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 was beneficial in that it helped strip away some of the anxiety and myths about first year law school while also conveying the reality of the large amount of time and effort that would be required of students if they wanted to succeed. There are no magic words or formulas to success but Law Preview passed on tools and techniques for studying so that I was able to hit the ground running from the very first day of school. The tools and practice from Law Preview allowed me to focus on the substance of what was being discussed in class and in the readings. Rather than trying to remember what the heck IRAC was or learning how to write case briefs and read case books effectively the first few weeks of the semester I’d already had a week of practice on how to accomplish those tasks thanks to my time with Law Preview. One of the first legal writing assignments at my school during first semester was to write a case brief which I already knew how to write thanks to the templates from Law Preview and session on the topic. I got 100% on the brief. The familiarity and introduction to various topics and projects covered during the first year of law school became a huge time saver. And any law school student will tell you that anything that saves time is invaluable in law school."
Anonymous, Whittier Law School, Class of 2011
"I just wanted to thank you guys for the program – as an evening student I was already extremely nervous to tackle classes on top of everything else in life, but I went into my first year focused, ready to analyze and brief cases in a way that I wouldn’t have figured out on my own until halfway through the year. A good chunk of cases we read was stuff we’d already covered during the program! Following that great calendar that was sent out to us, I outlined early and was taking practice tests when everyone else was just starting to prepare to outline . . . and now at the end of my first year, I’ve got a 4.09 GPA and I’m ranked first in my class. You turned a difficult journey into a smooth one and I wanted to thank you!"
Anonymous, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Class of 2011
"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
"I was out of school for several years before returning to law school. Law Preview helped me get back into the student mindset and helped prepare me for what to expect in the law school classroom."
Anonymous, Yale Law School, Class of 2012
"Very helpful and gave me a much needed head start"
Anonymous, Syracuse University College of Law, Class of 2021
"First, Law Preview basically demystified law school. I know a lot of students who came in and were just spinning their wheels the first month or two. Even worse, they were reverting back to their college mentality of there’s always tomorrow. I knew from the summer that tomorrow was something that you had to be ready for. In fact, I usually prepared for tomorrow’s tomorrow. Law Preview really got me thinking about how to plan and how to prepare for the endgame, exams. Without the focus, I don’t think I would have done as well as I did. Starting from the first day I had a schedule I kept to fairly strictly when I started, but then I let loose a little as I found out what my strengths and weaknesses were (work well in the morning – good to take a break in the afternoon – need some time off before bed). Law Preview helped me sort out the hours and figure out how to make it so that it would be a realistic schedule so I wouldn’t burn out come November. I saw a lot of people do the opposite – skirt the stuff in September/October and then end up way behind with no time to review OR prepare properly for exams. This is a little less of a direct effect, but it also gave me some confidence in terms of being willing to make mistakes. I remember during the summer session I offered an answer to a question posed by the Contracts professor and I was dead wrong (he was nice about it). Although it was somewhat humiliating at the time, the experience prepared me to be willing to accept my errors and learn from them – it was the fact I thought through the question AND could see what was wrong with my logic that mattered more. I’m not afraid to raise my hand in class and offer an answer to a difficult question because it will either affirm my knowledge or help me understand my mistakes. It is far better to blush in class than to panic on the exam or explain to a prospective employer why you received a C in Contracts. I guess you could say Law Preview made me a little bolder."
Christopher L., Suffolk University Law School, Class of 2013
"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
"I am confident that attending Law Preview set my up to succeed academically in my first semester at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. I was apprehensive of law school, and fearful of how I would stack up on the curve. Law Preview gave me the confidence and skills to apply in order to succeed academically. I would 100% take Law Preview again, and definitely recommend it to anybody about to start law school!"
Sara S., Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Class of 2021
"I do not think I will ever be able to know how much Law Preview has helped me. It was by far the best investment I could have ever asked for. I would recommend it to anyone that is going to law school. I continue to step back and think, wow, I wonder where I would be without that class. It was just very eye opening and helpful in my first semester. I enjoyed the non-scary professors as a mini-icebreaker to the class. I also found all the tips very helpful. I may not remember all the terms that we discussed or went over, but I am familiar with the topics and this helps tremendously to get my arms around each class. Thanks again"
Lauren H., Nova Southeastern UniversityShepard Broad Law Center, Class of 2011
"Law Preview has given me a firm foundation as to how I should approach my classes to do well. After attending LP, I was able to formulate an attack plan for law school such that when school actually started, I felt better prepared."
Anonymous, University of Chicago Law School, Class of 2022
"Great experience with Law Preview. Support material (online videos) after the course and continual study tips helped reinforce the material taught in the classroom. Highly recommend. Felt prepared for class discussions and received A-s in the two courses that were introduced in depth at Law Preview. Thanks!!"
