First off, Maureen is the best! She helped me to identify my strengths and rectify my weaknesses for the MBE, essays, and the performance test. I signed up for the 1-on-1 sessions with Maureen in addition to the "mastering" set of zoom group classes, and I also got her PT, essay, and MBE books. The books were half as thick as the standard prep materials but chock full of templates and examples, all of which help you to figure out what the examiners are looking for! The "mastering" group classes are on zoom, and include mastering essays, mastering CA pt, and mbe minutiae. These were definitely worth it to get acquainted with the different approaches to certain topics, and common MBE slip ups. As for the 1-on-1 sessions, some weeks included more essay practice, and some weeks had more PT practice, but all of it is tailored to you. MBE practice is constant throughout the whole prep, and the amount of practice sets will ramp up once the first two weeks or so has passed. The workload can be mid to high intensity depending on the schedule you adopt, but overall as long as you follow the initial schedule Maureen provides you with it will definitely be manageable. Also she keeps it real with you. If you ask her if she feels whether or not you'll pass she will be straight up with you to let you know where you stand. And if something popped up like you had to go to the doctor or something she will work with you to reschedule a session. Last note, the black letter law quicksheets are a lifesaver when it comes to memorizing the rules! read more

Apparently, this review was a long time coming because it has been sitting in my draft box since 2/9/2021. I wish I could give this place a higher rating as Maureen MacManus is knowledgeable in her method and approach in teaching. It is also evident that she tries to stay up-to-date with the latest information for the CA Bar. As background information, I signed up for the 10-pack graded essays and the "Mastering Essays" class. In the "Mastering" class, she thoroughly goes over an essay and her method of how to approach it from start to finish. She also provides access to old recordings of other essays she has gone over as she chooses different essays to review each bar cycle. The website is a bit disorganized and hard to find specific things. The recordings are not labeled to let you know which essay is being covered so you just have to click through them. With the already limited time I have, this is a bit frustrating. My biggest gripe is the turnaround time for the essays. While Maureen does provide meaningful and detailed feedback, I have had to follow up on an essay that I submitted two weeks ago. This is an inconvenience as the test is fast-approaching, and it would be helpful to know what I can change and practice this approach rather than practice it incorrectly several times. Moreover, I did not even receive an apology for this. I just got a "here is your essay" message. From the comments and date stamp on my essay, it looks like my esssay was graded within a week. So I assume it was just lost among other assignments to be returned, but I find that this is still inexcusable. I think I would be forgiving if I was at least given an apology instead of a short email. read more

Maureen is so wonderful. If you need someone to assist you on this very frightful journey, Maureen is the go-to person. I learned so much from her about what is needed to be successful on the California Bar Exam. When you sign up with Maureen you are assigned a personal mentor who assist you further through the process. The workshops are valuable and worth every penny. Thank you Bar MD. Hats off to you and your company. Sincerely, Melissa Hall Esq. (First time passer) read more

I passed the Attorneys' Exam on the first try with BarMD's self-guided "light" course option. I used Kaplan (I think) to pass the UBE in Washington State back in 2014, and I preferred the experience with BarMD. Would recommend. Thank you to Maureen and her wonderful staff!! read more

I am using Maureen's CA essay workshop, CA performance test workshop, and the best California exam essay book. BarMd is definitely great and i'm learning a lot of substantive material from them. Maureen explains in a very easy to comprehend manner and if you ever feel that she's going a bit fast you can always rewind the video because lectures are posted. The CA essay book is great too with good rules and it helps with MBE as well! The only negative I have about BarMD is the inconvenience they cause because of trying to protect their intellectual property. I am a visual person and I like to print things out and have paper to look at. It is an inconvenience to have to screenshot each page of the essay template to print it out. Regarding the CA essay book, its made with "FlippingBook" and its a much bigger headache than just having it downloadable. Like on one hand I get that they need to protect their intellectual property but it seems overly excessive and burdensome to students who just want to learn. The people who want to steal the intellectual property will steal it regardless of the measures they have in place. BarMd has the best bar prep material hands down from what I have seen and hopefully in the future they will be able to find a better method to share material with students. Even an option to ship the books or material where students pay would be fine! Much harder to steal intellectual property when its in a hard copy and many people can't just download it. read more

BarMD, what a company. Hands-on advice from actual people - no prerecorded videos if you don't like that sort of thing. Every single "class" I attended was proctored either by the founder herself, Maureen, or by another colleague of hers. My biggest problem on the CA bar exam (5 time taker here!) was the MBE portion. Bar-MD helped me figure out an approach to the MBE that eventually helped me pass on my fifth attempt in February 2021. Other benefits: Actual feedback from those same people when you turn in assignments The MBE journaling skills you adopt are not taught anywhere else The Staff! Nicest people in the world and incredibly accessible. I passed because I used BarMD. Just what the doctor ordered. read more

