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September 24, 2007
Does It Matter What Courses You Take for Bar Passage?
A new study finds that "bar courses" in law school — law school courses that cover subject matter tested on the bar exam — do not notably improve student's chances of passing the bar (except for those in the third quartile, by law school GPA). The study, by Douglas Rush and Hisako Matsuo, is here. Discussion at the NY Times and WSJ blogs.
Anupam Chander
Addition by DAB: Members of my faculty have done internal research that reached the same basic conclusion. However, I have heard that some school have developed courses that are truly a form of bar prep by teaching test-taking techniques and content specifically tailored to help at-risk students improve their chances of passing the bar.
I would be interesting in hearing from faculty or students who know more about the development and success of these new and true bar courses.
September 24, 2007 in Teaching -- curriculum | Permalink
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» What Classes Should I Take to Pass the Bar (ie, Pull a Class Out of Your Hat) from CALI's Pre-Law Blog
Freakonmics Blog (reported by Abovethelaw and Law School Innovation) discusses a study that answers the question, What law school courses will help me pass the bar exam? Answer in a few words: none of them.
Click for more below.
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Tracked on Sep 25, 2007 3:12:08 PM
Comments
Perhaps I'm missing something -- but aren't these "structured curriculum" programs aimed precisely at the third quartile -- the quartile for whom the programs seem to be most effective? Top-half students are going to pass the bar regardless of curriculum. Bottom-quartile students are at high risk of failing regardless of curriculum, which is why some law schools are so keen to fail them out (I'm merely observing -- not endorsing -- this practice). That's why many bar-pass programs rationally aim at the third quartile.
Posted by: Rick Bales | Sep 25, 2007 8:37:48 PM
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