Anonymous, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, Class of 2022
"I followed the Law Preview plan exactly: briefed every single case, did all reading on schedule, reviewed with flashcards, made my own outlines… and there were no surprises. I was prepared for everything. The biggest plus is that Law Preview helped me start ahead of the pack. Taking the course the summer before school really prepared me mentally as well, so I understood the challenges I was facing but also had the confidence in the skill set I’d developed over the summer to get the job done and stay focused on my goals. The schedule Law Preview provided helped me stay on track, and I also appreciated that Law Preview didn’t leave me hanging during the semester. They promptly responded to every question I emailed, and I there’s nothing better than candid advice. Now I’m in the top 2% of my class, and I have confidence that I can continue to excel. . . . Thanks so much and I’m making sure my younger brother (who will start law school Fall ’09) will be registering for your course soon as well! Now it’s just doing it all over again second semester, but I know I have the skills to repeat the process thanks to Law Preview!"
Anonymous, University of Houston Law Center, Class of 2011
"Thank you for making the difference between a good first year experience and a dreadful one. I knew what to expect in each of my classes and I had a very clear idea of the rigorous nature of the first year. I was prepared for the first day of class and so glad I was, because I was called on for the first case discussion of the year in my contracts class. The year was still exceptionally stressful, but I felt I had a strong advantage over others because of Law Preview. And because of my high grades, I have been awarded a full scholarship for next year. Thank you Law Preview! [Ranked #2 out of 44 part time students]"
Anonymous, Western State University College of Law, Class of 2014
"The program placed a lot of the important legal concepts and doctrines in my mind early in the semester. This helped shape and sharpen my thinking for my first year courses."
Jeffrey F., George Mason University School of Law, Class of 2011
"I attended Law Preview at the University of Pennsylvania Law School last summer. At the end of my first year I am ranked 3rd in my class, a member of both the Law Review and Moot Court team, have a summer job for a federal judge, and a job this fall for my legal writing teacher as a student instructor. Law Preview did an excellent job of providing me with all the tools I needed to survive — and excel — in my first year. They helped provide a ground basis for all my core classes, taught me how to take a law school exam and most importantly helped me develop a study schedule that allowed me to study efficiently, without having to pull one all-nighter. I would highly recommend Law Preview to anyone because the information they provide cannot be found anywhere else and it will help prepare you so you can actually enjoy your first year of law school."
Anonymous, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Class of 2012
"Law Preview really helped be grasp the overarching concepts of the doctrinal classes. I felt much more confidant and comfortable going into my first semester."
Emily A., UIC John Marshall Law School, Class of 2023
"Law Preview prepared me for each step of the first year experience. I was never left in the dark about what I should be doing or what to expect. Most importantly it gave me confidence that I needed to succeed. I believe others lost valuable time doubting their abilities."
William F., Duquesne University School of Law, Class of 2011
"Here is a quick update from my first semester. I got my grades back, and they turned out really well! I fortunately got all Honors and Dean’s Scholar grades (school-specific grading system that translates to 4.0+). I think it was in no small part due to the headstart I got with attending Law Preview. The tip to start outlining really early on saved me because I had to travel a bit for a wedding abroad during study period, but I was already on top of it thanks to that great advice. It was amazing how many times throughout the semester I had already read the cases discussed in class during Law Preview. I only wish that I could go back and sit in on the corresponding classes for this semester fresh now. Also, the 1L Mastery videos on topics like Conspiracy in CrimLaw or Personal Jurisdiction in CivPro really helped clarify concepts that could be boiled down simply but are often taught in complicated ways. Anyway, I am hoping to replicate the success of last semester now, so wish me luck!"
Anonymous, Harvard Law School, Class of 2022
"Law Preview was critical in giving me the strategic advantages that allowed me to excel during the 1L year. Many of my colleagues did not realize the correct pacing and preparation schedule until it was far too late. I appreciated Don’s realistic and blunt advice about the difficulties you will face during the first year. Law school is about hard work and proper preparation, and Law Preview made this unambiguously clear through the Strategies for Academic Success sessions, as well as the experience of preparing for the mini-courses at Law Preview. . . . Last, and maybe most important, I left Law Preview excited to start school. When the year began I was able to step through the doors with the confidence of having an explicit and detailed plan about what was going to happen. Carrying through with the Law Preview schedule allowed me to go into exams confident, relatively stress-free, and somewhat rested. While this it was not a particularly fun experience to go through finals, I know that my experience was far better than most. [Ranked top 1% after first year]."
Anonymous, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, 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 helped in that it made me realize how much work law school would be. It helped me to mentally adjust and prepare to the rigorous workload and the mental thinking."
Anonymous, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Class of 2011
"The first semester in law school picks up pretty quickly. Law Preview helped me to be prepared in regards to outlining and case briefing. I feel that this left me less overwhelmed than others."
