. He will break you of this handicap and help you realize that less is way more. Once I realized this important, life-saving fact, I was able to write enough on each issue to get my points and move on. I’m happy to say that the third time was a charm for me, and it is hugely because of Steven’s program that I passed the CA Bar and can finally move on with my life.

If this endorsement of Steven’s program sounds a little too generic for you – here are some specifics.

1) WINNIN’ TIME! was my bible. It’s less daunting then the telephone book I received in my prior course and way more useful. I remember asking Steven, “Is this really all I need to know to pass the essays? It doesn’t seem like enough.” He simply said, “Yes.” And it was enough, plus more! If you can’t afford a full blown program, do yourself a favor and at the bare minimum pick up WINNIN’ TIME!

2) I was a horrible issue spotter. I would see two to three issues in an essay, write about then at length and feel so smart when the hour was up. Little did I know I was losing so many points my ignoring so many issues. The Trigger List helped me learn that certain buzz words will be used over and over again in Bar essays, and that these little red flags set off a numerous list of clustered issues. It’s ALL ABOUT THE CLUSTERS. Clustered issues, and recognizing them on test day, will make you a confident test taker when it counts.

3) Finally, I’d like to point out that my tutoring schedule was broken down for me day to day. Every day I woke up and knew what I had to do. I stayed on that schedule and it was manageable. Way more manageable than my prior bar course’s schedule was. Because I could actually finish what I was assigned everyday, I felt confident during my prep months and carried that confidence into the test days. Confidence is key. This program helped me get it back.

Thank you, Steven! I’m forever grateful. — Elyse Rivas, Esq., passed the July 2013 California Bar Examination

I have been practicing public defense in Brooklyn, New York, for eight years and this was my third attempt at the CA Bar Exam. Going into the February exam was daunting for all the usual reasons, plus I was going to be taking 10 days off in January to finish a yoga teacher training in Puerto Rico. Steven assured me at the outset that he thought I could pull it off– and I did. Steven is not your friend, or your therapist, or your personal cheerleader. What he is is an incredibly effective bar tutor. His instructions are clear, his method is stream-lined, and if you hang in there, pay attention, and do what he says, chances are you’ll pass the exam. I believe that his training with respect to PT prep was ESSENTIAL to my passing the bar exam. At the beginning of the bar prep period, I was consumed with despair every time I sat down to attack a PT. I had full blown anxiety attacks. By the time the bar exam came, I was full of confidence and sailed through the PTs without issue.

I would recommend Steven for anyone willing to put in the work to sit for the bar exam. He’s worth it. — Elizabeth Latimer, Esq., passed the February 2014 Cal Bar Examination

If you’re like me, you’re cautious about taking advice from a stranger, particularly online. Do yourself a HUGE favor—this time, ignore that otherwise well-intentioned instinct and listen up.

If you were unsuccessful on the California Bar, the best thing you’ve done since learning that unfortunate result is you found Steven Harris.

If you have not yet taken the California Bar, the smartest thing you could possibly do, before anything else, is hire Steven Harris. Think of the California Bar like the Olympics—an ultimate competition that you do not want to lose. You worked your heart out in law school, you’ve made it this far, and you’re not going home without a win, amiright?

Now, having set that goal for yourself, you simply cannot show up on day one of your big race without having completed a proper training and conditioning program. To win, of course, your body and mind must be dialed in. But, as we know of every athlete who properly prepared for an elite competition, they didn’t simply sign up at their local commercial gym for crowded, one-size-fits-all workout classes. A winning Olympian has a private coach.

And as you’d expect from someone who truly cares about their future success, Olympians are selective about who they hire. They want the best of the best to ensure they don’t waste their time, energy, and resources on the wrong person. They seek a coach who knows his craft inside and out, one with a proven training system, and one they can trust to stand behind them through every step of the arduous journey to Olympic glory. The ideal choice is a coach who’s been there, done that, and devoted himself and his coaching career to understanding and analyzing every facet of the sport in which he’s an expert. The right pick is a coach who will guide them in every way toward being prepared for those high-stakes moments in competition that will mean victory or defeat.

The good news for you is you’ve found the only person you should consider to coach you to victory on the Bar: Steven Harris.

You can trust me because I know the difference between studying with and without Steven. Like many of you, I too tried the big commercial prep company, and it didn’t work for me either. Its cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach worked for some, and good for them. But I knew after I failed that I needed a fresh start and new approach if I was to succeed on my second attempt.

And having passed on that second attempt, I can personally attest that Steven’s approach not only works, but it also works better. Here are five important reasons why:

1. Attention on YOU. From day one, Steven is focused on only one thing: your success on the next bar exam. To make that happen, he covers everything from A to Z that you need to know for, and about, the Bar. Every day is mapped out for you. Follow his regimen, read and re-read his feedback, and understand and apply the formulas, writing style, and essay structures that he teaches you. These things are necessary for you to pass. At the same time, he’s not your parent, so he won’t hold your hand, or punish you if you don’t do what he assigns. He’s your coach. This means you’ll get from his program whatever you put into it. So, bring maturity, responsibility, focus, and work ethic, and let Steven and his one-of-a-kind program do the rest.

