Follow Celebration Bar Review News on Twitter. Scroll down in the box below to see recent "tweets" about the exams.
"Two Best Things about the Course:
(1) Alternative Approach: I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciated the self-help, god-centered approach. Yes, each often conflict, but you pulled off combining the two approaches. My philosophy is similar, so it was easy for me to accept your guidance and run with it. This time, I did not receive the daily nervous support from my friends, so it was all the more crucial that I received the daily support emails, not to mention your support was more positive than what my fellow bar takers could offer.
(2) Tough Love: You pissed me off a couple of times, but I had the humility to accept that I was paying you for your assistance and then incorporate your suggestions. In hindsight, I saw that your critiques were correct and appreciated that you were forthcoming with same.
MBE:
I was very happy with the format of your MBE course. I still have my PMBR books, which I hardly used the first time, but did not feel the need to open them this time around. I thought it was much more logical to practice questions as they will be on the bar exam than the approach of doing as many of the hardest problems imaginable in preparation. The nutshells were very helpful.
State:
Your lectures were excellent, and I was overall content with the state materials. Your writing approach rocks! I felt very confident using it during the actual exam. Moreover, I liked the one on one attention I received on the essays. I feel that this gave me a real advantage over the other takers.
Overall, I would say that your course was perfect for me. You saved me loads of money, and I got everything I needed and more. I would absolutely recommend your course to any licensed attorney taking another bar exam. I would tell them that they would only be wasting their money if they opted to take mega bar." Feb 2010 Texas Student
"I wanted to let you
know that I passed the Texas Bar Exam and will be sworn in on the 18th. I
credit you with all four of my bar admissions because you have taught me
more than state specific or exam specific knowledge but rather how to analyze
the exam and calmly proceed through a study plan to achieve the desired positive
outcome.
I only wish I would have had you as my bar exam coach directly out of law
school. For that matter, I wish I would have had you as a professor while in
law school!!! Once again, I cannot sufficiently
express my gratitude to what you have helped me accomplish. I continually pass
along your name to anyone and everyone that is taking a bar exam. Thank
you!!!"
Hugh Murray
PASSED July 08
"Thank you. This new career is a gift from God. Thank you for all your support. I am sorry for the times I would question your methods of reviewing for this exam. Anything I can do to be of service to you and your website, count me in." Jennifer M. PASSED Feb 08
"I am speechless! Thank you so much for putting together such a great course. I couldn't have done this without you!" Amy G. Passed Feb 2008 TX Bar
"It is with great pleasure I send this email. Today, I found my name on the "pass list" for the State of Texas. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I graduated law school 7 years ago, having never taken the bar. When I began this journey last fall, many (including myself) were a little skeptical about my chances for passing the bar on the first attempt. However, with your guidance and with your program, I did it. Your pedagogy speaks for itself. I took my hands off the wheel and let you drive me to this place; and for that, I am forever grateful. "
“The thought of preparing for any bar exam can be overwhelming for any law student. If you would like to succeed in passing the bar while maintaining your confidence while preparing for the exam, then Celebration Bar Review is the course you need. The Celebration Bar Review program is innovative and different than other review courses in that you will learn the concepts you need with a realistic approach in preparing for the bar exam. When you walk into an exam you will be one of the few examinees who will be prepared, confident, and ready to succeed on the bar. Celebration has helped me pass two state bars, Texas and Florida, which would not have been possible without Jackson and the team at Celebration.” Amber Winer, PASSED 2007 TX Exam and 2006 FL Exam
"I wanted to send a quick thank-you note to you, and all of your staff, for preparing me to pass the Texas Bar Exam. Although I took the exam over 3 months ago, I can still remember how I felt while taking the bar exam; I felt CONFIDENT. Your course and method of preparing students works. . . .PERIOD! When I first began to study, I was like most law students in that I had my own ideas of how to study for the bar exam. I finally came to realize that I needed to put my ideas aside and rely on the years of experience that my bar exam mentor possessed. I credit this trust and faith in your experience with my passage of the Texas Bar Exam. When it comes to preparing students for bar exams, you all know what you're doing. . .and you do it very well."
"The Bar results were released today...and I passed with the help of God and
your wonderful company!!!
You Rock!
THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER!!!"
Laura Richardson-Harris
PASSED
"Celebration Bar Exam Review
helped me pass
the bar after failing by 43 points. Jackson's way of teaching you what you need
to know to pass the bar is phenomenal. The course gave me confidence which was
something I had never experienced throughout undergrad or law school. Test
anxiety has always been a problem for me but after traveling 1 1/2 hours through
an ice storm to get to the testing location I was still confident in my ability
to pass the bar and never felt anxious through out the exam. I credit much of
my confidence to Jackson's inspirational e-mails, they reminded me of what is
important in life and kept me focused on the task at hand--passing the bar.
