Jay was an incredible resource throughout my California Bar Exam journey, and I highly recommend him, especially for repeat takers. His approach to the essays, MBEs, and particularly the PT completely changed the way I approached the exam. He helped make difficult concepts and strategies feel much more structured, manageable, and practical under timed conditions. What stood out most to me was how much he genuinely cared about his students and their success. His guidance, materials, and encouragement made a huge difference in my confidence and preparation. I'm very grateful for everything he taught me, and I'm happy to say that I ultimately passed the California Bar Exam. I truly believe his tutoring played a major role in helping me get there. read more

Look no further, this is your sign to go with Jay as your bar tutor!!! Jay is an absolute gem and I would not have passed without him!! I passed the July 2025 bar on my third attempt. The first time I used Barbri and I felt like I was just trying to complete the assignments without actually learning anything. The second time I tried to do it with various books and materials. Jay takes the time to understand you and how you learn so that you can comprehend and truly understand the material. You must also put in your hard work and complete the assignments. Don't hesitate!! If you want to pass go with Jay!! read more

I passed the February 2025 California Bar exam, and I would not have been able to do that without Jay. Jay is an amazing tutor. I loved how succinct and clear his outlines were for each bar prep subject. His essay outlining method and his issue spotting method both changed the game for me as they helped me improve my overall issue spotting and essay analysis massively, which in turn, improved my essay scores drastically. Jay's methods forced me to plan and organize my thoughts before beginning to write which at first scared me, but ended up reducing my nerves as I would then write my essays with a clear and helpful game plan. Also, Jay's essay and PT feedback were monumental for me because Jay is a former bar grader himself so he knows exactly what the bar graders are looking for. Jay's bar prep is rigorous, but it is doable and most importantly, it is worth it. I feel so grateful to him for helping me get over this hump because I genuinely know that his bar prep materials and his genuine care for me as his student got me my bar card. Definitely use Jay as your bar prep tutor! You won't regret it! read more

If you want to pass the CA Bar Exam do yourself a favor and sign up for tutoring with Jay! You will not regret it. There is a reason that Jay is one of the top tutors in CA. Jay offers individualized study plans, all the way down to a personalized schedule. The schedule that Jay creates for you is manageable but holds you accountable. Jay is the perfect combination of support and tough love. His essay grading motivated me to be better each week,and allowed me to be competitive with myself, as I was always trying to beat last week's score. Jay's approach to PTs and the essays are so spot on. I don't think I could have passed without his help in learning how to write for the bar exam. Over the course of my time with Jay, he gave me so many PTs that I was confident with whatever the CA Bar was going to throw my way. When a fire alarm went off during the MBEs Jay was my first phone call and he talked me down from having a nervous breakdown and got me refocused for the next set of MBEs. I ended up having to take the exam in the bathtub because it was the only place in the hotel room where the sound of the fire alarm wasn't loud. I wanted to give up- but Jay told me to take a few minutes, collect myself, and do what I spent months learning how to do. Without Jay, I probably would have given up. Jay also offered a payment plan, which was wonderful. The first time I took the bar I talked myself out of a tutor because of the price. But In reality, it's (way) more expensive to take the CA Bar exam multiple times then it would be to invest your time with Jay, so he can get you to a place where you can pass Jay will give you everything that you need to pass- which includes the materials but most importantly, the confidence. . read more

Jagdish Jay Bijlani - Taking the MBEs in the bathtub! - Tutoring Centers Near Me

Jay is an amazing tutor and it is because of his help and guidance that I was finally able to pass the CA bar exam after multiple attempts. Jay's individualized study plan and thorough review of essays helped me with my essay writing skills immensely and helped me pass this beast of an exam. In my earlier attempts I wasn't able to spot all the issues but when Jay helped me understand how to read and attack each essay question, it made a whole lot of difference and I started spotting all the issues and analyzing better. I will highly recommend his tutoring if you are struggling with the writing portion. read more

Repeater with a gap here and Jay helped me pass, so he will help YOU pass! I wouldn't have passed the Feb 2021 CA bar exam (37% pass rate) without Jay's instruction, study materials, and emotional support. I had failed July 2019 with Barbri, so my 2nd attempt was a year and a half after my 1st try with no studying or refreshing in between. On top of that, this time I was studying while working full time! His approach to the exam is not anything like Barbri, Themis, etc., and Jay helps you approach the exam and substantive materials in a completely different way. He actually graded the CA bar exam before and knows what they're looking for! Jay is also available to you on exam days. I called him crying after one of the essays and he talked me down - so glad he did! I can't sing enough praises about Jay and I am so thankful for him. He is worth every single penny and besides, what's a couple thousand to get you esquired? GO WITH JAY! read more

I took the bar exam three times and finally passed after hiring Jay as my bar prep tutor. The first two times, I used Barbri and my school's services which were helpful but didn't give me effective exam taking strategy. Trust me, I put in the work: I did over 3000 MBE's, wrote over 40 essays, reviewed countless samples. My problem was translating my knowledge from my brain to the exam in the way Bar Graders want to see it and managing my time on the exam by outlining effectively and tackling each task with confidence. I knew the material but my test-taking skills were holding me back. After I failed the second time, Jay was recommended to me by my school and one of my colleagues who passed the exam the second time after utilizing Jay's services. Their recommendation was a blessing. Jay's study materials were invaluable! His strategies for the essays and PT were systematic, streamlined, and easy to replicate. Jay identified my weaknesses, helped rid me of bad exam habits, and gave me the tools I needed to be successful. He also encouraged me through the embarrassing amount of crying and imposter syndrome. When I wanted to give up, he wouldn't let me. I was very hesitant to make the financial investment in a tutor the first two times I took the exam but his services were worth every penny. Don't wait until your third time like I did. Good luck! read more

