Our students thrive
Since 1998, BARBRI Law Preview has been helping students find success in law schools across the country. Consistently, they attribute their law school success to Law Preview and the important difference it made for them during their first year and beyond.
"Law Preview gave me a wonderful and literal preview of the doctrines, precedents and methods to expect in law school, bolstering and reigniting my passion for Law as an institution-and further dissuaded me of any fears I may have had about the horrors of 1L. The pace was somewhat grueling, but, well worth it-a good way to prepare for the grind of law school. . . . Special thanks to Professor Martin Flaherty and Professor Alexandra Lahav for Con. Law and Civ. Pro."
Joseph S., New York Law School, Class of 2012
"I felt as best prepared as I possibly could have been for my first year. I knew what I needed to do to be successful and feel proud of my performance and efforts. It was helpful starting law school with an idea of how to read cases and knowing I needed to outline my courses well before exams. My school does not have rankings, but I know I am towards the top of my class."
Anonymous, CCity University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, Class of 2013
"It was nice to have a preview of the cases that we would read as 1Ls. I had a good idea of what to expect as a first year student before classes started. Every advantage is needed to be successful. You MUST hit the ground running. There are people who have been paralegals, federal investigators, etc. in law school, who have experience others may lack. Law Preview was instrumental in not starting at a disadvantage."
Chris B., Rutgers University School of Law, Class of 2011
"Law Preview set the stage for my success at Columbia. I don’t have any lawyers in my family and none of my close friends went to law school, so I didn’t have any guidance before I started. Law Preview gave me practical advice that I could trust on the basics, like how to brief a case, what a supplementary companion is, and when to outline. I still use the templates and timelines provided for all of my law school classes. The course put me in the right mindset going into law school and provided me with the foundational knowledge on how to do well that I would not otherwise have had. [4.0 GPA after the first semester]."
Anonymous, Columbia Law School, Class of 2024
"Law Preview gave me exposure to cases that other students did not have on the first day of class. I also felt more prepared to brief and set a robust schedule."
Brittany C., Notre Dame Law School, Class of 2022
"Latham & Watkins’ genuine commitment to diversity, inclusion, and excellence has had a tremendous impact on both my academic and professional career. In 2019, Latham gave me a scholarship to attend Law Preview prior to entering Stanford Law School — a truly unique opportunity that gave me the foresight to succeed in my first year of law school. The program armed me with the key concepts of the first-year curriculum and taught me how to prepare for classes and exams early, efficiently, and effectively. Based on my academic achievements, not only was I invited to join the Stanford Law Review, but I also joined Latham as a 1L Summer Associate and received an offer to return next summer (as well as Latham’s 2L Diversity Scholarship). I will be forever grateful that Latham invested ~$1000 in my academic success prior to starting law school — their initial investment in me has paid dividends. Law Preview clearly had a significant impact on my success at Stanford Law School. If law school were karate, Don Macaulay would be the Mr. Miyagi of the legal community."
Daniel K., Stanford Law School, Class of 2023 (President of the Stanford Law Review)
"I went into my 1L year with my eyes wide open. I knew, like most students, that I needed to work really hard. However, I also knew how to read through a case book, how to prepare for class and how to pick out the most important stuff for my outline. I believe this helped me to use my study time effectively and this preparation paid big dividends. I ended up in the Top 5% of my 1L class and was invited onto the Houston Journal of International Law."
Jessie M., University of Houston Law Center, Class of 2022
"Law Preview did just that- gave me a preview of my first year law school classes. Because of LP, I started the school year feeling better prepared, which in turn made me more confident. LP taught me the skills I needed to succeed in my first year. The study calendar which LP recommended was most helpful even if it was incredibly regimented because it made me stay on top of my studies."
Grace S., Golden Gate University School of Law, Class of 2013
"By the time I got into classes I already knew how to read an analyze cases. I also knew the basic concepts so I was able to get up to speed about the intricacies introduced in class much faster. Other people struggled with the more complicated concepts, but I had already gone over them once in Law Preview and the second time just helped my clarify my understanding. Learning to brief the cases before starting was helpful because I did not need to spend an inordinate amount of time on each case. I knew what I needed to extract from the cases and had a template in which to place the information. Law preview helps you hit the ground running in your first year."
Anonymous, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Class of 2011
"It gave me a more comfortable sense of what law school was going to be like. The lectures on how to prepare and what not to get caught up in and waste time with really kept me focused on the task at hand, which was getting good grades. I was in the top 16% of my class this first semester and at least some of that work has to be attributed from some of the stuff I gained from Law Preview. The exam taking strategies and writing skills helped as well."
Anonymous, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2011
"Law Preview prepared me for what was coming and gave me good strategies for success."