Thank you Celebration Bar Exam Review!!!"
Tina M.
Hall PASSED
"I have taken Bar Bri, and PMBR and your program is far superior. When I did not pass the TX Bar Exam the first time I was heartbroken. From the first time we spoke you not only gave me confidence to put the pain aside, but forced me to control my thoughts and get ready for the road ahead. Your class is so far ahead of the other large courses. There are a lot of reasons why I KNOW your course is so effective (here are some):
I cannot emphasis how superior this course is to the others. Your course
allowed me to pass the Bar with 100 points to spare! You turned one of
the most stressful and heartbreaking times of my life into a motivating study
process that I will remember with great fondness and pride. If anyone
has any questions about your course please ask them to contact me!
Darius M. Barazandeh,
Attorney at Law Passed the Feb 2003 Exam
"Celebration Bar Exam Review was great for my schedule and how I study. First, I did not want to sit in a classroom everyday for a month or longer rushing to take notes. I could listen to the tapes at my own pace and rewind when I missed a detail or wanted to be clear on a point made by the lecturer. Second, students are given a study guide that takes you from the introduction to the course to the last set of practice questions. It allows you to chart your progress and your mentor lets you know where you need to be. Finally, the materials are comprehensive and the practice questions prepare you for actual testing conditions."
Shawn Raver,
Passed the July 2002 Exam
"I was a practicing attorney
studying to take the
bar exam in a new state, so my time was limited.
Celebration Bar Exam Review's
home study allowed me to emphasize the subjects I
needed to, and skip over the parts I already had down
pat. The first time I took a bar exam, I took one of
the big name national bar review courses, attended all
the classes, etc. The best part of the
Celebration Bar Exam Review
course, in my opinion, was the
tapes. Being able to listen
listen whenever and wherever I wanted, at my own pace,
and to stop for breaks, and was much more convenient
and effective than sitting through a lecture hall
speech. You can't rewind a guest speaker..."
Matthew Edwards
"I owe many thanks to you, Jackson. Your treatment of the
"human" aspect of the
bar review process is what sets this course apart from all the others.
Thanks for the inspirational notes and words of encouragement. And
thanks for helping me pass the bar
exam! The Celebration
Bar Exam Review course
prepared me both substantively and mentally ...
The home study aspect of the course has so many benefits. My busy life did
not pause just because I had to review for the bar exam. The lecture tapes
went everywhere with me and I was able to listen to lectures when my schedule
permitted; much more convenient than having to attend scheduled classes. I
also had the benefit of listening to lectures on my weaker subjects a second
(and sometimes third) time. Another benefit of home study became evident
to
me on exam day. As I listened to my peers hyper chatting, doing last
minute
memorization and probably confusing each other, I was glad that I had studied
on my own.
But just because I was doing home study did not mean that I was alone in this
endeavor. My Celebration Bar Exam Review
mentor coached me throughout the entire course. My mentor was extremely knowledgeable of the substantive law and
was able guide my studies based on trends that he had seen on previous exams. His predictions of the exam questions were quite accurate. My mentor was
also the greatest source of comfort and support in the time leading up to the
bar exam. Having been through this process himself, my mentor had
encouraging words for issues to which only another bar taker can
relate--stress, anxiety, self-doubt, etc.
If there is one thing I wish I could convey to any prospective student, it
would be the feeling of confidence that I felt on the exam days. I only
used the Celebration Bar Exam Review to
prepare for this exam and as I took the exam, I
knew that this review had given me everything that I needed to pass. As I
walked out of the testing room on the last day, I felt great about my
performance on the exam!"
Mary Ann Espiritu
"I passed the Texas bar exam! Your bar review course is fantastic. By
having you tailor a syllabus to fit my crazy work, study and family schedule, I
was able to approach the study materials in an organized fashion. By the time
the exam came around, I was ready."
P. Cantu
"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK, YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
No matter how many times I type it, it won't be enough. I'm still in a state of shock and
disbelief that my name was actually on the list of examinees who passed the
Texas bar
exam. Your Bar Review program was the key for me, not to mention your encouraging words
and e-mails. Thank you SO VERY MUCH. The materials were super, the step-by-step study
guide kept me focused, your sample essays were great, and all the lectures and lecturers
were fantastic. Your program truly works."
"I PASSED!!!!!! Many thanks for a great course!"
"After attending an out-of-state law school, and living in a rural area, I went with
the standard, well known bar review company for my home preparation. Unfortunately, the
results were not as I had hoped. Upon looking for other
bar review courses, I ran across Studygroup.com. While skeptical at first, Jackson's demeanor and self-confidence, along
with the materials being specifically designed for home study, sold me.
"Upon using the materials, I found myself learning more about substantive law and bar
taking techniques through the individualized study plan and excellent practice questions
than I ever did by being "wedged in" with the prior bar review course. My
confidence rose, as did my abilities and test taking techniques, through diligent use of
the outline and the well thought out responses and conversations I had with my tutor.
