Working with Steven was everything I needed it to be.  As a second-time taker that fell just short of the passing line, Steven understood my strengths and weaknesses and cultivated a plan accordingly.  I used a commercial bar prep program for my first time studying and completed 93% of it before taking the exam, as well as other resources recommended by my law school. I unfortunately learned the hard way that lectures were not the system I needed to best prepare for the exam.  Once I decided to work with a tutor, I was able to focus on the areas that I previously struggled with and get even stronger in the areas I already excelled.  The materials that Steven provides are top-tier; from the boilerplate templates, to the rule statements and outlines, to the filing system for the performance test, to the issue spotting materials, to MBE Primers and Flowcharts.  I developed incredible issue-spotting skills using The Trigger List. I relied on the system outlined in WINNIN’ TIME! and saw my writing scores skyrocket.  More critically, though, was the individualized calendar that helped me stay on track throughout the studying process.  What I appreciated about Steven is his desire for his students to own their studying process – there is a degree of autonomy that goes with working with a tutor, but Steven wants and encourages his students to put in the work to pass.

In addition to great materials, the advantage of working with Steven is the amount of individual feedback he provides you.  The amount of depth in his feedback provides students an opportunity to reflect and learn what to do on the next essay.  The feedback is personalized and expansive – more feedback than I had ever gotten on any practice essay.  The feedback helped me learn how to best organize my responses to maximize points on the exam.  Steven’s writing system at first felt foreign and rigid, however it only took one week of his feedback for me to believe that it was the best approach to solidifying a passing score.

Though I cannot recommend the program enough, what I believe sets Steven apart is his ability to connect with his students and be an encouraging, supportive voice.  For me, taking the bar exam was going to be a mental game.  Steven listened to me – he empathized with my feelings of sadness when I found out I did not pass, but he turned that sadness into motivation to beat the exam the next time.  He encourages his students to move on and celebrates all of the “wins” throughout the study process.  He reminds you of your goals and how amazing it’s going to feel when you get the news that you passed. He knows that half of the battle is getting your mind situated around the exam.  You’d be surprised how far a simple “I believe in you” goes when you are in the thick of studying!  He helped instill a confidence and determination in me that I didn’t have before.  A good tutor helps you develop strategies to pass the exam; but a great tutor helps you prepare mentally and emotionally as well.  Without a doubt, working with Steven is the reason I passed on my second attempt.

Overall my advice is this: whether you are a first-time taker or a repeater, having a study plan that works for you is the most critical component of passing the bar exam.  Because of the individualized program that Steven provides his students, you will be well prepared to beat the exam and will walk away with skills that will make you a better lawyer in the long run.  Trust the process! – Emma, Esq., Hastings Alumna, passed the February 2022 California Bar Exam

Hi Steven,

Good news, I passed!!

I cannot thank you enough for everything you did to help me.  I know you know the feeling of passing after failing, and it is a great feeling!  I truly thank you for helping me achieve this.  I am so appreciative of your system, techniques, and your dedication to my success throughout our time working together.  I am beyond grateful you were recommended to me and that your process worked for me.  A huge thank you again!! — Santa Clara alumna, Esq., passed the February 2022 California Bar Examination

CA Bar is not an IQ Test

The California Bar is a beast, and don’t let anyone tell you any different.  The first time I took the bar, I used one of the most popular programs out there in the bar prep world.  Don’t get me wrong, the program was professionally done and provided useful information for the California Bar.  What you won’t hear however is that the people who use these programs often times use a third party for their bar prep in order to be better prepared for the essay portion.  I was not in a position financially at the time to invest in these third parties in addition to the program I was enrolled in.  I figured that if I worked harder than everyone else (which is hard and maybe even impossible to do) I would be ok.

What I didn’t fully appreciate until after I signed on with Steve Harris was that the bar exam is far less a measure of intelligence (plenty of people smarter than you will not pass the bar) and much more of a measure of “can you play the game  effectively?”  I unfortunately did not pass on my first attempt, and it came down to the fact that I didn’t understand what the bar examiners were really asking for on the essays.  Fortunately, within minutes of us finding out that I didn’t pass, my wife immediately began looking for a tutor.  I then joined her in the search, and I was lucky enough to find Steve.  Steve kindly laid out the program and made me feel that he really did understand the pain that comes with not passing the bar.

