NEXT-STEPS GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO FAILED THE BAR - A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it - Roy H. Williams

Sep 21, 2026

This eBook addresses what to do after failing the bar exam, turning initial disappointment into a structured plan for improving the next attempt. It explains how to avoid common preparation myths, emphasizing balanced coverage across the MBE, MEE, and MPT rather than focusing on a single component. It also discusses tutoring and supplemental training as competitiveness boosters, and outlines coping after receiving results, including practical ways to handle emotions and build a next-step strategy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

ASK THE PROFESSOR

Myths About Preparing for the Bar Exam

Will They Cause You to Fail?

ASK THE PROFESSOR

What Happens If You Fail the Bar Exam?

6 Ways to Cope

NEXT-STEPS GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO FAILED THE BAR “A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it, and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether.” – Roy H. Williams Failing the bar exam is a huge blow, but once the initial disappointment fades, you have to accept the news and begin to plan for passing the upcoming exam. We can help you make the right decision since studying and preparing for this exam the same way you did the last time will likely get you the same result. Marino Legal Academy, founded by Professor Joseph Marino, a fixture in the world of legal education for over 40 years, is here to help you understand why you failed and prevent you from making the same mistakes on your next exam. Marino writes Above the Law’s bimonthly column, Ask the Professor, and we’ve compiled some of the most popular and useful posts in this eBook, designed to serve as a guide for those who will pick themselves up and try again. For one-on-one help and an expert personalized review of your bar exam score report—completely free of charge—just email your exam score report [to](to info@marinolegal.com)[ ](to info@marinolegal.com)[info@marinolegal.com](to info@marinolegal.com). [www.marinobarreview.com](www.marinobarreview.com) ASK THE PROFESSOR: Myths About Preparing for the Bar Exam Will They Cause You to Fail? By JOSEPH MARINO Anyone who has ever taken the bar exam will dole out advice on how best to prepare for the test. A lot of good that did the students taking the most recent bar exams. National pass rates plummeted. The average MBE score dropped. Law schools blame the students. Law students may need to blame their friends for giving them bad advice. Here are some of the most commonly thrown-around tipsand whether they have any merit. Myth: Just focus on studying for the MBE section of the test. False. Bad advice. Each state’s bar exam has different components—the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), The MultiState Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) . Each section is an opportunity to earn points. You cannot pass the bar by excelling on just one section of the exam. If you focus only on the MBE, you will not get enough points to pass. The key is balanced preparation. Myth: The MBE is more important than the essays/written section. False. On the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), and on most state bar exams, there is equal weight given to the MBE and to the written portion of the test. Some students do better on multiple choice questions and others perform better on the written section. It is a function of due process; bar examiners are being fair and giving equal points to both formats. Myth: The essay graders know your MBE score and if you do well on the MBE, they do not grade your essays. False. This is a widely spread rumor that is just not true. The MBE is computer graded and each essay is evaluated by a grader who does not know how you performed on the balance of the test. Myth: If you are taking one of the big bar review companies, just study exactly what they tell you to and you’ll pass. False. Unfortunately, this advice has caused many, many students around the country to fail. This summer it was particularly disastrous advice. You need to have an edge over everyone else; you need to do more. Take a supplement for the MBE and/or the essays. Get additional training on how to score points. Myth: A bar course cannot improve your chance of passing the bar exam. True. Studies have shown that students pass the bar exam in GPA order, meaning that those ranked lower are much more likely to fail. A bar course alone cannot help you improve those odds. If you are in the lower half of the class, you have to take a supplement or get a tutor to improve your odds. I know from experience in running Marino Bar Tutors that it makes the difference. Students at the top of the class could have a 95% chance of passing whil

FAQs

What should you do right after failing the bar exam?

Accept the result, move past the initial disappointment, and begin planning how to pass the upcoming exam rather than repeating the same approach that led to failure.

Why is focusing only on the MBE a bad strategy?

Each bar exam includes multiple components (MBE, MEE, and MPT), and you cannot pass by earning points in only one section; you need balanced preparation to reach the required total.

What happens if you fail the bar exam and how should you cope?

Expect a surge of emotions and difficult questions. Build a plan for what to do next, and don’t rely on encouragement or stories that may only intensify the stress—use a structured coping approach instead.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ava Thompson