I found Bar MD through a facebook group. Maureen who owns the company graciously offered a youtube free series on attempting a professional responsibility and PT exam. I would highly suggest you search for it because it is 100% just like the paid program. It will give you a taste of what the course is about and how she approaches the class. After reviewing the youtube videos, I opted to sign up for her essay course. Although I did not sign up for the full bar prep course, I found her prices to be REALLY affordable. She also offers payment plans through affirm. I opted to take the essay course since I already had Themis (however I did not use Themis). I used Bar MD's essay course in conjunction with my Mary Basick book. The course gave me a foundation on how to read an essay, spot the issue, how to craft an essay and issue statements, and really perfect my analysis. I can't tell you how much I appreciate Maureen's breakdown of her essay writing method. The way she simplifies the analysis and rule was a lightbulb moment for me. Suddenly, my bar prep made sense and I felt confident in my writing. It also translated into my MBEs. If you are struggling with PTs, I highly suggest Maureen's method. I did not take her PT course, but I watched her youtube video. Her PT course is likely to shoot up your score quite a bit. If its anything like her essay class... I would opt in to every tool she offers. Maureen also offers office hours to ask any questions. She has the utmost patience with her students. You can also tell she truly cares about the people taking her course and she has effective teaching methods to drill the idea in your head. The other thing I also really liked about the program was the fact that she recorded it (or you can watch it live). I was able to go back and watch the video on my own time. Bar MD also provides essay samples, memorization tips, and other methods you would not find in a textbook or your bar prep course. For reference - I graduated from a CA - accredited school, non-ABA. I was 15 out of 45 in my class and averaged a 3.0 GPA. I passed the October 2020 bar exam thanks to Maureen on my first try. I did not use a bar prep course. I would highly recommend Maureen and her staff for the essay course, but I am 100% sure if you invested into her bar prep program over any commercial bar prep - you would also do well! read more

There is something special about Maureen, the founder of BarMD, who genuinely cares for the success of each of her students. She was intentional with her tutoring and fights to provide the best resources available. Her EssayRX program is the single most invaluable resource for essay prep for the California bar exam. With the EssayRX program, you are able to search subjects and subtopics you want to practice writing essays for, saving time search through the archives on CalBar website. She provides sample answers and issue checklists so you are able to check your work. I also used her PT lecture/program. Her tactics for practicing the PT made it easy for me to quickly outline practice PTs and prepare for gameday. Again, thank you Maureen and BarMD team! read more

Maureen is the real deal! I took barbri and failed the California Bar Exam. I took the bar again and failed again. I memorized the rules. I did hundreds of multiple choice questions. But none of that taught me how to write an essay exam answer or how to write a PT. Maureen actually explains how to write your answers so you will pass. I finally passed the California Bar Exam on my third try by using her techniques. I can't thank her enough! read more

BarMD is a "prescription" for success on the California Bar Exam! I studied for the February 2021 California Bar Exam for five weeks, primarily using BarMD course materials. I also watched all of Maureen's Performance Test workshops--which truly are a unique and invaluable resource. Maureen is the only Bar tutor I've come across who is both skilled enough, and brave enough, to actually go through a Performance Test, step-by-step, with her students instead of putting up a basic outline and providing generic feedback on a student's final product. Maureen possesses the wisdom of a true educator because she's able to meet students where they are and get them to where they need to be to succeed. I also purchased extra tutoring with my assigned "Primary Bar Physician" Rebecca Levine. Rebecca is a phenomenal tutor. Rebecca always made sure my questions were thoroughly answered. Our tutoring sessions never felt rushed and she made me feel valued, not only as a student, but as a person, which I greatly appreciated. I'm elated to report I PASSED the February 2021 California Bar Exam! In sum, I'm forever grateful I found Maureen, Rebecca, and the BarMD team. Thank you again BarMD! read more

Bar-MD is a terrific bar study & preparation service! I took the February 2021 California exam for the first time and passed. There is probably a 0% chance that I would have passed without Maureen, and her thoughtful, focused, personalized and very humane approach to studying. The course was ideal for: -Studying at your own pace -Studying remotely (I was in a remote area of Northern California for about 6 weeks, and LA for about 5 weeks of studying) -Having to organize study times around a full-time day job -Not having any prior familiarity with California law Maureen was fantastic from Day 1, and focused the course on the substantive issues, and the test-taking skills, that  actually mattered. For me, I really needed to work on essay-writing (against an absurd 1-hour time limit), as well as learning the substantive law. She is particularly experienced in teaching exactly how to approach the essays, and focuses on the specific things that the bar graders review in their grading formula. Everyone's situation studying for the bar is different, so here was mine: I was admitted in another state over 20 years ago, and have not taken an exam or been in a classroom for a looonnggg time. I have not had any prior exposure to California law. I was taking California's one-day "Attorneys Exam" for lawyers who are moving from elsewhere. It is essentially just the essay questions from the full California exam, without the multiple-choice questions. I remembered almost nothing substantive from law school, and practice in-house in a very specialized niche area that has no relevance to anything that would ever come up on a bar exam. My regular job continued full time, so I had to fit studying in evenings and weekends, without getting burned out, during what turned out to be California's worst period for the Pandemic in December-January. It was also less expensive than most of the other class options that I looked at. Now my biggest problem is trying to perform a brain memory-dump so that I can free up neurons and memory capacity for information more enjoyable than Property Law Easements. Thanks again, and highly recommended. read more