2. A practical approach. Like most sports, success on the California Bar is all about the points (earning credit for what you write). The more points you have at the end, the more likely you’ve passed. Steven has spent years polishing his method for Bar success. The result of his energy, creativity, and organization is a system that is not only reliable, but also easily trackable and digestible. The commercial program I took felt like a “data dump.” I had a big stack of fancy books with pretty outlines inside, but there was something wrong with the content: its presentation and method were overwhelming and bloated. It wasn’t clear where to start or where to go next after a few steps. Let Steven simply and streamline it for you. The difference is he’ll help you understand how to approach a question with common sense, so you’ll spend the limited time you have discussing what the graders are actually looking for. During the exam, you don’t have time to write that model answer that the commercial guys gave you. You need to be practical. You need to think like a grader, not just an examinee. Steven will teach you how Bar graders think, and you’ll be glad he did because it makes a massive difference.

3. Custom, original study materials for the MBE. One of my weaknesses on my first attempt was the dreaded MBE. I fell into trap after trap, and afterwards, I was angry at myself for having done so. Unlike other private Bar tutors you may be considering, Steven created and developed a custom method for decoding the MBE, exposing its traps, and finding the right answers without delays or hiccups. In your prep this time—whether you’re lucky to get a spot in his private 1 on 1 program, or you’re trying another of his formats—at a minimum, be sure to use MBE Primers and Flowcharts. They’re game changers because they strip away the smoke, mirrors, and other dirty tricks of the MBE. Steven gives it to you plain, unlike the other guys who make you sort it out yourself. His original materials, along with tons of practice in applying what you learn from them, level the playing field on the MBE. You’re simply not going to get that anywhere else. My MBE scores improved dramatically by the end of Steven’s program such that on day two of the Bar, it was just another day at the office.

4. Learn to write PTs the right way. If you’ve substantively looked at other prep programs, or if, God forbid, you’ve read blogs or talked to your peers about this subject, then you’ve probably heard a variety of opinions about how to attack the PTs. This is dangerous because there are definite dos and don’ts for reading and writing PTs, and you need to learn them from the only reliable source: Steven Harris. Erase what you think you know or have heard about PTs. They are the most heavily weighted portions of the exam, so you can’t afford to do it any way but right. Worse, there are many ways to do them incorrectly. Not knowing what’s absolutely right and wrong may cost you the farm. While studying for and taking the Bar my first time, I didn’t struggle much with PTs. Even if you’re like me, Steven’s course will be immensely helpful because there is always room for improvement in this area, and even the small tweaks he’ll show you can make the difference between pass or fail, or otherwise widen your pass margin.

5. Master the mystery. Are you unsure what the graders are really looking for (beyond the basics)? Ever seen a tough essay in a subject you thought you knew pretty well, but were stumped on where to begin? Ever answer a practice question and think you nailed it, only to review the answer and realize you left out a few important sections that cost you a passing grade? Are you frustrated because you believe you studied hard last time, did your best, maybe even felt it went pretty well, but on results night, you were heartbroken? Here’s one reason why you may be experiencing one or more of these things: the Bar is not your typical exam because it’s not enough to just know the law—you also need to know how to take the exam. But the Bar doesn’t publish its grading criteria, or release rubrics, cut sheets, or issue spotting guidelines for examinees. And remember, unlike what Commercial Prep Co. will tell you, you can’t endeavor to write one of their model answers—you will run out of time and fail. Instead, the solution is to hack the exam and master the mystery. Conveniently, Steven has already done this for you. Just like any skilled hacker, he has studied and hyper-analyzed every California Bar exam question and sample answer in the last several decades. He reverse engineered them, took them apart down to their micro elements, then put them back together. He’s like the elite car mechanic who didn’t just open his own shop claiming he can fix cars; he spent years building them from the ground up, one piece at a time, without directions or manuals. He gets it, period. And with his help, you’ll you get it too. He answered every one of my questions about how to take the exam, and unlike the other guys, his answers were clear and made sense. When you’re done with his program, the Bar exam will no longer be a mystery. It will still be a challenge, but one you can beat.

   After completing Steven’s program, I sat down on the first day of the Bar feeling confident and comfortable. I was amazed I felt so calm and present, and so unlike many of the frantic, anxious, worried examinees I observed around me. I felt the complete opposite from day one of my first attempt. The difference this time was that I knew I could do it because I knew I had trained and prepared properly. Part of me even enjoyed the second experience because on the essays and PTs, I knew how to start and finish each one. That was a great feeling. And believe me, that feeling is priceless. It was then that I knew every minute I spent studying was worthwhile. This occurred to me particularly when I turned to the Evidence question on the last day. Before, Evidence essays felt daunting especially given the exam’s time constraints. That changed with Steven’s Evidence Boilerplate in WINNIN’ TIME!, which proved to be invaluable. By Day 3, I was fatigued and fighting to stay focused. But when I saw the Evidence question, I got a second wind because it was rote, and I knew I could pass. I executed the plan and passed the exam.

   You know studying for the Bar the right way will not be fun. But if you commit yourself, follow Steven’s methods, and practice and practice more, you can and will pass. And ya’ never know, you might even enjoy it (a little) since you’ll be as prepared as possible.

   So what are you waiting for? If you’re ready to earn your California Bar license, then take your seat and follow Steven’s program. You’ll be glad you took this stranger’s advice. – D.S., Esq., passed the February 2016 California Bar Examination