Barbara Katz offers a three-week course on the Georgia essay and Multistate Performance Test (MPT) exam. This skills course does not teach the substantive law; rather, it is designed to help students maximize their scores on the Georgia essays and MPT portion of the bar exam. As part of the course curriculum, students will be assigned essays and MPTs, and will receive individualized written feedback on their graded papers. Class time will emphasize the best strategy for approaching the test, time management, how to structure the written answers, how to outline the information provided in the MPT, and synthesize the library into a cohesive synthesis of the law. Some time will be reserved to help individual students create a structure for their studies, manage their available time, and make the best use of the bar review materials at their disposal.
Class size is usually limited to 15 students.
NOTE: The Bar Review Course is held via Zoom.
Ms. Katz’s next bar review class will be held on three consecutive Friday mornings, January 10, 17 and 24th, 2025, from 9AM to approximately 1PM.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS REMAINS OPEN UNTIL CLASS IS FILLED; HOWEVER, REGISTERING EARLY IS IMPORTANT, AS THERE ARE PRE-COURSE ASSIGNMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE FIRST CLASS.
The class meets as a group for approximately 3 hours each week. There will also be an opportunity to meet individually with Ms. Katz after each class to ask specific questions about your graded work.
Course tuition is $1,200.00 if paid by personal check, or $1,250.00 if paid via credit card.
To register, please contact us and, if there is availability, we will send you a registration form.
Ms. Katz also offers private tutoring for the essay and MPT portion of the bar. However, the three-week course is a prerequisite for any and all private tutoring.
Comments from previous students who passed the bar:
Ms. Katz is absolutely incredible. She gave me the tools to achieve a passing score which I had doubts I could do. Her learning materials helped me mechanically structure my essays and MPT. This was my third attempt and I am so happy to have signed up for her course. I would highly recommend to anyone struggling with essays or MPTs. Thank you again, Ms. Katz!
~ Amari, July 2024
Barbara Katz’s course was very helpful to me in passing the Ga. Bar. The class helped me with essay organization and knowing how to properly format the response in a way to earn more points. I loved the rigorous writing schedule, it wasn’t too much, but it was just enough to get me into the groove of writing better for the bar exam. By the end of Barbara’s course I wasn’t intimidated by essays or MPT writing any more because I had a strategy that gave me confidence. I have recently passed the July 2024 Ga. Bar exam and I cannot thank or recommend Barbara enough!
~ S. Williams, July 2024
This class is worth. every. penny. Before taking Professor Katz’s essay course, I was completely disillusioned by bar exam essay writing. Despite having learned the writing structures (IRAC/CRAC) and strategies for how to score the most points, I struggled with application and needed SPECIFIC and practical guidance. I knew I was missing something and needed help. As a second time examinee, I was not going to risk using the same commercial program that I found to be time consuming and ineffective during the first time around. This small class with tailored 1-on-1 feedback is exactly what I needed. I appreciated Prof Katz’s no-nonsense and straightforward teaching style. She’s tough but loving and cuts straight to the point. It’s clear that she genuinely cares for students’ investment in the class to be worthwhile. I dedicated myself to Katz’s course and was militant in taking her advice. It 100% paid off. She really does know what she’s talking about. On test day, I felt super prepared and indefensible which was largely thanks to this class. It may be the best kept secret to ~hacking the bar (haha)!
~Heidi, February 2024
Thank you so much for your help in getting me over the finish line to practice in GA! Your course is invaluable, as I scored a 158 on the essay/MPT section! I’ll highly recommend you to anyone I know that will be taking the GA Bar Exam in the future. Thanks a million!