Maureen was a great source of guidance and support while I was studying for the Bar Exam. Maureen knows the bar exam well, and she knows how to redirect your approach and focus by identifying your strengths and weaknesses. BarMD's Performance Test program is amazing and provides a solid approach to the PT. BarMD will help you feel more confident going into the bar exam. I'm very thankful for Maureen and BarMD! read more

Maureen's performance test and essay courses make bar preparation a thousand times easier and I would recommend both in less than a heartbeat. This is THE shortcut if it ever existed. read more

I highly recommend BarMD because this program gave me the confidence and the skills I needed to pass the CA bar exam. I took the exam multiple times and had studied with Kaplan & a private tutor but I had not been successful because I had no confidence in myself, and I was making simple mistakes that this program helped me fix. My favorite part about BarMD was the consistent communication I had with my BarMD mentor. With the "Bar Exam Classic" I got a good amount of essays graded and sufficient one-on-one meetings. In addition to what was included in my package, the BarMD team was excellent at answering any additional concerns I had and more than once helped me get through a bar mental breakdown! My BarMD mentor was very honest with me when it came to my weaknesses in writing and at the same time she gave me the instruction I needed to write a passing essay. As for the MBE portion of the program, BarMD has a good approach. I got Adaptibar in addition to my program just because I needed to see more questions than what is provided by the program. Thanks BarMD! read more

I was one of the first BarMD students in the first cycle and decided to take a leap of faith because I knew Maureen in law school. BarMD helped me understand how to write my essays in a more structured manner, graded essays for me that showed me specifically how to improve, and greatly helped to refine my PT skills. I'm glad I used BarMD because I walked into the bar exam with confidence and passed! Thanks Maureen and David! read more

Let's start off with some housekeeping matters. This is not instagram and I was not paid for this ad, so this is all coming from the unfiltered version. I took the July 2017 California Bar Exam, and I did not pass. I took Barbri as my first course. I was recommended to BarMD by a BarMD alumni, and probably within 15 seconds of her pitch, I was sold. Needless to say, I sat for the February 2018 California Bar Exam, and I passed, and it was the most surreal feeling I will probably experience. Now onto why you shouldn't even blink before choosing this course. Even from the first phone call, where David explained to me what their course provides, and what the awful letter of my score breakdown meant, I knew I was in good hands. This course provides you with an in depth analysis of how to actually write an essay for the bar exam as well as how to attack an MBE question (i.e., narrow down what land of law you are in, get to the umbrella topic, get to the specific element, and then figure out what rule is being tested.) They provide all of the materials, so long as you are dedicated, I know their system will work for you. When I took Barbri, my MBE strategy was a pick and pray. I had no clue what land I was in, because I was never taught by someone who actually cared about my success. During BarMD was when I realized I had no clue what the difference between an equitable servitude and a covenant was, but when I walked into the February exam, I could probably write you a novel about it. David sent me a chart, called me, and checked in on me to make sure I had it down and could recite it in my sleep before we moved on from that topic. If you are looking for a course that not only gives you strategy, one on one time, care, effort, and is literally taught by three angels, look no further. They will answer your emails before you are done typing, they will rip apart your essays and build you up to be the best writer California has ever seen, and you will walk in not even feeling all that nervous. I have never bragged about a company so much in my life, so I wouldn't waste time if I didn't mean it. This course will change your life. Maureen, David and Kate will change your life, and your dream of passing that exam will be within reach. Every single penny will be worth it. I urge you to put your trust in the hands of BarMD, and you will not regret it. read more

If you want to pass the CA Bar Exam, Bar MD is the way to go. This program truly gave me the confidence I needed to get my name on the pass list. I knew the knowledge, but Maureen taught me the skills to organize my thoughts in a clear, effective way. I have been recommending Bar MD to all my friends in bar prep because this program is absolutely amazing. read more

The most essential course for the California Bar Exam!! Maureen taught me how to complete a Performance Test on time, efficiently and systematically. Her technique is fool proof and straight forward. before I started the course I couldn't finish a PT in less than 2.5 hours, by the time I finished the course I could finish with time to spare!!! Absolutely recommend this class for anyone taking the Bar in any state!!!! I passed the first time as a foreign student and I'm sure it was thanks to Bar MD! read more

After 20 years of not taking a bar exam and practicing in another jurisdiction, I needed to take the California Bar Exam because I needed to work in California. I researched and selected BarMD because it seemed like a good fit and also based on their reviews. I PASSED the on the first attempt! Their program was exactly what I needed. They gave me great feedback and their program was easy to follow. That said, you still need to put in your time and study, but BarMD, if you are honest and follow their approach, is awesome and they will help you pass. If I had a question or concern, I would always get an immediate response and never had to wait. This was especially important to me since I was also working full time with two small children. If you need a bar review course, I highly recommend BarMD. read more