Jay was instrumental to my success in passing the California Bar Examination on the VERY FIRST attempt. As a recent law school graduate during a pandemic, I knew I wanted to be strategic in my bar prep program selection. Many of my fellow classmates chose big name, or "commercial," type bar prep programs such as Barbri or Themis, but I was always skeptical about these options. Jay offers many things that these big programs cannot offer. He offers personalized, individualized study plans that will have you feeling confident in your decision to choose Jay. More importantly, Jay's approach is one-of-a-kind and not even comparable to the other popular bar prep programs. Jay's experience as a CA Bar Examiner sets him apart and really gives you insight as to HOW TO PASS the bar exam, especially in regards to the written portions of the exam (which is well over 50% of the two-day exam of a lifetime). From my very first phone call with Jay, countless emails throughout bar prep, as well as my victory email I sent to Jay upon finding out I had passed the California Bar Exam, I felt incredibly supported. Jay's personable approach is something you will never get with Barbri or other more well-known options. In fact, many of my friends who used Babri, Kaplan, or Themis actually failed the October 2020 Bar Examination, while I passed on my very first time. I could not recommend Jay's program enough. His individual schedule makes it very clear what you should be doing every single day, which is instrumental in maintaining focus and passing the bar. Jay's approach to essays and PTs is unmatched and really leaves no room for error or missing an issue. Jay's approach provided me with so much CLARITY as to what I should do to pass, what I need to do to pass, what NOT to do, and how exactly the exam is graded. Do yourself a favor and reach out to Jay so you don't have to take this awful and stressful exam more than once! read more

Do yourself a favor, hire Jay. You will pass the bar if you put in the work and follow his instruction. There is no substitute for hard work on the bar exam. However, I took the bar twice: the first time with Themis, and the second time with Jay. I passed the second time. I firmly believe that hard work is not the issue for most bar takers--we all graduated from law school! The biggest obstacle most will face, in my opinion, is how to prepare: what to do, how to do it, and when. The big box prep courses will send you a $&@! ton of materials and make you feel like "Wow! Now that's money well spent! Look at all I'm getting!" The truth is, you don't need all of that crap. It's too much. You run the risk, as I did the first time, of getting lost in a sea of materials and getting overwhelmed. You undoubtedly will put forth the necessary effort no matter what prep course you take. That's not going to be your problem. If you want to ensure your efforts are going towards the skills you need to pass the bar--and pass the bar only--hire Jay. If you want to reinvent the wheel and organize unnecessary amounts of information that isn't properly distilled at all and spend your efforts that way instead of actually preparing for the exam, buy BarBri, Themis, or the like. Jay will give you exactly what you need and tell you to buy a few supplements, like adaptibar (which I also highly recommend), and he will brutalize your ego with invaluable feedback BEFORE the exam. You might hate Jay during this process and awake from nightmares crying and cursing his name. Fear not--those are all good signs. Jay is a compassionate, caring, straight shooter. He's direct because let's be frank, you don't have time to think or care about your feelings. Do you want to pass? Good. Then put your feelings aside and do exactly as Jay says. The bar is a high stress endeavor. Get used to it. This is boot camp. The funny thing is, by exam day, everything becomes fun. That's when you'll know you're ready--when it becomes a fun game of crushing the materials that used to haunt you; when you read the answer choices to the MBE and know the answers before reading the fact patterns you'll know what I'm talking about. Do yourself a favor, hire Jay. He's the supercar of bar prep. ...yes, that comes with a price. But it's high performance. The others aren't cheap either and you're only getting a Ford Focus without any focus. How much did you spend on law school? Oh yeah... that's right. read more

Jagdish Jay Bijlani - Exam Results - Tutoring Centers Near Me

I passed the July 2022 bar exam as a first timer with Jay's help. Jay is incredibly organized and really pushed me to do my best and empowered me to feel confident, which was something I struggled with throughout bar prep. Jay's experience as a former bar grader is invaluable and I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for one-on-one attention and wants to make sure they buckle down and focus so they put their best foot forward come exam days. read more

Jay came highly recommended to me from an attorney supervisor. He has helped several of the attorneys I work with pass the bar, including me. I had sustained a brain injury while studying for my second attempt at the Bar Exam. With Jay's personalized guidance, encouragement, and sometimes tough love I was able to pass the October bar exam in the middle of a pandemic! I can't speak enough praises for him. He adjusted to meet my physical health needs post brain injury. His methods work! read more

Jay really made a difference for me in passing the July 2019 bar exam. I needed a change of pace from Barbri and Jay provided exactly that, with individualized care and attention, especially for essays and the performance test. While it was difficult to appreciate the progress I made on a day-to-day basis, Jay was consistent in his encouragement and reflection, and I found his perspectives to be very helpful in overcoming the various doubts I had leading up to the exam. Listen, Jay's program is a lot of work and it sure as hell isn't always fun, but it's worth it. The strategies he relies on are extremely intuitive and if you buy into them, they'll pay off in the long run. There's certainly a trust element to this partnership, but Jay goes out of his way to make sure he earns that trust. If you're looking for another way to get past this obstacle of the CA bar, look no further than this program. read more

