08 Jun Alternatives to Law School
Have you always wanted to get your license to practice law but outrageous costs or a lack of a 4 year degree held you back? Many have a life long dream of becoming the next Annalise Keating, Perry Mason, Judge Judy or even Ruth Bader Ginsburg. However, as life happens we need to change our approach to making our dreams into reality.
The State of California has the program you have been looking for. You have the option to get qualified to sit for the General Bar Exam through the Law Office – Judges Chamber method. Made famous by Kim Kardashian, its a four year program that allows you to get your education from studying in a law office or judges chamber. It does not require the LSAT or a college degree for acceptance, but instead requires a unique “mini” bar exam called the Baby Bar after your first year.
The Baby Bar
After your first year, you are required to take the First Year Law School Exam (aka Baby Bar) that measures your competency in the subjects that are typically taught in a traditional first year program. Torts, contracts and criminal law are all tested in the same format as the General Bar. Its a one day exam consisting of 4 one hour essays and then 100 multiple choices questions after lunch. In order to proceed with your studies, you must pass this exam. The exam is the equivalent of what you would expect to find on the General Bar in those same topics.
This is where we come in
We specialize in filling in the missing details from their apprenticeship that may be left out. Our tutors are all law school graduates who understand what it takes to succeed. We have all taken the Baby Bar and can guide you through the requirements with focused private or group tutoring. Special care is needed to make sure your knowledge is on par with the other examiners who may have had a more formal education. If you are interested in the program or would like information on tutoring, please send us a message.
Info directly from the California Bar
Legal Description from the Rules of the State Bar, Title 4, DIV. 1
Rule 4.29 Study in a law office or judge’s chambers
(A) A person who intends to comply with the legal education requirements of these rules by
study in a law office or judge’s chambers must
(1) submit the required form with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and
Deadlines within thirty days of beginning study;
(2) submit semi-annual reports, as required by section (B)(5) below on the
Committee’s form with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and
Deadlines within thirty days of completion of each six-month period; and
(3) have studied law in a law office or judge’s chambers during regular business
hours for at least eighteen hours each week for a minimum of forty-eight weeks
to receive credit for one year of study or for at least eighteen hours a week for a
minimum of twenty-four weeks to receive credit for one-half year of study.
(B) The attorney or judge with whom the applicant is studying must
(1) be admitted to the active practice of law in California and be in good standing for
a minimum of five years;
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(2) provide the Committee within thirty days of the applicant’s beginning study an
outline of a proposed course of instruction that he or she will personally
supervise;
(3) personally supervise the applicant at least five hours a week;
(4) examine the applicant at least once a month on study completed the previous
month;
(5) report to the Committee every six months on the Committee’s form the number
of hours the applicant studied each week during business hours in the law office
or chambers; the number of hours devoted to supervision; specific information
on the books and other materials studied, such as chapter names, page
numbers, and the like the name of any other applicant supervised and any other
information the Committee may require; and
(6) not personally supervise more than two applicants simultaneously.
Rule 4.29 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective November 14, 2009