I am not even a paying member YET, but I have found BarMD's explanations, approaches and videos very helpful in a number of ways. I am so appreciative of the efforts and the creation of systems that help to identify a streamlined process in responding to these fact intensive essays. I have not yet read or listened to any information about the MBE process that BarMD has developed although, I likely will. I know that I will purchase the Essay book. I also sit in on many PT workshops and the connection has been made, I get it. I understand what to do, I know what the bar is looking for and that is because of these types of review courses. I also believe Maureen's costs for her programs are a lot more reasonable than most others. I read that negative review and conclude it was just a financially motivated angry review after someone did not get what she wanted. I really hate that because it is not based upon the actual product and/or service but rather, entitled angry babyish conduct. Thank you for doing what you do. I appreciate everytime there is a Facebook post by you or a Sunday sacraficed for us studiers, etc. read more

I discovered Maureen MacManus through a facebook group for applicants preparing to take the February 2021 CA bar exam. I just attended her webinar on how to attack the Performance Test. EYE-OPENING. I've slogged through Themis lectures and practiced on my own, but I never felt like I had a strategy for writing the PT. Maureen shows you THE FORMULA. She is succint, methodical, organized, and communicative. Seriously. I feel like I got a cheat code. She's that good. read more

After taking Barbri and being unsuccessful on the CA Bar exam more than once, I decided to look to other avenues. I was scoring very high on my MBE but my essays and my PT scores were not making the cut. I met with Maureen after completing the free diagnostic BarMD provides. When I saw her sample answer and received her line by line analysis of my writing I finally could see what the graders would be looking for. Turns out I had the proper law in the answer and was using IRAC, but not effectively for a grader who likely spends 2 minutes looking at an essay. I signed up for private tutoring to focus on my essays. Maureen showed me how to make all the changes I needed to maximize my scores, including how to space your answer, how to use the best headings, and where to place the law to get the most points. Additionally she took the time to quiz me on the most highly tested topics on each subject and gave me pointers on topics that are often tested together in a crossover form. Further she provided great approaches for areas of the law where the bar examiners are looking for specific points to be made in a particular order (such as a negligence analysis, a DCC analysis, ect.)---she made sense of topics and made the approach easy to memorize. I cannot recommend BarMD enough. They truly care about the success of each student and you can feel the individual care they put into you. By the way, the most important point.....after using BarMD's methods I passed the bar. One of the happiest days of my life, and a great feeling. read more

I did not pass the February 2017 California bar exam and received a referral to BarMD. I met with Maureen to discuss my weaknesses and how I needed to improve to pass the bar. She explained their approach and their pass rate, 100%. I considered other options, BARBRI, Themis, etc, but decided the personalized approach from BarMD would work best for me. I am so THANKFUL for Maureen and David! The approach was easy to understand and implement. They have formulas for writing, which helps me as I'm a logical math based thinker. The classes are exactly what you need without excess or wasted time. The essay feedback was invaluable. BarMD cares about you as a person and helped when I was frustrated with round two of studying for the bar, Maureen always had a pep talk ready. The first people I asked to come to my bar swearing in were Maureen and David at BarMD, I wouldn't have passed the July bar without them. read more

I took BarMD after using two other commercial bar prep programs, and they didn't hold a candle to BarMD!!! I passed the Bar finally with the help of my amazing BarMD tutor, and I couldn't have done it without them! BarMD offers top notch, high quality, research based learning activities, and personalized support and coaching. Don't even waste your time with the other programs. Use BarMD! IT WORKS!!!!! :) read more

Studying for and taking the California Bar Exam was one of the most difficult things I've ever done; fortunately, I passed - on my first attempt - the February 2019 administration of the exam. One of the most apparent things to me right out of the gate was the necessity of having someone in your corner who, to put it quite simply, knows what they're doing. For me, that person was Maureen MacManus. She truly and genuinely took such great care in offering comprehensive and practical advice and paid so much attention to my needs as I prepared for the bar. She went above and beyond what I expected. When you're head high in black letter law a month deep into studying, it can be extremely difficult to process and frame things. Professor Macmanus was there to help wade me through those rough waters. From answering micro questions about precise areas of legal doctrine to helping me with the logistical issue of studying - she was there every step of the way. She kept me focused and helped me to continuously progress (perhaps most importantly she helped to keep me sane). Overall, every CA Bar Examinee needs someone in their corner; I can think of no one else better suited for that role than Maureen MacMaus. read more