I cannot say enough about how crucial Jay was to my success in passing the July 2019 bar exam. I failed my first 2 previous attempts, and in settled the existential dread of "is a law degree as far as I can go?" Some classmates and mentors recommended I seek a tutor and how there is no shame because the California Bar is incredibly difficult, and if it is a goal, do not place a budget restriction on it. I am so glad I took the advice. Jay helped me on perhaps my biggest weakness in prepping for the bar which was maintaining a schedule. Jay provided me with a manageable schedule which was not as daunting as I anticipated. We went through it together, week by week, balancing essays, MBEs, and PTs. It felt as if Jay was with me every step of the way. It also helped me stay organized. Jay's knowledge and experience as a former bar grader will give you an outline that is--simply put--the BEST DAMN outline on the planet! Easy to carry, consume, and, cherish. It literally contains just the things you ought to know for the California bar, and gives room to add in case for rules on the MBEs. Speaking of MBEs, Jay will give you strategies for approaching and attacking MBE questions, which is far greater than just answering over a 1,000 of them and hoping similar questions will be on the exam. I chose Jay because as a tutor, he articulated his goal in helping me pass by demonstrating concern and patience, which is not what I can say about other tutors I consulted with. Jay was patient in that I had to un-learn the way I wrote passing essays in school, in order to write my essays for him, which took me a long time, but it paid off in the end. He'll grade critically, no beating around the bush with his comments, but they're necessary because it will help you learn what the graders are looking for. And week-by-week you will see growth in your writing ability; and if not, the practice does make perfect, and by the time you take the exam, Jay's comments are etched in your memory instructing what you should do. My review may have been wordy and jumped around, but the bottom line is this: Pay Jay! He was worth every penny! If you're juggling with the idea between a tutor or self-study, you must not want it bad enough. Those who want to pass will do what they can to pass, and having Jay as a tutor can give you that advantage. Passing the bar exam begins and ends with you, but Jay can train you to get to the promised land. Truth be told, even if I had not passed, I could take solace in the fact I was proud of the work I had done with Jay, and I would without hesitation use the strategies and materials for a fourth exam. Thank you, Jay! read more

The bottom line is Jay will help you pass the bar. After failing the bar the first time, it was evident my writing needed to improve. My average essay score was around a 55 and I was confused as to why I was receiving such low scores. Jay quickly helped me realize how I could increase my scores through his line-by-line feedback of practice essays I submitted. Within three weeks Jay went from giving me 50's and 55's to 70's and 75's. Make no mistake, Jay makes you earn those grades and does not hand out these scores loosey-goosey. Clearly, my writing improved significantly because I passed the bar after taking it in February 2019. Although my writing was the area that needed the most improvement, I noticed a positive change in my MBE scores too after applying Jay's methods. This did not come from more memorizing but rather tweaking how I approached a question. Jay's tips and tricks are invaluable and will help you pick up a extra points on the MBE just from changing how you attack a question. I am incredibly grateful for Jay because I know he played a huge role in helping me pass the bar. For anybody reading this who is unsure about whether to retain Jay, don't be. I was skeptical in December about paying a significant sum of money to a tutor I only had one phone conversation with. You cannot put a price on passing the bar and Jay knows what he is doing (just look at all his positive reviews). Jay is worth every penny and then some. Like a good coach, he will challenge you and make you better. His program requires a lot of time and dedication, but that is exactly what is needed to pass the bar. read more

If you want to PASS the California Bar Exam and learn the most organized and efficient approach to the exam, please sign up for tutoring from Jay! I passed this last online October 2020 Bar Exam after multiple attempts! Jay has extremely helpful and unique techniques to taking the MBE, the essays and especially the PT. I would not have passed without his unique approaches to each of these areas of the CA bar exam. I took the CA bar exam 2 times and finally decided to get help from Jay. Caveat: I did not pass right after having Jay's help due to my inability to balance work and studying well, but my score vastly improved by 60 points. Jay was very upfront about the issue working and studying would be for me in the long run but I was unable to stop working at that time--don't be me, listen to Jay! Jay will give you everything you need to pass, but if you don't put the time in, you may not succeed. My failure was due to working and not putting 100% into studying for the exam. HOWEVER, everything Jay taught me helped me pass this last October when I finally was able to study full time without a job! Take the time if you can, to study full time with Jay and his approaches to the PT and essays will ensure success! I recently took the first online October 2020 bar exam and his PT approach saved me and likely was a huge reason that I passed the CA Bar Exam. Jay teaches a very crucial mapping approach that I wish I had learned sooner! While I did not immediately pass after Jay helped me, Jay continued to allow me access to the materials showing how kind and giving he is! Jay truly cares and was there for me at my failure to make sure I picked myself up and tried again. Do not make the mistake of underestimating the CA Bar Exam. Don't give up, and certainly do yourself a favor and get Jay's help to master his approaches to the PT, essays, and MBE! Even if you don't pass the first time with Jay's help, I am living proof that his techniques will help you even if you have to try again on your own, just as I did! Jay's tutoring is worth the investment! read more

I retained Jay because of his stellar reviews on Yelp, but I didn't pass the Ca Bar using his services. What I liked: *I had around 4 Skype sessions with him, with the first three being helpful. He helped me understand what the bar graders wanted to see with the analysis part when it comes to the IRAC on the essays. What I didn't like: *He is very expensive and charged me $7,000. For what I got out of his service I don't think it was worth 7k. *He is very nice at first, but when he takes your money he's not so nice after. *I got very little help on the mbes *He promised he would help me navigate the PT's online format and he never followed through *some of the feedback on the essays were helpful and some were cookie cutter responses *he offers only (2) 30 minute phone calls. I didn't want to use these up because he seemed busy and I didn't want to be a bother *I had emergency surgery and had to go under anesthesia. He was clearly upset that he had to move his schedule around to accommodate me. So he books our Skype call for the day after my surgery when I told him that I would clearly be sedated. I thought that was a jerk move. *when results were released, he sent me a cookie cutter email asking about my bar results. When I told him I didn't pass he replied with a cookie cutter response saying that he was sorry and that he will give me a constructive assessment of what happened and how to make it happen on the next go. I sent him my essays and bar results and I've never heard from him since. Once he took my money and realized I failed he disappeared. You feel devastated that you spent months studying for difficult exam and spending $7k on someone who can't even tell you where you went wrong with the essays you got back from the bar. How am I supposed to know where I went wrong or how do I improve if you just disappear? Doesn't even give me access to his materials after results and changes his passwords to his materials. What is so upsetting is the pretext to emailing me asking how I did under the guise of concern and care; while really he is reaching out to get a positive Yelp review from those who passed. The reason why he has so many good reviews is because the people that pass write a review. The people that don't pass don't put a review. read more