Gabriel M., Charleston School of Law, Class of 2024
"I’m not sure of my final class rank, but my GPA is 3.73. I’m so pleased with the outcome, and I feel Law Preview had a huge impact on my accomplishments. I knew exactly what to expect and when to expect it. The practice at case briefing was particularly valuable and having an opportunity to experience the Socratic method helped tremendously when I was called to perform for the FIRST case on the FIRST day of Contracts. Finally, having an overview of all the classes gave me great confidence that I would not get lost during the first semester. I referred back to my Preview notes as I was preparing for midterms and finals for extra pearls that helped me to excel on exams. All the Instructors at your course were OUTSTANDING. And what a pleasure to be taught by Professor Farnsworth himself! Thanks so much. I would take the course again in a heartbeat."
Anonymous, Western State University College of Law, Class of 2013
"I felt more prepared than many of my fellow students in the importance of outlining, keeping up with classwork daily, and how to manage my time. I also felt as if the test-taking skills I learned through Law Preview made a substantial impact on my performance on law school tests. While nothing can fully prepare you for the academic rigor and of law school, Law Preview definitely assisted in making my first semester of law school more manageable, less stressful, and gave me the confidence I needed to face the competition amongst my peers and the challenges that law school brought."
Amy D., Liberty University School of Law, Class of 2012
"Wow! That’s how Law Preview has effected my law school experience. Attending that intense week of Law Preview set me up for success. Not only did I have the opportunity to get a ‘preview’ of the classes and the type of environment that I would be entering into, I got to look at some of the hardest cases before the real thing even started. That might not seem like a lot, but reading Palsgraf through once simply isn’t enough. Through the first semester I’m ranked in the top 10% of my class. There’s room for improvement for sure, but I know that I wouldn’t have gotten this far without the help of Law Preview!"
Anonymous, Dickinson School of Law (formerly Pennsylvania State University, The Dickinson School of Law), Class of 2011
"Hi Don, I just wanted to let you know I finished strong my first semester. Dean’s List, a 3.4 GPA — all A’s and B’s. Law Preview gave me the confidence I needed going in. I knew what to expect and had a huge advantage because of that. Than you so very much!"
Gayle B., Florida A&M University School of Law, Class of 2013
"Law Preview’s 1L calendar was integral to my success during the Fall semester. The schedule helped me stay on top of assignments and review, so that I could adequately prepare for my finals during the reading period. Thanks to Law Preview, I ended the Fall semester with a GPA in the top 10% of my class!"
Miranda C., American University, Washington College of Law, Class of 2023
"While I do not know my class rank because UVa does not release such data, I do have a 3.73 (3 As and a B because I was sick and totally bombed 1 question)– at UVa only 10% of each class can have an A or A- so I am confident that I am in the top 10% of my class. Law preview taught me three important things that I largely credit my success to. First, to continue my pattern of hard and consistent work throughout the semester. I never missed a class or did not brief a case. I was always caught up (if not ahead) in the reading. By staying a little ahead, I was able to start studying during Thanksgiving Break, which brings me to my second Law Preview lesson: practice exams! I got in touch with students from other schools and also tapped UVa’s old exam database. I took at least 10 practice exams in each subject. This is a step that my friends did not do– or if they did look at practice exams, that was all the did (literally just LOOK at them!) — and their grades show that they failed to adequately prepare. Finally, Law Preview’s outlining strategy made getting ready for finals so easy because I had already been editing and digesting my notes throughout the whole semester. While I had excellent study habits coming into law school, Law Preview reminded me to keep them up and gave me the tools to start using my habits from day one, without having to wait to figure out the mundane details of law school."
Anonymous, University of Virginia School of Law, Class of 2012
"Law Preview gave me the tools to succeed from the start. Walking in your first day knowing the material, knowing how to brief, and knowing how to handle the Socratic method is the greatest advantage you could ever give yourself."
Clark D., Campbell University School of Law, Class of 2021
"As someone who had been out of school for over 4 years before starting law school, Law Preview was a great mental exercise to get me back into the swing of being a student. More importantly, it gave me a sneak peak on what my 1L readings would look like, and gave me early practice of case-briefing. In addition, I didn’t have any family members who attended law school, and not too many friends either; Barbri resources helped answer questions that I had about 1L, or gave me the footing to figure out which questions to ask in the first place. [3.65 GPA after first semester]"
Anonymous, Boston College Law School, Class of 2023
"Law preview helped me start off on the right note! It helped me set a schedule that allowed me to handle my reading load and provided time for weekly review. It was also great having an overview of classes! I attribute Law Preview for much of my first-semester academic success during a very challenging year of virtual law school."
Sabrina S., University of Michigan Law School, Class of 2023
"Law Preview was great for two reasons. First, the classes were a good way to get my feet wet. There was enough content that I did not feel blind walking into any of my classes, but not so much that I felt I would not remember it. The overview style was perfect because it pierced the veil of the opaquely named Property, Contracts, and Torts. Second, and more importantly, the scheduled approach to the semester and the exam-taking techniques were highly effective. I wasted no time in trying to figure out what my approach would be. My grades were just a validation that it worked and that I should repeat exactly what I did last semester, which was exactly what Law Preview spelled out. I am very grateful that I am not in a position where my approach last semester did not work and I am left trying out another untested approach. This is, of course, thanks to Law Preview."
