3Ls: You Need to Book Your Bar Course Now
To 3Ls across the country that will be graduating this spring: If you haven't enrolled in your bar prep course yet, now is the time to sign up.
While it is frustrating to have to choose so early and plop down a chunk of money on a deposit, future-you will thank you for doing it now. There are definitely advantages to signing up early, but if you've waited until your 3L fall semester to do it, those advantages will rapidly disappear if you wait any longer.
Here are three reasons why 3Ls shouldn't delay booking their bar prep course during their fall semester.
1. Availability
If you plan on taking a live instruction course, availability is a real concern. Depending on your region, at this point, you may already run into capacity issues for your preferred timeslot for live instruction. Especially in cities that have multiple law schools, there may be more courses to choose from, but the most popular time slots (usually mornings) will fill up.
2. Price
You may have noticed that prices for bar prep courses have gone up since you first started getting solicitations during your 1L. Many courses offer discounts for enrolling early, and waiting until the semester before you graduate means you'll most likely end up paying full price. If there's no discount offered when you sign up, don't be afraid to ask a sales rep if there are any promotions or discounts you can use.
3. Self Financing
Studying for and taking the bar exam is expensive. Not only do you have to pay for the course, but if you don't plan to work, then you have to pay for all your living expenses too. Signing up early can help you financially plan for your bar study time.
When you sign up for your bar exam course, you'll usually be required to pay a substantial deposit. By signing up during your fall semester, you can use a portion of your fall semester student loans, and a portion of your spring semester loans to pay the costs. This will be immensely helpful in stretching your bar exam study loans, savings, and/or budget.
Related Resources:
- Should You Take the Same Bar Prep Course as Everyone Else? (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- The Varieties of Bar Review Methods (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Bar Exam Study Tips for Smart Cheapskates (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)