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I passed the first time in July 2021. I highly recommend Jay for a bar tutor. He keeps you motivated and you get a great perspective from a former Bar grader's point of view which is tantamount to understanding the California Bar Exam. Yes, he is pricey, but you get what you pay for. I had a family emergency during bar exam time and Jay was very kind and patient during that time and helped me push through and not get behind in my studies. Do the right thing and call Jay. read more

I passed the statistically most difficult exam (26.8% passage rate) in California Bar history and it was all thanks to Jay. As a tutor, Jay provided me with the resources, structure, and encouragement. I was initially very worried about hiring a tutor but it turned out to be worth every single penny. Everything in his tutoring program was meticulously planned and graded. Jay provided me with an enormous amount of feedback on all the essays I sent him. The materials that were provided to me as part of the program distilled the law down incredibly well and also provided handy mnemonics for easier memorization. Jay was kind and understanding while still holding me accountable to put in the work as it was needed every day. He was an incredibly attentive tutor and even had time to talk to me in between testing sessions on the second day of my exam. I never felt like I was anything less than Jay's absolute first priority. I would recommend Jay to anyone and already have been recommending him to close friends that unfortunately weren't successful in passing the bar this time. If you have the opportunity to work with Jay you should absolutely take it. read more

Jay is an awesome tutor and mentor. After failing the July 2021 Bar Exam, I really was unsure how to proceed. When I was looking for tutors I came across Jay's services. Instantly he began helping me work on my mistakes, focusing on structure and technique, and kept me motivated for the February 2022 Bar Exam. When times got tough, he constantly was there to make sure I was on track with studying. With his help and teachings, I was able to pass the February 2022 Bar Exam and do not think I could have done it any other way. Jay really looks out for his students and wants to see them succeed. Although his schedule is strenuous, with Jay's help and passion for seeing his students succeed, it will be prepare you for the bar exam. Thank you Jay, I couldn't have done it without your help! read more

I PASSED! Jay is just amazing. Provides a clear and easy approach for essays, PT, and MBE's. I really appreciated the time he took to make me understand why I wasn't understanding things. Also the insight from a REAL BAR EXAM GRADER is unmatched. And on top of the A+ tutoring, he's just a really kind awesome guy who can cheer up anyone read more

I failed the October 2020 CA Bar Exam by a couple of MBE, lost my job offer, and only had 6 weeks to study for the February 2021 CA Bar Exam. I was distraught and didn't know what to do. I was fortunate enough to have Jay recommended to me by a mentor of mine who also had to take the CA Bar Exam a second time. Like me, she also believed that the commercial bar prep courses did not work for everybody and that getting a tutor who can personalize a study program that works best for you would be my best bet. I'm grateful that I took her advice because Jay made a 6-week study schedule that took into account my strengths and weaknesses. Jay will teach you everything you need to know to get a deeper understanding of what the CA Bar Examiners are looking for, how to bring the best out in your writing, and he even adjusted his approach to the course to accommodate the online format. His techniques and methods were the biggest reasons why I passed because they were simple, effective, and unforgettable. If you're thinking about getting a private tutor, think no more, Jay is the best person for the job. - Farouq "Vince" Ghazzawi, Esq. (THANKS TO JAY I CAN USE THIS TITLE NOW!) read more

I PASSED THE FEB. 2015 BAR EXAM!!!! I know I owe passing the exam to myself because I technically sat for it, but I could not have done this without Jay! I never even met him in person, we did it all via Skype, but Jay was with me the whole way through the studying and exam!! Yay, WE did it!!! I was officially sworn in a week after results and immediately hired as an Associate at the firm I've been at as a paralegal. Thank you Jay for being there and making my dream turn to reality!! I did his full program and it was $$ well spent!! read more

Jagdish Jay Bijlani - Swearing in ceremony in beautiful Dry Creek, Sonoma County, CA. - Tutoring Centers Near Me

I cannot thank Jay enough for my success in passing the July 2019 bar exam on the second attempt. First time I scored 1253 (passing score is at least 1440), I lacked 187 points!!! It was a huge gap! I took Kaplan course for February 2019, their outlines were too big to learn (too much excessive information you don't even need to know), lectures were useless, and I learned no techniques on how to write proper essays the graders actually like. First of all, Jay has the dream outline for all subjects! Short but containing all important law you need to know for the exam. It helped me tremendously to easily memorize law, so I could remember it when doing MBEs and essays. With Kaplan outlines I could not memorize the law. His outline is priceless, believe me! Secondly, Jay taught me how to do a proper analysis in essays and overall how to nail those essays with PTs. He helped greatly to approach MBEs. When I was practicing first time before my first bar exam, I only had 45% correct answers for all subjects. Before going to my second exam this July, I had 73% correct answers for MBE. In less than 2 months I made a huge progress and felt confident going to exam (it was of course still stressful). My friend who passed on the second attempt with Jay's help recommended him. It was the best decision of my life. Please do yourself a favor and go to him. Jay is the best tutor and a great supportive person. read more