I am so thankful for BarMD! I PASSED the July 2018 California Bar Exam and I could not have done it without the support and guidance I received from David, Maureen, and Rebecca at BarMD. A little background on my history with the California Bar Exam: I graduated law school in May 2017 and took the July 2017 bar using exclusively Barbri. In law school, I was the Barbri Head Rep and I believed that if I did what Barbri told me to do, checked off the "completed assignment" boxes and made sure my progress tracker said I was on schedule, that I would easily pass the bar. I walked out of the July 2017 bar exam crying because I felt like it was nothing like I had practiced (essay and MBE-wise). I decided to take the February 2018 bar exam and just used Barbri's free repeat course because I was convinced that maybe I did something wrong the first time around because Barbri is supposed to be the best, right?!... WRONG. I failed the February 2018 bar and I was devastated. California's bar exam passage rate statistics are dismal and they continue to decline. The February 2018 bar exam had a 27.3% passage rate. The only two people that I knew that beat the terrible odds of the February 2018 bar exam took BarMD. I reached out to one of the BarMD alumni and she raved about how BarMD made all the difference for her bar preparation. After her pitch I was convinced that I needed a BarMD "diagnosis." I spoke with David on the phone and he explained how BarMD could tailor a program to my needs. I was comforted by my conversation with David because he genuinely cared about what my needs were and my concerns about taking the bar exam for a third time. I signed up for BarMD and committed wholeheartedly to following everything BarMD could teach me. The one-on-one personalized attention from BarMD is unmatched. The sentence by sentence feedback I received on my graded practice essays pointed out mistakes that I was making, causing me to lose valuable points, that I did not even realize I was making before BarMD pointed them out to me. I learned how I could format each sentence in my analysis to ensure that I received every point possible. BarMD also taught me strategies for tackling the MBE that helped me save time and also learn how to eliminate incorrect answers that I would have considered before. Whenever I had questions, David, Maureen, or Rebecca quickly responded. Whenever I doubted myself, they reassured me that I was going to be okay. I went into the July 2018 bar exam feeling the most confident I have ever felt. On the essay portion, I did everything that BarMD taught me to do. Because I had practiced so many essays on every subject, my ability to structure each essay was almost mechanical and methodical. I did not have to spend unnecessary time trying to figure out how to format my essay responses. On the MBE, I utilized all of the strategies that Maureen taught me. On both the July 2017 and February 2018 bar exams I ran out of time and had to either leave MBE bubbles blank or randomly guess. On the July 2018 MBE, I was able to answer every single question. Honestly, I think that the July 2018 exam was the hardest bar exam I have taken substance wise. However, because of BarMD's program and guidance, I was able to strategically attack the bar exam and not panic. Only 16% of repeat test takers passed the July 2018 California Bar Exam and I am honored to be among that 16%. I could not have done it without the dedicated help from the BarMD team! The California Bar Exam is a beast, but if you wholeheartedly commit to BarMD's program and follow their advice and guidance, you will see your name on the pass list for the next bar exam administration! I guarantee it (and so does BarMD!). read more

Maureen is great and she is truly passionate about her students passing the bar exam. When I first took the California bar exam in July 2021 I got a 55 on the PT which really affected my overall essay score. I found BarMD when I was looking for someone to review my score breakdown with me. Maureen gave me a free review of score and her comments were very helpful and encouraging! I decided to take action and signed up for Maureen's PT course. The course was manageable and her tips for the PT structure helped me so much. I passed the February 2022 California bar exam! While I can't see my score, I know I did better on the PT this time because of her. My only negative comments would be that sometimes she moves pretty fast and I wanted more insight on why she chose to structure or include certain things, and not others. Overall, I highly recommend! read more

Maureen was phenomenal. She truly cares about the success of her students. I was originally paired with a tutor who was not a good fit, but Maureen stepped in and closely guided me through her Bar-prep program. We developed a strategy, and we focused on my potential growth areas. After taking the BarMD course once, I finally passed the California Bar Exam after multiple attempts. read more

Preparing for the CA bar exam - especially after receiving negative results - is miserable. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR and go with BarMD. After failing the CA bar, BarMD gave me the pathway to success with its structured schedule, maximum retention strategies, daily assignments, simulated exams, flashcards, MBE journals, writing techniques, and PERSONALIZED feedback on REAL CA essays. For me, gauging how on point my bar essays was difficult (along with memorizing all the rules for the CA essay topics). With BarMD, I had a much better sense of what bar exam graders wanted and honed my skills for the bar essays - the area that needed the most improvement and confidence. Most importantly, BarMD helped me achieve the skills, knowledge, and mental discipline in a much SMARTER way than any other boxed prep course. David and Maureen are TRULY EXCELLENT. I appreciate how attentive they were to their students, the preparation that went into their materials, and that they took the time to iron out any remaining wrinkles in the materials. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND to a sibling or friend. read more

