If you’re mapping out your bar prep journey, there are two questions that are probably top of mind. How long is the BARBRI Bar Review course, and what will I actually do during it?
When it comes to BARBRI bar prep, everything is designed around one goal: helping you pass the bar exam as efficiently and effectively as possible. That means:
- Focusing your attention on the material you are most likely to see on your bar exam
- Adjusting your schedule based on your strengths and weaknesses as you progress
- Delivering content in the best way to maximize learning and retention
How long is the BARBRI Bar Review course?
The default BARBRI study schedule typically spans approximately 8–10 weeks of full-time study, which aligns with most students’ bar prep timelines. During this period, students typically treat bar preparation like a full-time job, studying around 40–50 hours per week. That translates to approximately 400 hours of focused study over the course of bar prep, distributed across lectures, practice, and review.
However, what has evolved—and what matters more for today’s students—is course access and flexibility. For both BARBRI Premium and Elite Bar Review, access begins 4 months before the exam (in mid-October for the February exam, and mid-March for the July exam).
Extended access allows you to:
- Start earlier if you want a lighter daily workload
- Build foundational knowledge gradually
- Adjust your pace based on your schedule, work commitments, or learning style
While most students complete the program in 8–10 weeks, you can begin much earlier depending on your course option and study preferences. If you start earlier with extended access, you can spread your study hours out to create a more manageable and less intensive schedule.
NextGen vs. Legacy UBE: Why Course Length + Study Time Can Differ
Today’s bar takers now have access to the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which launched in select jurisdictions starting with the July 2026 exam administration. The NextGen UBE represents a shift in how practice-readiness is assessed by integrating legal knowledge with practical lawyering skills.
Because the NextGen exam tests fewer memorization-heavy topics and places greater emphasis on applied skills, the BARBRI NextGen Bar Review course was built to be more skills-based and less time-intensive in raw memorization hours—to help you prepare specifically for NextGen bar exam success.
Key Exam Differences That Impact Study Time
1. Shorter exam duration
- Legacy UBE: ~12 hours over 2 days
- NextGen UBE: ~9 hours over 1.5 days (Jurisdictions may also choose to administer a local component in the afternoon of the second day.)
2. Fewer heavily memorized subjects
- Legacy UBE: Broad coverage (including many essay-only subjects)
- NextGen UBE: Focuses on fewer foundational doctrinal areas, with some subjects no longer requiring memorization in the same way
3. Greater emphasis on skills
- Legacy UBE: Separate multiple-choice, essays, and performance tests
- NextGen UBE: Integrated tasks that combine legal knowledge with real-world lawyering skills (e.g., analysis, writing, client-focused problem-solving)
Although slightly more streamlined, BARBRI NextGen bar prep remains extremely thorough to fully prepare you for the bar exam. The efficiency comes from focusing on what is tested, rather than covering a wider range of low-frequency subjects, so your studying mirrors the way you'll actually be tested.
Here’s a look at the NextGen UBE.
What Will I Do During BARBRI Bar Review?
BARBRI Bar Review is structured to guide you through a proven progression of learning and practice matched to the exam you will take, whether that’s the legacy UBE, NextGen UBE, or a state-specific exam.
Early Phase: Build Foundational Knowledge (15%)
- Learn key legal principles through animated, story-driven videos and guided materials
- Focus on the most frequently tested concepts
Middle Phase: Apply + Reinforce (65%)
- Dive deeper into expert-led lectures
- Practice multiple-choice questions or integrated sets
- Begin writing assignments and applying legal rules
Final Phase: Refine + Perform (20%)
- Complete timed practice
- Analyze performance and focus on areas in need of improvement
- Strengthen exam strategy and confidence
This progression is intentional because success on the bar exam depends not just on what you study, but how and when you study it.
During BARBRI bar prep, your Personal Study Plan (PSP) assigns learning activities tailored to your study schedule and progress.
Early on in the course, you’ll spend the majority of your time with lectures, acquiring knowledge from the best U.S. law professors and legal experts.
Then, you will begin reading and reviewing your notes and also start to ramp up on practice questions and written assignments.
Two peaks stand out for the BARBRI Simulated Exam. The BARBRI Simulated Exam + Pass Predictor report is highly correlated to passing the bar and knowing where you stand. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the BARBRI Simulated Exam (or NextGen Simulated Exam + Pass Predictor report). It’s one of the most important things you can do to prepare for the bar exam.
BARBRI Equals More Points on Exam Day
BARBRI students score an average of 19 more points in UBE jurisdictions compared to students who take another bar prep course. Just choosing to prepare with BARBRI provides a significant advantage. But don’t just take our word for it.
Let’s dig into American Bar Association data.
BARBRI’s team of data scientists evaluated pass rates reported by every American Bar Association ABA-accredited law school, in every jurisdiction from 2022-2024. When more students at a law school study with BARBRI Bar Review, the overall school pass rate on the bar exam is higher—regardless of the amount of work each student completed.
Get the bar pass rate details.
Every point matters on the bar exam. This is why, year after year, the vast majority of graduating law students choose BARBRI Bar Review. Whether you’re preparing for the legacy UBE or the NextGen bar exam, the course is designed to help you focus on what matters most and build the skills you need to pass.
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UBE Bar Prep Preview NextGen Bar Prep Preview
Learn more about what you’ll do during BARBRI Bar Review or BARBRI NextGen Bar Review.
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