Thomas G., Washington University School of Law (St. Louis), Class of 2023
"Law Preview was very instrumental in enabling me to be successful in my first year of law school. Not only did the course help prepare me for the rigors of the 1L curriculum, but it gave me a level of confidence walking into my first law school class that many of my peers did not acquire until well into the semester. While nothing can completely prepare you for the amount of hard work that it will take to out perform many of the other success driven people that will be sitting next to you in your law school classes, Law Preview comes pretty close. I finished my first year of law school ranked #10 (Top 5%) in my class, and I just received an invitation to become a member of my school’s law review. There is no doubt in my mind that attending the Law Preview course was a significant factor in helping me to achieve these results. Law Preview’s exam taking strategies, success tactics, and course overviews were all invaluable aids to me throughout my 1L year."
Antonio A., Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan University School of Law), Class of 2012
"Law Preview gave me an edge in class when we would discuss the same topics and cases that I had reviewed this summer. This was especially so in property when we went over estates. Law Preview also helped me keep on track with the task calendars. I wrapped up the fall semester with a 3.82 GPA and top 7% in my class."
Anonymous, Florida State University College of Law, 2021
"Law Preview provided me an outstanding overview of my 1L curriculum and allowed me to grasp the big picture of each course far earlier than I would have otherwise. The professors were really helpful and covered some of the most fundamental and hard to grasp topics in 1L courses, which I really appreciated when they came up the second time around and I was already well-prepared to deal with them. Thanks to Law Preview’s overview, from the moment that classes started I knew how to manage my time, which proved invaluable when reading period began and I was ready to invoke Law Preview’s exam preparation strategies right on schedule. By having a firm background on the basics, I was also able to make time to get a head start on the 1L summer job hunt, which allowed me to secure a position with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, my first choice job. I would definitely recommend this class to any incoming law student! Thank you for an outstanding class."
Corey B., Harvard Law School, Class of 2013
"Law Preview was invaluable. I was hoping to be in the top 20%. I am in the top 8%. LP gave me a road map to law school. While fellow classmates were ‘freaking out’ and overwhelmed at orientation, I felt like I had been there before. When others were struggling with the concept of briefing a case, I had all my briefs completed. Without Law Preview I would have been just another average student. Instead, I’m on the Dean’s List. Thanks Law Preview!"
Mark F., Texas A&M University School of Law (formerly Texas Wesleyan University School of Law), Class of 2011
"As I have just gotten back my last grade from my fall exams, I wanted to share with you my deep appreciation for Law Preview. I succeeded this past semester even more then I could have ever imagined: A+ in Torts, A in Crim, A+ on my Property midterm, A+ on my Civ Pro midterm, and an A on both my Legal Writing memos. I remember you mentioned in one of the sessions that we should reach out to you halfway through the year with success stories, so I wanted to do that and to say a HUGE thank you to you and to this awesome program you’ve put together! I can confidently say that I would not have been in this position without seeing the forest through Law Preview. It was such a helpful tool for me that I know put me several steps ahead of my classmates. So thank you so much, and I only hope to continue my success this upcoming semester as well!"
Tal E., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Class of 2022
"My experience at Law Preview proved to be invaluable as I navigated law school and started my professional career. I received incredible academic support, as well as professional development support. Law Preview definitely prepared me for my 1L year – it helped me excel in the classroom, allowed me to become a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and, in the end, enabled me to land an amazing 1L BigLaw job!"
Valy M., Columbia Law School, Class of 2022
"Law Preview was the ‘Dummies Guide to Law School’ that I really needed. While the classes themselves helped give me a brief substantive overview, it was the organizational and study skills that I really appreciated. I was always prepared for class with the 2 day ahead approach but more importantly I was prepared for my exams because I had been studying all along and using the best study tools out there. Don kept telling us that everyone in our classes were going to know the exact same law going into the exam, but what was going to separate us from the rest of them was that we were going to know how to apply it because we hadn’t just been memorizing. Instead, we had been learning it, working with it, and wrestling with it from week one because of all the skills and techniques we learned from Law Preview."
Emily H., New England School of Law, Class of 2013
"Law Preview helped me adapt to law school and have an advantage over my classmates when it came to concepts, how to study, and how to prepare for exams. It resulted in my doing very well in all of my doctrinal classes."
Sydney P., University of Georgia School of Law, Class of 2024
"My school does not rank 1L’s until the end of the year in the spring. Law Preview helped me to anticipate what each class was going to be like, as well as what law school in general would entail. The mock classes, along with their printable power-points, and the other general academic preparation materials all helped me to prepare and succeed in law school. I would recommend Law Preview to any incoming 1L without reservation."
David D., Quinnipiac University School of Law, Class of 2011