Once I joined the program, his directions were simple: Stick to the schedule.  That’s it. While Steve provides strategies that you certainly will not get from the bigger programs available (far more essay feedback, and more difficult MBE questions among other things), the real question is are you committed?  I can tell you firsthand that this program is doable, and Steve truly is invested in your success.  I was nowhere near the top of my law school class but guess what, I get to put Esq. at the end of my name.  Bar passage is the result of hard work and effective strategy.  If you complete this program you will have demonstrated hard work, and you will have effective strategy.  I cannot recommend this man or his program enough.  In conclusion, I simply did what Steve told me to do, and I passed the CA bar exam. – Penn State Dickinson alum, Esq., passed the February 2022 California Bar Examination

Steven was an incredibly important and positive figure in my long journey to pass the bar exam.  I passed on my 6th attempt with a 7 month old baby after working in ADR for 6 years.  After spending my first two years out of law school repeatedly taking the bar exam, I needed tutoring from someone who deeply understood the exam and could teach me how to see it for what it was (and what it wasn’t).  Some of the most important realities of the bar exam are really hard to see unless you’ve done the work of The Trigger List.  I benefited tremendously from Steve’s predictable writing structure which made it possible for me to complete essays in the way that is credited on the exam.  Now that I’ve passed, I feel like I’ve gotten a piece of myself back.  I am so grateful that I had Steven’s support and care as I learned to pass this most difficult exam.  I highly recommend him to anyone.  — New Parent, Esq., passed the July 2021 California Bar Exam.  

I took the July 2021 CA Bar exam and passed on the first try with Steven’s help.  Steven’s tutoring services were well worth the investment. His approach to essays really made the bar feel more approachable.  Specifically, Steven’s boilerplates made seemingly intimidating essay subjects such as evidence, constitutional law, and professional responsibility manageable and formulaic.  His approach to the performance test is also extremely useful and unique.  I was particularly nervous about this aspect of the exam, but Steven made it a breeze.  In addition to many other perks, you will receive a personalized daily calendar and extensive essay feedback. If you are considering a tutor for the bar, I would recommend meeting with Steven sooner rather than later. – UC Hastings Alum, passed the July 2021 Cal Bar Exam

Steven Harris and WINNIN’ TIME! were the secret to my success in passing the July 2021 California Bar Exam.  Steven provided me with the tools, strategies, and confidence necessary to unlock my potential.  His approach to mastering the bar exam is mechanical and simple.  Essential in the high stress environment leading up to and during the bar.  The only mistake I made was waiting too long to call him.

When I sat down at the beginning of Summer 2021 to study for the bar, I was overwhelmed.  I had purchased a commercial pre course and the mountain of materials was a monolith in the middle of my living room serving as a reminder of how daunting an endeavor bar prep was going to be.  I did not know how I was going to do it.  I was a single father in the middle of a pandemic homeschooling two kids. I was also burned out from finishing a dual JD/MBA in 3 years, participating in two moot court competitions, finalizing a contentious divorce, and preparing to move abroad for two years.  So, I fell back on my Army training – brute force studying and no sleep. But that wasn’t sustainable. I fell behind the first week and kept falling behind.  Every day I was overwhelmed with more fear, anxiety, and dread. Then I got WINNIN’ TIME!. Then I got Steven.  Then I got a plan. It changed my life, and it will change your life too.

At first, I thought I was tough enough to take on the bar by myself.  After all, as an aviator I have flown in the most intense environments.  I have had emergencies that have taken me to the precipice of death.  I have even been in an air crash that totaled the airplane.  As an Army officer, I was the tip of the spear – forward deployed to Libera to support the global Ebola effort.  I made it through Army Basic Training and Officer Candidate school at Fort Benning, GA when the Army was downsizing.  Stress is my constant companion and copilot, but the Bar exam was something else.  You need help to be successful.  You need a mentor.  You need a Steven Harris.

My advice to anyone about to take the bar is don’t hesitate to call Steven!  I waited until I had 5 weeks left to pull the trigger.  I waited till I was in a knife fight with the bar.  Steven was my combat multiplier. He was my air support, my artillery, and my tank division.  He was my secret weapon — US Army Veteran, Esq., passed the July 2021 California Bar Examination.