Taking the bar is the most ridiculously stressful time of any attorneys life. As a first generation lawyer I didn't have an experienced attorney who could spend one on one time to help me pass the bar. Que Maureen. She's brilliant she's down to earth and a non elitist (which is what you want in a bar tutor). She knows the mass produced bar courses get the law right but fail to tailor their program for an individual student and that is what she does, she tailors the whole course FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY). I had a different program then the other 12 kids in the class and they all had different programs from me. She evaluates your abilities and has a class component that we all do and a vigorous schedule you have to stick to, but she saw that I had a huge MBE deficit and she tailored the program so I was perfecting my MBE skills without neglecting my essays since those points would help me pay my points. And I personally do not thrive when I'm being told non stop how wonderful I'm doing so I ASKED Maureen to be brutal and emphasis what I did wrong and she obliged. I got seriously redlined essays and it made all the difference. I owe my success on the bar to BarMD kicking my butt into high gear! If you struggled with the bar, are not confident, or just don't know what to expect this bar course is for you! Get the one on one attention you never got in law school and become the attorney you we're destined to be. read more

The pass rate advertised by BarMD is fraudulent misrepresentation, as is their 100% satisfaction guarantee. I have recently learned that the pass rate that BarMD has reached is based on the number of students who "successfully complete the course" and eventually pass the bar. This creative math does not take into account the number of times a student took the exam. Moreover, it does not include students who do all of the work, make all payments in a timely manner, and insist on receiving organized, accurate materials. I took this course ONLY because of its claim of a 100% satisfaction guarantee. When it came time for them to perform, they refused, claiming that I had breached our contract, despite having told me--in writing--that I could finalize the remaining $600-800 (out of $5000) in payments when I was able, and telling me in writing not to worry about it until after the bar exam. David claimed that my failure to pay the remaining $600-800 was a breach in contract, despite there never having been a payment deadline. Notwithstanding my willingness to pay the remaining balance, BarMD anticipatorily repudiated, indicating that they would not honor the guarantee. The owners of BarMD, David and Maureen, will promise the world until you have paid them thousands of dollars. I believed that BarMD was the answer to my prayers based on their advertised passage rate, satisfaction guarantee, their promise to provide all study materials, and tutoring plans. However, after they provided inaccurate and incomplete reference material on a number of occasions, I began to complain. To their credit, the one thing that BarMD offers that no other company does is the best tutor in San Diego. I will not name her personally because of the nature of this review, but I am happy to provide a reference in response to an inquiry. She and I became personal friends during the course of bar prep, and she helped me to improve my essays and MBE tremendously. At the end of the day, I missed passing the bar by 5 points, but because I insisted that they provide accurate, complete, and quality materials as promised, BarMD executives refused to perform their contractual obligations and honor the guarantee. After I posted a review to warn other consumers about this predatory company, BarMD's CEO, David, threatened legal action against me for a myriad of fanciful claims. I concluded that I would need to study for this round using my own schedule and materials, and with the help of my tutor. When it became clear that I would not be intimidated into removing my reviews, BarMD escalated their attempts to silence me. BarMD executives contacted the tutor who had been assigned to me through BarMD, and notified her that they intended to enforce the provision of her contract relating to competition, and forbid her from working with me. In essence, BarMD has gone out of its way to impede my ultimate success on the bar exam, all in an effort to silence me. I wonder what their rating would be if they didn't threaten those who post negative reviews into removing them. David actually attempted to shame me into acquiescing to his threats by referencing the fact that I failed the bar. During initial discussions, this company told me that having failed the bar did not reflect my level of competency, but during negotiations to salvage our contract so that I could work with their tutor, David made it clear that he believes me to be beneath him, solely on the basis of the bar exam. He went so far as to post my personal scores in a previous comment to my review. David published exam results in order to shame a student. Remember! If he will do it to me, you are next! Moreover, David threatened to prosecute me for theft of their materials because I printed an outline which I was using to study, after having paid for use of said materials. Thus, if you pay for these services, and print anything, you run the risk of being accused of theft. Even if David and Maureen did intend to act in good faith in their contractual obligations, it is unlikely that BarMD will be in business after 2021, as I intend to contact each of the companies from which they have stolen copyrighted material to notify them of BarMD's theft (and provide printed proof). David and Maureen have stolen intellectual property from Barbri and other bar prep companies, and added their own copyright imprimatur to said material. The materials they do provide are sloppy, incomplete, and at times, inaccurate. This company engages in predatory practices by inducing students to sign up in reliance on the promise of a guarantee, which BarMD will arbitrarily decline to honor. Please feel free to email danicamazenko@gmail.com for more information. read more

