"What is the Baby Bar Exam?"
It’s one of the most commonly asked questions by prospective students of CalSouthern’s online law degree program. And it’s understandable—the California First Year Law School Examination (better—and more informally—known as the “Baby Bar”) isn’t well known outside of the online learning community.
The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California requires all students earning law degrees online to take the California Baby Bar Exam. The exam is administered following the first year of study (the Baby Bar can be taken in June or October) to all law students of distance learning programs.
While students might perceive the Baby Bar as a something of a headache, we think it’s an excellent assessment and preparatory tool for law students. In taking the California Baby Bar, you’ll have the opportunity to evaluate your progress, strengths, and weaknesses before entering the second year of law school study online. Similarly, the Baby Bar Exam gives you unique insight into what the California Bar Exam will be like post-graduation—and what sort of preparation and study are required. It can be a real advantage.
The California Baby Bar Exam is mandated to ensure the online law degree program fits individuals’ goals and skills. In preparing for the Baby Bar, you’ll become well-versed in the specific areas of law covered by the test (torts, contracts, and criminal law), as well the nature of formal legal testing. The Baby Bar Exam is a foreshadowing of the full bar exam that you’ll take once your coursework is completed in your online law degree program.
The faculty of CalSouthern’s School of Law is committed to helping our students prepare for, take, and pass the California Baby Bar Exam. In fact, each spring the Law School conducts a series of Baby Bar review classes and practice exams to make sure that each CalSouthern student is prepared and equipped with all the necessary tools to pass the Baby Bar. We understand that formal testing can be daunting for even the most skilled and prepared students, and we will work with you to ensure the Baby Bar Examination is a helpful—and conquerable—aspect of your pursuit of a law degree online.