Derya L., Fordham University School of Law, Class of 2021
"Law Preview was worth every penny. The lectures get you thinking about the important concepts, expose you to new terminology, and cover some of the cases you are likely to see in your 1L courses. It gave me a lot of confidence to have all this knowledge before classes even began. Thanks in part to my week at Law Preview, I did well enough my 1L year to transfer to Yale and to get a summer job and an offer of permanent employment from a law firm in Manhattan."
Anonymous, University of Michigan Law School, Class of 2011 (transferred to Yale Law School)
"Law Preview provided me with the valuable insight to the demands of the first semester of law school. Also, one of the cases covered during the program turned out to be the same one I got called on to address during my day on the ‘hot seat.’ Because of my previous exposure, I was able to make it through the questioning and pressure of being called on to discuss a case with the professor. I would strongly recommend the program to anyone entering into their first year of law school!"
Anonymous, John Marshall Law School – Atlanta, Class of 2012
"Law Preview prepared me for what was coming and gave me good strategies for success."
Gabriel M., Charleston School of Law, Class of 2024
"Looking back after the conclusion of my 1L, I owe much, if not most, of my success to the skills and strategies I learned during Law Preview. The learning curve in law school is very steep, and Law Preview allowed me to enter school immediately prepared; knowing what I had to do to succeed. Following Law Preview’s steps throughout the year, I finished in the top 5% of my class, was admitted to my school’s Law Review and landed a summer associate position at one of the world’s most prestigious law firms. I can’t thank Law Preview enough and think it is an invaluable experience every incoming law student should take part in."
Terrence O., Boston College Law School, 2019
"Law Preview played a large part in my success during my first year. The program benefited me in several ways. It provided an accurate experience of what law school classes are like. For me, this was extremely helpful. My background is in science and I had been out of school for seven years before going back to law school. I was also unsure about how good of a fit law school would be for me, so Law Preview was a way for me try it out before quitting my job and taking on student loan debt. Law school is a stressful experience, and any way you can find to reduce that stress gives you an advantage. Some people in my class were overwhelmed and felt lost after the first week of school because they didn’t know how to read or brief cases. The reading assignments and case briefs I did for Law Preview helped me hit the ground running when school started and gave me an advantage over a lot of my classmates. Most importantly, it gave me confidence that law school was a good fit for me, which helped me fully commit to it. One of the keys to success in law school is finding a work schedule that allows you to complete your assigned readings and start preparing early for finals. The most beneficial part of Law Preview for me was that it provided a proven schedule for managing the heavy workload. I would have been lost without this schedule. It helped me stay on track throughout the semester and gave me an idea of when I needed to start my outlines for each class. Some people in my class waited until November or later to start their outlines. You can’t do that in law school. There is just too much information to process. Closely following the schedule Law Preview provided gave me significantly more time to prepare for finals than many of my classmates. This advantage was crucial in helping me excel in my classes. The post-program support provided by Law Preview also helped me to stay on track. Throughout the first semester, Don sent emails reminding alumni where we should be in terms of preparation and provided tips for succeeding on law school exams. Again, law school is all about finding ways to gain an advantage and these tips definitely helped. The thing that impressed me most, though, was that Don made himself available to alumni by email or phone after the program ended. During the first semester, I emailed Don about 6 weeks before finals starting to make sure I wasn’t too far behind on my preparation. He suggested we schedule a time to talk on the phone and we ended up speaking for 20 minutes about where I was and what I needed to do. He also convinced me to use the Law-in-a-Flash flashcards to prepare for my exams. I was concerned about the cost, but he assured me they were worthwhile. He was right. They were great and helped me excel at spotting issues on my exams. This type of individual feedback and support that Don provided is simply not available in law school. Having access to it gave me a definite advantage in preparing for finals. . . . Law school is expensive and you might be concerned about adding to that cost by signing up for Law Preview. I completely understand and had the same concerns. Ultimately, I chose to look at Law Preview as an investment, and it has really paid off for me. My law school doesn’t post individual class rankings, but I finished significantly above the class average first semester and did even better second semester. I owe a lot of my success to the preparation and support I received from Law Preview. For most people, attending law school is a $100k-180k investment. You wouldn’t invest that much money in the stock market without doing research and preparation to increase your odds of success. Law Preview is a proven way to increase your of odds of achieving a significant return on your investment in law school by earning high grades during your crucial 1L year. Given the current legal job market, you need to give yourself every advantage you can."
Anonymous, Notre Dame Law School, Class of 2011
"Law Preview really helped ease the transition into law school. Less confusion. I felt like a 2L compared to several of my fellow students."
Francis M., Boston College Law School, Class of 2013
"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
"Law Preview made all the difference for me. As a first generation law student, I wasn’t sure what to expect in law school. Law Preview took away all that fear and set me up for success – I earned a 3.93 GPA during my 1L year!"
Josh V., University of Texas School of Law, Class of 2022 (transferred to Harvard Law School)