I am so grateful to Steven for helping me prepare for and pass the California Bar exam on my first attempt!  I took the July 2021 Bar exam and was among the 2% of applicants who lost time on their tests during the remote video proctoring COVID-19 era.  During my first essay, I experienced internet issues and was on hold with ExamSoft for twenty minutes awaiting a validation code.  During Essay #4 and my Performance Test, I experienced white screens and was prevented from accessing the exam for about forty-five minutes, while I awaited another validation code.  Feeling defeated, I almost considered withdrawing after the first day, but Steven encouraged me to persevere.  I do not know where I would have been without his MBE tips and essay outlines.  Steven’s WINNIN’ TIME! book and boilerplates are invaluable for the Bar exam and beyond.  During a post-Bar Law Clerk position, I was asked to draft a memo regarding potential evidentiary hurdles pursuant to California law.  I knew exactly which issues to research and write about, thanks to Steven’s Evidence boilerplate and even brought WINNIN’ TIME! to work to refresh my recollection as to one of the California distinctions.  The attorney who assigned me the task gave me positive feedback regarding the memo and told me that it would be very useful for trial preparation.  I would highly recommend Steven’s services to anyone who wants to succeed on the California Bar exam. — Regent University Alumna, Esq., passed the July 2021 California Bar Examination

Professor Harris taught the legal writing and research component during both semesters of my 1L year at UC Hastings College of the Law. Prior to attending law school, I had been serving as a United States Naval Officer for just shy of five years. Consequently, I could not have been more unprepared to step back into an academic environment. Professor Harris’ class is the reason I succeeded my first year in law school. He fostered a learning environment that promoted candid conversation and he never “hid the ball” from us. I knew what was expected of me and how to meet those expectations. Professor Harris provided numerous examples, guides, and one-on-one sessions. I brought the military discipline to the table and he provided the path to follow towards success.

Further, Professor Harris took time to offer guidance on our overall approach to law school. First, he provided detailed timelines of when we should begin outlining and practice exams. Second, he regularly checked in with us to ensure we were meeting our deadlines. Lastly, he provided an hour-by-hour guide to final reading period tailored to our class exam schedule. This is not common!

On a personal note, Professor Harris did not give up on me after I received the lowest grade on my first practice assignment. I vividly remember the pit feeling in my stomach when I saw all the red marks on my first memo. My fears about being out of my league and not good enough seemed to be coming true. Professor Harris called me and told me that I belonged and saw potential in me. That support is uncommon and propelled me to turn me on the path towards success.

The luckiest day of my law school career was getting assigned Professor Harris as my first semester legal research and writing professor. He gave me the blueprint for success, and I have lived the 1L dream. Implementing Professor Harris’ plans, I Am Jur’d two classes in the Fall Semester, received a 4.0 GPA in the Spring (resulting in a decline in my GPA), was the top student in my section, and finished ranked #6 in my 1L class at the end of the 1L year.  During the summer, I received offers to transfer to Harvard, Berkeley, and UCLA, and I have chosen to continue my law school career at Harvard Law. I owe my success and future opportunities to Professor Harris’ incredible teaching style and mentorship.  – Matt Balich, Hastings 1L, Harvard 2L and 3L

I am so pleased and relieved to say that I passed the bar exam in February 2021 ! After having taking the bar exam during prior administrations both in person and online, I found myself in a position that barely missed the mark each time. My problem was not that I did not know material or didn’t put in the work, but my test anxiety put me in a situation that didn’t accurately reflect my knowledge, skills and abilities, or preparation. Ultimately, I not only realized that my test anxiety was likely the root of these issues, but eventually also hit a wall in terms of finding new approaches and/or material to effectively tackle my issues.

I was entirely out of ideas when I spoke with Steven and decided to give his novel approach a try. I also made sure to emphasize the fact that my anxiety was a huge part of the problem, and Steven assured me that he would make sure “there was no possible way to have anxiety by the time [he] was done teaching [me] the material.” He was right!

Steven’s books and materials are different from other bar prep companies and tutors because he provides a very clear, concise and simple big picture outlines /flow charts. Steven also provides his students with material in the way that it is actually tested on the examination, versus providing the whole hornbook of a particular area of law as other companies often do. I really do believe the simplification is what allowed me to change my approach and prepare me for virtually any type of question that could appear on the exam.

Lastly, I’m not sure if the bar will permanently become an online examination, but if this is that’s the case then Steven is the coach for you! I  would not only recommend Steven for any bar preparation course, but would also recommend his books and other materials for any current law students or as a supplement to your bar prep. — Nita S., Esq., passed the February 2021 California Bar Examination

After barely failing the October 2020 bar, I immediately signed up to retake the February 2021 California Bar and worked with Steven to address what went wrong. His bar study methods work, without a doubt. The personalized calendar is great, and the regular feedback is what I needed to feel confident enough to take the bar again. The most helpful thing of all, though, is that Steven is 100% there for you during this stressful period. He worked with me to make sure my health concerns were being addressed and we were proactively combatting some of the issues that came up in October. His program works! — Hastings Alumna, Esq., passed the February 2021 California Bar Examination