I passed the February 2019 CA bar exam, it was my second time taking the bar and I am thankful I found BarMD to help me pass. After failing the first time I was devastated and felt so desperate to find the right program. I did A LOT of research and contacted every tutor and company in CA, BarMD was the right fit for my needs! To give a little background, first time around I used Barbri and did every single assignment they asked of me and received a 1401, close to the required 1440 score, but not enough. I passed every essay, but fell short on the MBE portion. I knew MBE was my weakness and that was my main focus the second time, so I was happy BarMD had a different approach to MBE's and I feel it helped train my brain to be more effective. I was pretty confident with the essay portion, but was able to improve my essays by using the BarMD approach, which was awesome and came in clutch with the Feb essays because I personally thought some of them were more difficult than the July 2018 essays. Overall, I thought the program was great, to make it easy I am going to list pros and cons to help you decide whether this is the right program for you. The list is not exhaustive, but these are just some of the things I remember from the program: PROS: (1) Assigned tutor that gives critical feedback on essays and makes sure that your writing is improving, (2) calendar assignment given in advance and NO SLACKING is allowed, (3) assignments can be tailored to your needs if necessary, (4) MBE journal approach takes forever to complete, but just do it, trust me it makes a difference (5) in class sessions were extremely helpful and gave me great tips that I used day of exam, (6) outlines were short and easy to understand (7) simulated 2 day in person exam (8) ability to retake course if you fail (9) used real MBE questions, which was a major factor for me CONS: (1) Assignments and outlines were sometimes incorrect or unorganized-This was my biggest issue with the program because it was extremely stressful to have a wrong MBE answer and trying to figure out why you got it wrong and you were actually correct! I will say Maureen and David did fix these issues once brought to their attention, but I just think these issues should be sorted out before I begin giving you my money. Essays were sometimes unorganized because they tested a rule that was not given in the barmd outline, but this was not a common problem. (2) Outlines did not include EVERY rule that could be tested, only includes commonly tested issues - was not a big issue for me because I still had my old outlines and would just insert into my barmd outline, but did take more time to complete outlines, which was tedious and annoying. As you can see the pros definitely outweigh the cons, but just wanted to be honest with my review because the program is not perfect. I will also add that I used adaptibar on top of BarMD because I was so paranoid. I truly feel BarMD made a difference for me and helped me pass the bar. Shout out to my tutor Rebecca, literally saved my life on days that I felt I could never pass the bar and she forced me to take days off when I felt I couldn't! Having her number and being able to text/call/email her was invaluable. I hope this review helps, if you have more questions don't hesitate to email me at ruvalcabac24@yahoo.com. read more

After I failed the July 2016 CA bar exam, I felt hopeless. I have a BA and MA in English, I received a high pass in Advanced Legal Writing and served as a TA, but I was 10 points shy of passing because of the essays. Crushed doesn't even begin to describe my feelings. I signed up with Bar MD and from the first day of class I was impressed. They start off in a unique, but necessary way. They had us write down our fears and discuss (if we felt comfortable) why we had those fears about the bar. This is important because it takes those internal fears and transforms them into something tangible. Once those fears are tangible, you can throw them away and start to get to work. After that exercise, they start with the basics of active, concise writing. I already had those skills down, but it was a nice refresher. They then talked about the IRAC structure itself. This is where they really impressed me. Everyone thinks they know IRAC (myself included), but obviously there's a reason I was ten points shy of passing. They explained bar exam IRAC in such a clear manner, I was blown away. No one - including classes at my law school or other major bar prep companies - had ever explained the mechanics of it so well. I could already feel myself becoming more confident and it was ONLY DAY ONE! Each session after that from issue spotting, to analysis, to PT prep, was just phenomenal. I walked into the February 2017 bar exam so confident that I had the skills portion of the exam down. Anyone can teach the law, but it takes a tailored, special program to mold and enhance skills. Not only are Maureen MacManus and David Greco excellent teachers, but they take a personal interest in each of their students' overall mental health and well-being. Unlike the major bar prep companies or a skyped-in skills program, Maureen and David really get to know each and every one of their students on a personal level. Bar MD offers custom assistance for whatever your individual struggles are. Because of Bar MD's knowledge and hands-on approach I PASSED the February 2017 CA bar exam! This program is simply the best in the business! If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would. read more

I had the pleasure of taking the California bar exam twice, once in July 2017 and again in February 2018. I was recommended to BarMD by a coworker and it was the best decision I made in preparing for the February 2018 exam! I completed close to 98% of Barbri's materials for the July 2017 exam and never felt confident or comfortable before the test. After completing BarMD, I was actually looking forward to taking the February 2018 exam. BarMD teaches you how to structure your bar essays so you receive the most points possible and allows you to attack the essays quickly and succinctly. They teach you how to analyze MBE questions quickly and to identify MBE patterns to help you answer questions correctly. I could go on and on about the BarMD's staff and tutors! If you are struggling with a specific topic/subtopic (3rd party beneficiaries was the bane of my existence for a while), they will go above and beyond to track down additional material to help clarify along with trying to explain it in a way that makes sense to you. They will check in to make sure the work load is manageable and improving! You don't get this type of personal approach anywhere else, especially if you do Barbri. I wish I knew about BarMD for the July 2017 test because I wouldn't have wasted my time with Barbri and just completed their syllabus instead! You definitely have to complete BarMD's syllabus, but if you listen to BarMD's staff and your tutor, do the work, I am confident you will be WELL prepared for the California bar exam! BEST DECISION I COULD HAVE MADE! THANK YOU DAVID, MAUREEN AND KATE!! read more