"The results speak for themselves: after having failed the bar by 43 points
the first time I passed this time with 73 points to spare, a difference of 116 points! And
this after being told by my prior bar review course that I may want to "look into
another career" because "43 points is an almost insurmountable obstacle."
"Quite simply, I owe my whole career to Jackson and
Celebration Bar Exam Review. Take a chance,
you won't regret it."
Darren Bertin
"I passed the bar exam! Thank you for all of your help. I appreciated the
individualized attention. It was an important factor in my success. Working full-time and
studying for the bar exam at night caused me to panic more than once. But whenever I
started to panic about running out of time or what my friends were saying about pass
rates, I always called up Jackson and he was always available to talk to me and put things
back into perspective.
Having scored low on the MBE, I dedicated most, if not all, of my time to the MBE. The
Study Guide forced me to give the MBE and the remainder of the exam the necessary time and
attention it needed. Previously, I had focused on the MBE and casually addressed the
remaining parts of the exam in the few weeks prior to the exam date. But this time, I had
an opportunity to study ALL the material at least a month before the exam and used the
last weeks for reviewing. The questions at the end of each chapter in the outlines made me
realize whether or not I was getting what I needed out of the material. I have
recommended your course to my friends who are about to take the bar exam. No one wants to
take the bar exam more than once. Participating in this review course is the only thing I
did differently and I'm thankful that I did."
R.S., Texas
Dear Jackson:
Please accept my apology, this letter is long overdue. I want to thank you for your help on the Texas Bar Exam. I must admit to being very skeptical when I first became aware of the Study Group. However, after receiving my results on the Bar exam I was absolutely overjoyed. My MBE score increased by over 40 points. I believe studying through your program was instrumental in my success. I found your course to be the most efficient and effective bar preparation program. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Loretta Stone
In July of 1997, I applied to sit the Bar Examination for the state of Texas. After initial enquiry to the Board of Law Examiners, I was provided with a list of recommended Bar review courses. Along with a number of others I was given the name of Studygroup.com. I subsequently obtained information from those listed and after consideration chose your bar review course.
I am a lawyer qualified in Scotland. I have been in practice for 7 years. It was a daunting task returning to study, an exercise which I had thought was long behind me.
My materials arrived from the Bar Review in September of last year. The target set was the examination scheduled for February. The materials provided by the Bar Review were excellent. Many of the subjects to be tested in both the multistate and state sections were new to me. The written texts and audio taped lectures provided more than adequate material -presented in a concise and easily understood manner.
The Bar Review provided me with a personal study guide. This was tailored to provide me with the necessary guidance for completing the course. This included a structured timetable for study. In addition the Bar Review assigned to me a tutor to assist with any queries and to provide me with guidance in respect of my studies and what would be required in preparation for the bar exam.
The Bar Review knew what the examination entailed and what was required of students to pass the examination. Their course (which I undertook on a home study basis) was structured in such a way that come the examination I was prepared.
I can state unreservedly that this Bar Review course enabled me to pass the Texas Bar Exam first time. I followed their advise and guidance and they met their promise to me that I would pass.
John Lynd
The material is great. I didn't get this much helpful hints in the two times I took the BAR/BRI review. My wife also thought it was well organized.
Your MPT preparation was just right. MBE- your preparation strategy of learn the law as opposed to learning the answers, the exceptions, the exceptions to the exceptions, etc., is definitely the way to go! I felt my preparation for this test was far better than last! The afternoon was shorter Qs, familiar fact patterns, often times after reading Qs I had the answer or some form in mind and looked for it. Finished about 10 minutes early! 'That had never happened to me before, I didn't know what to do.
Texas Essays- 12 Qs, 6 hours is a lot of testing on the third day but I did well. The little personal comment you gave me "land the plane" very much helped me stay focused on each problem and answering their specific questions as opposed to a long essay consisting of too general legal analysis
Best advise, leave the last minute notes at home or in the hotel room. Mental focus in the 15 or so minutes before the exam really helped me.
Positive self-talk, particularly in the weeks right before the exam, really helped.
Be aggressive, make the proctors think you are having fun, etc.
MBE system with problems and answers on the same page is great. I just stapled two 5x7 cards together to cover the answers while I was doing the problems to make sure I did not cheat when tempted to. Same page answers is vastly superior to having to flip pages back and forth.
Tape coverage of the subjects is good
Written materials. Personal study guide is great, I followed it religiously right down to the little anal-retentive check marks. The MBE and Texas main subject outlines are fine.
Lastly, a personal thanks to you Jackson. It was tough enough to go through this once and miss passing by what amounted to be 2%. With your help and guidance, I was much better prepared this time. The fact that I could look to you when I needed to sure helped.
Thanks again,
S. Magee