Jay is the best! I came to Jay after failing the California Bar Exam and he quickly identified where I was going wrong and set me up with a scheduled plan of attack to fix my bad habits and get me in the groove. I took a bar prep course for my previous attempt but it never got me past the big picture and consistently into the nitty-gritty of the rules you'll see on the exam. With Jay, I worked to change my approach in several areas of the exam and I am happy to report that I have now passed both a UBE exam and the California Bar Exam with Jay's guidance. So - what do you get with Jay? First and foremost, you get a massive cheerleader in your corner. In the dark days of bar studying, having someone who wholeheartedly believes in you (other than mom) is invaluable. You also get all the materials/rules you'll need to pass the exam in a nice concise book that is designed to be easy to memorize. Its sweet - I literally slept with mine and It has become a pleasant daily reminder of all the hard work I did to get to this point. You also get tons of personal attention to work through particularly problematic essays or solidify your understanding of a legal concept. He will set you up with an intuitive plan of attack for each section of the exam. Once you commit to his strategies and practice, you'll start to notice steady improvement in all facets of the test. Most importantly, you get the best feedback in the business. You know that situation that arises when you're self-grading your essays in the barbri book and you get 90% of the rule but not everything but hey, you give yourself the point anyway. Well that no longer works my friend... Jay's feedback when grading essays can be brutal, especially in the beginning, but you know who else grades essays in a brutal way? Bar graders. Those people won't give you that point! Jay goes through your essays with a fine-tooth comb and it was not uncommon for an essay of mine to come back with comments on every sentence. Even toward the end when I started really getting into the groove. It's amazing and it all matters. He ruthlessly identifies the problems in your writing, shows you exactly where you stand in relation to what the graders want, shows you how to fix the problems and then offers encouragement on the next step - and that's in every single comment! It is detailed and effective. By the end of Jay's program I was writing beautiful, concise, and ruthlessly efficient essays. Each essay had become a fun little game to see how much I could put down. Most importantly, When I opened the laptop on the morning of the exam, I knew I was prepared for anything the test could throw at me. Jay's program gave me a ton of confidence in my abilities and that confidence translated to a great result on the big day. Jay will push you but it is totally worth it when you sit down on exam day. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to pass the bar exam. 11/10 read more

Jay was the main reason I finally passed the CA bar exam. It should also be noted that not only did he help me pass, but he helped me pass the hardest administration of the exam that only had a 26.8% passage rate. Being a 5-time repeater, I have tried many tutors and bar prep courses including, but not limited to Barbri, Personal Bar Prep, Test Max Prep, another previous bar grader tutor, and every study aid offered by the numerous snake oil salesmen promising to take me to the promise land. In my experience and humble opinion, none of them even come close to Jay's tutoring program. Jay is extremely knowledgeable about the steps necessary to pass the exam, and knows exactly how to teach you so the information sticks. He has a unique approach on how to properly dissect complex fact patterns, and write essays & PTs exactly the way that bar graders want to see them. His experience as a previous bar grade is invaluable. His materials cut out all the fluff and focus on how to properly word the rules on your essays in order to maximize points. Going into the exam I had a road map on how to approach each essay, and discuss the rules & issues in the proper order to match the grading rubrics utilized by the bar graders. His PT approach shows you exactly how to solve the entire puzzle, and makes a seemingly daunting task very easy to manage. As a tutor, he is empathetic and compassionate, but he will kick you in your ass when you need it. His positive energy is contagious, and he knows how to adapt to your individual learning style. At first, I was hesitant to sign up for his course considering my past disappointments with tutors/courses, so I missed out the last time, because his spots fill up quickly, and for good reason. I know if I had hired him on the previous administration I would have passed sooner. If you are in a similar situation as me, if Jay has a spot open, do not stop for red lights. Borrow money, use a credit card, start a go fund me campaign, do whatever it takes and hire him immediately. He is worth every penny! If I had hired Jay the first time that I sat for the bar exam, I would have saved thousands of dollars, prevented lost earnings from years of not being a licensed attorney, and not to mention all the precious time lost from having to study and retake the exam numerous times. He is hands down the best bar exam tutor out there. He helped me finally accomplish my goal, and essentially changed my life. If you value yourself and want to be able to spend more time doing things that you enjoy, such as spending time with family and friends again, do yourself a favor and hire Jay. read more