I passed the October 2020 CA Bar Exam after working with Bar MD. It was my 6th, YES SIXTH TIME, taking the bar. I started losing hope and a friend referred me to Bar MD. Bar MD was a TOTAL GAME CHANGER for me and WORTH EVERY PENNY. I owe my pass to Maureen and my assigned tutor, Rebecca. I work full time and enrolled in the Classic program late and still learned so much - they were kind enough to adjust my syllabus for me to work around my work schedule, too. I improved my writing and MBEs with their workshops and thorough grading of my assignments. Not only does Bar MD provide solid black letter law, they provide strategies that no other tutors or bar prep programs do. I graduated from an ABA school, used Themis and Barbri prior, and had never heard of the strategies Bar MD provided. I would NOT have passed without Bar MD and owe it all to them. Thank you, Maureen and Rebecca from the bottom of my heart!!! read more

I enrolled in the Classic Course as a re-taker after hearing rave reviews about BarMD. I was very close on my first bar attempt--I passed the essay portion and fell a bit short on MBE. With BarMD's help, I passed the February 2019 bar exam! David and Maureen are very knowledgeable about what the bar graders are looking for and allow students to see things from a new perspective. I really enjoyed the classroom component--being amongst other re-takers reminds you that you are not alone in the struggle. BarMD also supports mental health by allowing for off days in the schedule. I know I had a few days where I was just totally burnt out and David said to take the day off. To any bar prepper, that sounds terrifying but it is necessary and helped me get back on track. Because I passed the essay portion the first time around, I figured that that would not be a problem for me the second time around and that I needed to focus on MBE. Nonetheless, I feel that the Bar MD writing formula improved my writing. You will learn to connect the facts to the law and practice so many more essays (and practice them so much earlier on in the process) than you would with one of the standard prep companies. David provided me with fantastic line-by-line feedback on the graded essays--I did not get feedback like that in Barbri (or ever in law school). Making lists for essay subtopics was another organizational technique I learned from the program, which helped me be more effective with issue spotting. I also really enjoyed the "live grade" because it forces you to fix your mistakes. There were not as many in-person one-on-one meetings as I would have expected, but David and Maureen are responsive via email and phone. I am a person who asks lots of questions and I felt that most of my questions were answered and I got reassurance throughout the program. As for MBE, BarMD teaches you to drill down on what is really being tested. You isolate the rule and justify why each answer choice is not correct. The journaling seems tedious at first, but it gets you into the groove of doing this process quickly in your head on the actual bar. As a slower test taker who ran out of time on MBE on my first bar attempt, I was absolutely floored that I finished both MBE sessions early on my second attempt and even had time for bathroom breaks! I felt much more confident on this portion of the exam. I do want to disclose, however, that I used the Adaptibar program in conjunction with BarMD. BarMD provides you with real licensed questions but I wanted extra practice. I also used Critical Pass for any additional support with the substantive material. You do need to stay on track with the program and work very hard! It is not magic. I was studying the same amount of time as I was during my first bar prep, but I made progress at a much quicker rate. I think it is hard to see your progress during the program but if you are doing all of the assignments and practicing the methods, you will train your brain to apply what you have learned on the actual bar. I will also note that I did stray from the schedule a bit towards the last few weeks when the issue spotter sets started being assigned. I like spending time reviewing each subject separately, and I was able to work with David in the last week to make a schedule of topics I would review each day. Overall, I think BarMD provides a very different approach for a re-taker. I recommend the program if you need more hands-on assistance and are willing to remain diligent in your studying, but flexible in your methods. read more

BarMD was the best decision I ever made! Maureen and David helped me get through every stage of the bar-studying nightmare last summer. I was a first-time taker and I completed this program along with Barbri. It seems like a crazy idea to complete 2 programs simultaneously to prep for the bar, but BarMD filled all the gaps and made sure I wasn't doing duplicative work. BarMD wasn't just a program, it was part of my support system. I passed on my first try and I couldn't have done it without BarMD! The proof is in the pudding: BarMD's students had a 100% passage rate again this round! read more

Do yourself a favor and take BarMD. I passed the February 2018 California bar exam and I would not have been able to do it without the help of Maureen, David, and Kate. I took BARBRI for the July 2017 bar exam, and I was given a false sense of security with the very little feedback that I did get. Going into the bar the first time around, I had no idea that I did not prepare properly. I followed the BARBRI program, yet still came up short. BarMD pinpoints your exact weaknesses, and gives you the tools you need to perfect your skills and showcase them just how the bar graders want to see it. BarMD gives personalized feedback and an intense study schedule to prepare you for any issue that comes your way. Not to mention that Maureen, David, and Kate are the best support system one can ask for. As I sat for the February bar, I felt calm. As I wrote my essays, I felt robotic because I was so well prepared that nothing was able to shake me when it was time to take that test. Once the test was over, I had to play the waiting game yet again for my results. But every time I felt nervous or anxious I just thought to myself, "I took BarMD, I passed." BarMD is unlike any other bar prep company out there, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone who is preparing for the bar exam! read more