The city of Dallas, Texas is the heart of the largest metropolitan area in the state. Combined with neighboring Fort Worth and the surrounding cities, there are over 7.5 million residents living and working in the area. With so many people living in the area, it’s no surprise there is a large demand for legal services. Thousands of lawyers actively practice in the Dallas area, receiving an average base salary of $111,000. In 2017, Dallas was the largest growing city in the US with approximately 300,000 residents moving to the area during this period. While the cost of living in Dallas is higher than in many places around the country, it is still more affordable than most large cities on the east or west coast.
In order to practice law in the state of Texas, attorneys must first pass the bar exam administered by the Texas Board of Law Examiners. Beginning in February 2021, Texas will fully adopt the Universal Bar Exam (UBE) Format. In order to qualify to sit for the bar exam in Texas, applicants first need to receive a JD or equivalent degree from an accredited American law school and have received a satisfactory score on the Multistate Professional Readiness Exam (MPRE). The Texas Bar Exam is administered twice per year.
The legal profession in the city of Dallas has a rich history. Texas’s unique location as the gateway between the USA and Mexico makes it the epicenter for many landmark immigration and border law cases. There are several top-notch law schools in the area and several companies that claim to help hopefuls improve their chances of passing the Texas Bar Exam. Today, we’re going to take a look at all the bar exam prep options that area law students and recent graduates have available in Dallas and the surrounding area.
Online vs In-Person Bar Prep
Less than 20 years ago, the conventional wisdom was that every law student prepping for the bar exam absolutely needed to sign up for an in-person preparatory course in order to pass the bar exam. This makes sense; after all, the bar exam is the most important test of your life. Failing to pass on your first attempt can lead to devastating consequences and needless delays in getting your legal career underway. Despite these high stakes, over 40% of the students who take the bar exam nationally miss the mark.
Thankfully for students with busy schedules, an in-person class is no longer required for maximizing your chances for success on the bar exam. Thanks to improvements in technology and increased availability of remote bar exam instruction, students can now receive top-notch, personalized bar exam tutoring without leaving their homes. While some students still prefer receiving instruction face-to-face, the flexible scheduling and reduced costs of online prep courses are responsible for their rapid growth.
Online Bar Prep Courses In-Person Bar Prep Courses
| Pros: | Pros: |
| Large savings compared to in-person prep classes | Face-to-face instruction |
| Flexible Schedule | Access to classroom materials |
| Personalized instruction | Regularly scheduled classes |
| Materials and practice tests are available 24/7 |
The Best Bar Exam Tutors in Dallas
1. BarMax Tutors
In order to become a BarMax tutor, not only must an instructor have passed their own bar exam, but they must also have provided several years of excellent instruction to others wishing to pass their exams. Using a simple online interface, students connect to their personal tutor via video or audio call. Once assigned a personal tutor, students will be evaluated in order to focus on the most effective areas to maximize their potential. BarMax offers packages between 2 and 30 hours depending on the level of need. Per hour discounts are available when purchasing larger packages. Financing is also offered through Affirm.
Cost: Starting at $133/hour depending on the package
Location: Online only (video or phone conference)
Financing: Yes (via Affirm)
Qualifications: All BarMax tutors have passed the bar exam and have years of experience tutoring
2. Varsity Tutors
If you are planning to take the bar exam soon, Varsity Tutors may be able to help you. With hundreds of individual tutors standing by ready to help connect and assist you with your studying. Varsity Tutors does not provide a standardized bar exam prep course; instead, the website acts as somewhat of a social network for tutors. When looking for someone to help you prepare you will be able to browse profiles and see past reviews. Rates and availability change based on the tutor you choose.
Cost: Depending on tutor
Location: Live or online
Financing: No
Qualifications: Varsity Tutors has a certification program – tutors who pass are given a blue checkmark next to their name.
3. Sherry L. Huckabee
Located in nearby Carrollton, Texas, Attorney Sherry L. Huckabee has helped over 100 local students pass the Texas Bar Exam. Specializing in helping students with ADHD tendencies and those suffering from test anxiety, Ms. Huckabee offers her full prep course only to students who have already failed to pass the bar exam on one or more occasions. In addition to this course, she also offers hourly tutoring and essay analysis for first-time exam takers.
Cost: $100/hour
Location: Carrollton, Texas
Financing: No
Qualifications: Licensed attorney and experienced tutor with 100+ bar exam success stories
4. BARBRI
Operating in all 50 states, BARBRI offers a 1:1 tutoring program to students who are already entered in their bar review programs. This tutoring is offered 1:1 and in-person only. While the instructors are excellent, this is also one of the most expensive tutoring options in the Dallas area, especially because this tutoring service is only offered to students already enrolled in one of BARBRI’s bar prep packages. Financing is available.
Cost: $350/hour
Location: In person at any BARBRI location
Financing: Available upon approval
Qualifications: BARBRI hires only the most qualified tutors
5. Wyzant
One of the most affordable online marketplaces for tutors, Wyzant allows students who are preparing for the bar exam to connect with one of the thousands of self-employed tutors on their site. While this means that the qualifications of each individual tutor are not standardized, it also means that students willing to shop around and research potential tutors may get a good deal.
Cost: Set by individual tutors
Location: Online only
Financing: No
Qualifications: Check individual tutor profiles