You can't "game" the CA Bar Exam, i.e., no video lessons, charts, or an excel tracking system for MBE questions will guarantee your passage of the bar. Passing the CA bar requires a fundamental understanding of law that can be demonstrated through a person's technical skills in legal writing and analyses. Jay taught me how to develop those skills into strengths, which I confidently took with me into the bar exam and continue to show in my professional work. First, I was a repeat bar taker. I graduated with honors but was unsuccessful on CA bar my first attempts. I had completed Barbri, worked with my law school's bar tutoring services (1-on-1), and also worked with a tutor (not Jay). I'd done the 9am-7pm study schedule, kept up with daily work-outs (physical & mental health), watched every damn video, outlined essays, used Adaptibar, Critical Pass, and simulated exams. I had *literally* done everything that was requested of me and was still unable to pass - very close to but not quite there. If you can relate, you understand the supreme disappointment and heartbreak, as well as the guilt of letting your family and friends down. At one point, there was just no hope in passing. Then, a couple of my friends, also repeat bar takers, (separately) introduced me to Jay and his tutoring services. I'd asked them what they had done differently to pass and both had worked him. His services are expensive but he is a past CA bar grader who helped them (separately) identify their strengths and weaknesses from the personal perspective of the bar grader. So obviously, I contacted Jay. He requested I send him my past bar scores, fill out a brief questionnaire, and then we arranged an initial consultation. Initial Consultation: In our conversation, Jay reasonably explained what my essay scores meant, i.e., how close or far I was from identifying main issues and possible analytical problems, and where I stood on the passing scale for MBEs. We discussed what past study methods I had used and the areas I felt I needed improvement. We also talked about the time dedication I was willing to invest if we decided to work together. At the time, I had just started a new contract job (planning an SF tech event) which required a near full time schedule during the holiday season. Jay was candid about the demands of his program and voiced his concern that he didn't think it would be possible for me to balance work and study. While there is room for a person to work part-time while engaging in his program, his program is designed as an all encompassing (full-time) schedule. Truthfully, I was thrown by his statement. Here I was willing to pay him for his services and there he was telling me he wouldn't take my money because his program wouldn't benefit me if I weren't able to approach it full on. To me, this demonstrated Jay's sincere interest and commitment in helping me (and his students) pass the bar. Ultimately, I quit the contract job because it didn't make sense for me to work in order to pay for Jay's tutoring, which I wouldn't be able to fully use if I were working that job. I understand this is a privilege not many people can afford, but if you have family and friends willing to help you, take it. Jay is worth it. Also, after starting the program, I realized there was NO way I could have handled that gig and have the mental capacity to complete the program assignments. The Program: Jay's tutoring program is intense but straightforward and simple. There was no gimmick, no "gaming" approach, or convoluted teaching. Jay's schedule is regimented, covering all subjects and divides the work between essays, MBEs, and performance tests. His materials consist of past bar exam questions, answers, and strategies for approaching questions and self-review. You're given a daily study schedule, dependent on your length of study, with a permitted personal few days off (for holidays, etc.). Though, he expects you to complete the tasks accordingly. Then, you have the option to meet him in person or via video chat. During the 1-hour meeting sessions, we discussed essay and PT writing approaches, we went over the essays he graded for me, and any other challenges I was facing be it trouble getting through all the essays, stagnant MBE scores, or for me the personal throws of first-trimester pregnancy. Jay is highly professional and he keeps it real. Unlike my previous engagements with past bar tutoring professionals, Jay did not superficially cheer me on, coddle me, or bullshit me. His program is legit and is to be taken seriously. After all, passing the CA bar exam requires that you give it all you got. From Jay's program, I transitioned from frantic law student desperate to pass the bar to thinking, writing, and arguing like a lawyer. Thank you, Jay! read more

Jay is a fantastic tutor and a wonderful mentor. It goes without saying that I could not have passed the bar without him. I took his extensive program and I must say it was well worth the money. Now that I can see this experience in retrospect, I must say that there are four primary reasons why this is the way to go if you are someone who needs a hands on approach to learning. First, his material is concise, meticulously organized and constantly updated. I used Jay's outline as my North Star and added everything extra I learnt along the way to it. This strategy helped me keep all the information organized and in one place (something that Jay absolutely stresses on). The second way Jay helped me was by making an intense and detailed program. Jay's schedule helped me stay on track. I was working while studying for the bar and it was only because of the schedule he created for me that I started early and prepared consistently. Third, Jay is a wonderful and upbeat mentor to have. He is a source of a tremendous amount of positive energy. This might sound like a small thing, but do not underestimate how much a great cheerleader can do for you! Lastly, and most significantly I am a better writer and a better attorney because of Jay. I took Jay's advice very seriously (well mostly because I would fail if I didn't), and I am truly reaping the rewards of his guidance. He is not just a student who learnt the ropes but is a professor who will train you to pass the bar AND challenge you to become a better writer. I am absolutely convinced that I could not have done this without him. I know my review is long but this is the last thing I will say - Jay is not your babysitter or your mom. He will not pass the bar FOR you. You have to do all the work and you have to follow his advice. If you are willing to do that, in the words of Jay, you will surpass this "speedbump." All the best! read more

I 100% recommend Jay as a bar tutor. If I could give more stars, I would. I was a first time bar exam student, and I knew I would need a personal and tailored study approach, rather than the generic bar prep course. Jay tailors the study schedule to the student individually, gives you scheduled rest days, and he KNOWS what he is doing. What I liked the most of his approach was the fact that he didn't expect me to have everything memorized from the very beginning. Rather, he wanted me to UNDERSTAND the material, know how it all worked together, the best way to understand it in layman terms, and practice practice practice. His hands-on approach helps with passive memorization while you actually LEARN what you're studying. He is also incredibly supportive and nice. I have worked with other tutors throughout law school, and many of them were mean or would act as if I weren't smart, which always bugged me--after all, I was learning.. why wouldn't I ask questions? Jay, on the other hand, is so patient, knowledgeable, and he cares about his students. In summary, he is the best bar tutor money can buy! read more

Jay's program is hands down everything I didn't know I needed to pass the California Bar! I took the exam several times before retaining Jay. It was worth every penny, the only regret I have is that I didnt know about him sooner. I used every other prep course you can think of and it wasnt until I used Jay's strategies, materials, and guidance that everything made sense. Had I known all the necessary strategies that Jay was able to (through his amazing program) convey, i am confident I would have passed this exam sooner. He will keep you on your toes with clear and strict deadlines that serve to push you to your limits in a way that no other prep course can. He spends a significant amount of time and care grading your exams and clearly communicates to you where you went wrong and what changes you need to make to improve. His amazing check-lists will ensure that you never miss another issue again. I will recommend him a million times over! read more

