NBI Launches New Affiliate Scholarship and Bar Passage Success Programs

Prior to the close of 2022, the NBI launched a new scholarship program designed for greater outreach to the National Bar Association’s (NBA) Regions and Affiliate bar associations.  All NBA Affiliates were solicited to nominate a second-year law student to their Regional Director for consideration to receive a scholarship and admission to the NBI Bar Passage Success Program.  Each Region had the opportunity to review the nominations submitted by participating Affiliates and select two students.  For the inaugural run of the program, Regions 7, 9 and 10 participated and sent their selections to the NBI.

The NBI designed the program so that 24 students from the Regions would be able to participate in two bar preparation courses occurring during the summer and mid-winter.  Twelve (12) of the 24 nominated students will also receive a $5,000 scholarship.  In addition to the Regional selections, seven (7) select law schools were invited to nominate a student to participate in the NBI Bar Passage Success Program.  The NBI is funding the program and has contracted with JD Advising (www.jdadvising.com) to administer the NBI Bar Passage Success Program. JD Advising is well-known for its bar prep course and one-on-one tutoring.  Key features of the programs are as follows:

Phase 1 (conducted virtually June 24-25, 2023)

1. Overview of the bar exam
2. Preparation for the bar exam (including classes to take)
3. Law school essays vs. bar exam essays
4. How to approach bar exam essays
5. Highly tested areas of law on the bar exam
6. An introduction to the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) and Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
7. Office Hours for individual student inquiries and assistance

Phase 2 (scheduled for January 28, February 4, and February 11, 2024)

1. Day 1 – Bar Exam Overview, Essay Advice and MPT (Part 1) including lectures by JD Advising on how to take the Bar exam, general ground rules, review of sample essay question and model answer.
2. Day 2 – Essay review and practice questions with model answers and MPT (Part 2).  Take home essay questions and review/feedback by JD Advising.
3. Day 3 – MBE strategy, practice, and review.

By participating in the NBI Bar Passage Success Program, students will benefit from learning study techniques which will enhance their potential for success in passing the bar.