This review is long overdue, but I'm writing it because I truly believe that if it wasn't for Jay I would not have passed the California Bar. Before joining with Jay I had done one of the "big box" bar preps which truly lacked the personal touch that you get with Jay, and I did not pass the exam as a result. Then I hired Jay. The individualized program, which for me focused primarily on the written portions of the exam, gave me structure which I needed to succeed. Aside from the excellent resources provided, which included outlines which were clear and straight to the point (no unneeded fluff), Jay was easy to get ahold of, was motivational, and truly wanted me to succeed. As a former bar examiner, Jay knows what the essays should look like and what you need to do to get passing marks across the board. Aside from practical knowledge, Jay is incredibly insightful and will work to focus you on the areas which need improvement. These areas for improvement may be MBEs, a particular type of essay, the PT, or even self-confidence. He will help with all areas. That being said he does expect you to do the work and expects you to reach out if you are feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, or stuck, but (if you follow his program) I am confident you will succeed. Thank you Jay. - A truly grateful California Lawyer read more

I am a foreign lawyer and would not have passed the bar examination without Jay's help. The reasons are: (1) Jay provides the program materials in one booklet. The substantive laws that you need to know is in one booklet. Unlike using the commercial preparation course, you do not need to spend your time watching videos, reading a topic, and making your own notes. This is very important for a foreign lawyer because no other place on earth will test you 12 subjects in one day (the 5 essays). You have a lot of laws to learn within a limited time (for me, probably half is new). I used Themis in my first try and a friend gave me Babri's notes. I will not recommend using commercial course because they overwhelm you with too much information and some notes and lecturer's style make the law more complicated than it is. This is crucial because you only have 6 to 8 weeks to prepare for the examination, you have very little time to waste on things that will not help you pass. I find Jay's notes succinct and more than sufficient to cover the basics of the tested subjects and you can pick up the nuisance of the laws as you practice your essays and MBEs. This examination is not about testing your knowledge on the substantive laws, you only need the black letter law. (2) The bulk of the time was actually spend on learning and practising Jay's essay/PT/MBE strategies. For essay preparation, this means writing a lot of essays (an average of 8 essays for each topic and Jay will grade two each). A big chunk of my time was spent on writing essays so that I can slot all/most of the issues. This is the single reason I improve my essay scores. My writing style did not change, I did not learn more law with Jay. Without spotting all or most of the issues, you won't be able to get a passing score. I did not know this until I learn from Jay. It is not about how much laws you know. Jay is a former grader for the CA bar examination, his detailed feedback on the submitted essays is invaluable. He stated clearly what was missing in each essay. If you read his comments carefully and implement the suggestions he gave you, you will know how to write a passing score. (3) PTs The commercial prep course allocates inadequate time on PT practices. It is easy to overlook PT. However, if you look at the grading guidance, 100 points is allowed to each of the 5 essays, and 200 points is allocated to the PT. If you can write a decent PT, it will certainly help you pass. Jay incorporates PT preparation early on in the course and I wrote around 6 PTs with Jay. I never wrote any PT before so I need to learn how to do it. There are strategies and techniques that you can learn from Jay and it will improve your score. (4) MBEs Jay will teach you the strategy to do well in MBEs but he will not go through the MBE with you in detail. I am fine with this approach because I can use Adaptibar and other preparation course. Jay's substantive law is enough to cover the MBEs. Similar to the essay approach, I spent the majority of my time on practising the MBEs, making notes on the mistakes, and learn from the mistakes. (5) Jay Jay is professional and a highly efficient tutor, he spends time on teaching his strategies, and making sure I understand and applying the strategies in the essays/MBEs/PTs. I also need to thank Jay for taking me as a student, there are some tutors that refuse to work with me simply because I am a foreign-educated lawyer. Jay will not reject you outright because you didn't study law here. Jay will make sure you have the right attitude, that is you want to work hard to pass the examination. The reasons I passed is using Jay's notes and his examination strategies. I study much less but practice a lot more under Jay's approach. If you fail, don't be despair, you are looking at the right place. This examination is a beast. You may have noticed that many US law graduates are having a hard time passing this examination. Living in a new country is challenging enough, and sitting for the bar examination, in particular the California bar examination adds another layer of challenge, but remember you are not alone. If you want to pass the examination, look no further, give Jay a call! read more

Jay was right. Trust his process. Just trust it. I wish more law school classes were taught the way Jay taught me how to take the bar exam. He provides all the rule statements you need as concise statements that highlight the trigger words and a strategy for each portion of the exam. He really teaches you how to take the test. I am so grateful that I decided to go with Jay. I don't think anyone's bar experience is fun, but working with Jay cut down on my anxiety because I felt more confident in my approach to each portion. I really appreciated Jay's logical and custom approach -- he provides detailed feedback on the essays and, at the end of my study period, he customized my final stretch study plan so I could really focus on the trouble issues. I spoke to some friends who took the popular bar prep courses and it sounded like Jay had me doing a lot more actual practice. So much so, in fact, that when I actually took the test, the essays felt more like automatic responses to the prompts. The words just came to me and I didn't have to worry about the timing constraints. Thank you, Jay!!! read more

Jay is great! I used Themis my first time for the bar and it did not help me in the slightest. I read reviews for tutors and came across jay. It was the best decision. The structure of his program allows him to help people on their individual problems. Additionally, if you sign up for the most comprehensive, you have access to his rule booklet and that thing was a life saver! The breakdown of the rules allowed me to not just pass the bar but understand the rules. Jay takes the time to actually make sure his students pass the bar. Great choice for a tutor if your goal is to actually pass the bar read more

Jay, was instrumental in helping me pass the bar exam on my second try. Jay's guidance and materials were excellently prepared, and provided me with ability to know exactly what was expected of me for the bar exam. As someone who went to law school out of state, I thought Barbri was enough to prepare me for the bar exam, but it was not. If I could have gone back and skipped Barbri altogether and just relied on Jay I would have. The law I learned while studying with Jay has stuck with me, and I cannot tell you much of what I learned from the Barbri course I took. The key takeaway I learned from Jay was that it does not matter how much time you put in, but rather the quality of the time. Jay's quality guidance and materials allowed me to be as effective as possible. The guidance, materials, essay grading, and personalized time Jay gives made more of a difference than I could have anticipated. read more

I am so glad I borrowed the money I needed to hire Jay. The best decision I have ever made. Here is why: 1) he helped me understand what I did wrong on my first failed attempts at the bar. 2) I used 2 other programs that failed to show me what Jay did: what it is a bar grader wants to see! Sounds simple but it was difficult to find in other programs. 3) the tools Jay provides are the best blue prints / maps to memorize to help you execute the exam 4) he is NOT an easy grader. Unlike other bar pep programs. Which you need in order to improve! 5) you get very detailed feedback on your essays and PTs. You will know your strengths and weaknesses. No guessing! 6) he was an actual bar grader. 7) he is an amazing and personable human being! Which you will need on the bad days when you doubt yourself and on the good days when you want to celebrate. I know times are tough. But Jay is so worth it! You will spend just as much by retaking the bar. Do it right the first time! read more

Jay was an amazing tutor and I highly recommend his services because I would not have passed the Bar exam without him. Jay helped me master the fundamental lawyering skills needed to conquer the exam in several ways. First, he took the time to clearly and comprehensively explain what those fundamental skills entailed for exam purposes. Next, he helped me diagnose my strengths and tackle my weaknesses in relation to those skills -- using a combination of a personalized study plan, one-on-one learning exercises, morale-boosting pep-talks, and by giving me extremely detailed feedback along the way. In fact, as a former bar grader, he had a great depth of insight as to how each of my essays would likely have been scored on the exam and why. I found all of these approaches to be extremely integral to my success on the Bar. In addition to helping me improve upon these skills, he also helped me tackle the substantive information I needed to know for the exam. After taking Barbri, I was left feeling overwhelmed and completely inundated with information. It was difficult to parse what needed to be memorized from what needed to be known and understood generally. Jay provided me with a very comprehensive, condensed, no-frills outline of substantive law that made the information so much easier to process and memorize. He also provided issue checklists to memorize for each subject. All of these substantive materials helped ensure that I didn't leave points on the table when it came time to organizing and analyzing the issues on the exam. All in all, Jay was extremely professional, personable, and reliable. I cannot say enough good things about him and his tutoring program. If you have the opportunity to work with Jay, take it! I feel very lucky to have had him as my tutor (and as a repeat taker, I just wish I had hired him sooner)! read more

After failing the CA Bar the first time, I new I had to try something different. I asked around about tutors and contacted several before settling on Jay. While his services are not cheap, he offers more in teaching, individualized attention, and learning resources than the other tutors I looked at with comparable pricing. I'm happy to report that with his help, I was able to pass the Feb 2020 exam. Jay ensures that you develop the tools and skills you need to conquer the Bar. He expects a lot of you but all your efforts will be targeted and purposeful. Jay can be tough, but he will also be your biggest cheerleader. I highly recommend him! read more

I am not one for writing reviews but I would be doing a disservice to anyone looking for a bar tutor if I do not post this review and Jay deserves the recognition. I hope not to offend Jay but I want to write a review that is honest and thoughtful. Jay is the Best Darn Tutor.... PERIOD. He is worth every penny! Don't listen to Jay when he tells you he is flexible because he sticks to his learning plan for you like glue. You must turn in your assignments on time!!!HOWEVER, I was a challenging student because I worked full time with not as much time dedicated to studying as the bar necessitates and also unmotivated to put a lot of effort because I already had another bar license and quite frankly did not need to pass to continue my current career path. This is a testament to JAY's ability to get a bar passing product out of someone who was not as engaged. He literally had to get me to the point that I wanted to do well. and I PASSED! I was very surprised to have passed the bar because I felt that I did not have enough time for the exam. I called Jay just after the morning session and I was in tears and he motivated me to keep going. I believe though that where I did not have time to put fully complete answers, the questions I did answer fully had to be the reason I passed and Jay taught me how to write great answers. His study guide is gold! His review of the essays are on point. All I can say is that if you are reading this, HIRE HIM!!! read more

I passed February California Exam 2019! It is all thanks to Jay. His method is really good and will keep you on schedule. He has a lot of insights, will walk you though problems. I had to improve both in essays and MBEs, and he prepared me for both. His materials are on point (and the best thing that happened to me since I was lost in voluminous books of Kaplan), his schedule is focused on practice practice practice. I honestly could not ask for a better bar prep experience (even though the bar prep in not a great experience at all). I already recommended him to all my non-passing friends. He will really prepare you to succeed. read more

After failing the bar exam, I decided to hire a tutor to understand where I went wrong. Jay's methods and techniques helped me pass the bar. Throughout the entire time, he was there to solve every doubt and kept pushing me to work harder. Further, his outlines were truly all I needed to know for the bar exam. I did not have to go through heaps of outlines and long notes that other bar prep companies like Barbri, kaplan or Themis etc offer.. He keeps you on a tight schedule that makes you work harder. I highly recommend Jay as a tutor. read more