~ G.D., July 2023
~ R.L., July 2023
I had taken the bar exam four times (three UBE and one Georgia exam) before finding Ms. Katz class. Although I was a smart cookie with a strength in MBEs, I was having difficulty learning a writing structure that would maximize my points for the MPTs and essays. Adding to this challenge, I had been working full-time (40+ hours/week) during each attempt; so outside of just studying the law, I was too exhausted to develop a real game plan for tackling the written portions of the exam. When I decided to give another swing at the bar exam in February 2023, I was determined to find a course that could assist with writing and more specifically, writing for Georgia’s exam. I found Ms. Katz class and one thing she kept repeating to us full-time workers, “TAKE THE TIME OFF!” This time I listened. I made the sacrifice to take reduced hours at work and I focused hard on mastering the writing approach Ms. Katz taught in her course. Her approach made things so simple and along with her encouragement and tips/tricks along the way, I finally did it! I passed with the highest score I’ve ever had on the writing portion and my MBE score increased from its average as well. With over 30 years under her belt teaching legal writing, she knows what the Georgia examiners are looking for and boy did she help me deliver! I am eternally thankful to Ms. Katz for her course!
~ J. James, February 2023
When I first heard of Ms. Katz’s class, I had just failed the Ga Bar Exam by 8 points with a MBE of 140. I knew that if I was going to have any chance of passing I needed to improve my essay score. Through researching GA Bar Exam essay tutors, I stumbled across a reddit user’s post about passing the GA bar exam and how her tutor Barbara Katz was instrumental to her success. I knew I needed her help. Through Barbara Katz’s classes, I was able to understand where I went so wrong in the past. She gave in depth feedback on numerous assignments as well as discussing logistical and practical tips on the mechanics of essay writing. I really do credit Ms. Katz and her class with giving me the essay writing skills to finally pass the Ga Bar Exam.
~ Amber S, July 2022
Thanks so much, Barbara! I scored a 132 on the MBE and a 144 on Essay/MPT, so the written portion carried me over. I appreciate your help and am excited to see what’s next!
~ SW, July 2022
I want to thank you for your class. After six years, I achieved a passing score. I remember you telling me to handle the MBE portion and that you would take care of the rest. You did that and then some, as my writing score increased by 30+ points.
~ Xavier S., February 2021
Barbara’s writing class was extremely helpful and it played a pivotal role in helping me pass the Georgia October 2020 Bar Exam. Due to Covid-19, the class was virtual, but that didn’t take away from the effectiveness of the class. The class was well organized, she’s a great communicator, and most all she genuinely cares about your success on the bar exam. Her class helped me improve with the organization and analysis portion of my essays. The feedback that she provided for the graded homework assignments was very detailed and helpful. I appreciated her willingness to have a one-on-one session after every class. I was a repeat taker and as a result, my confidence was low. However, Barbara did a great job with negating that. My writing score increased by 23 points after taking her class. The class may be pricey for some people, but it’s definitely worth the investment. You won’t regret it, because I don’t.
~ Tee, October 2020 COVID-19 exam
I decided to retake the Georgia Bar Exam, but this time I had a plan. I purchased Ms. Katz’s services because I was recommended to her by an associate, and her reviews were amazing. Once I was in her class, she really broke down the concepts in a way that I could grasp more easily. Her feedback on the various assignments was very thorough and helpful. My score went up on the essays dramatically. I would recommend Ms. Katz to anyone who is in need of help with legal writing for the Georgia Bar Exam.
~ Bar Applicant, October 2020 COVID-19 exam
I knew that I wanted to sit for the bar exam just one time, if at all possible. That meant I needed to put myself in the best position to succeed on my first attempt. Ms. Katz provided all of the tools that I needed to be successful on the essay portion – which was a struggle for me due to issue spotting problems. I scored much higher on the essays than I ever would have without her class. In addition to strategic approaches to essays, she did wonders for my confidence which, when sitting for the bar exam, is vital. It allowed me to be calm (I was a frantic mess before!) and trust that I knew what I’d studied. I am elated to say that I passed with a comfortable margin, and I didn’t have to rely on my MBE score the way I’d originally planned to. If essay writing is an issue for you, I would certainly recommend Ms. Katz. This was money well spent!
~Pam, October 2020 COVID-19 exam
There is no doubt that Barbara Katz’s GA Bar Exam Prep Class was paramount for my passage of the GA bar exam. I missed passing the bar exam the first time I sat, and aware of my difficulty with standardized multiple choice tests (MBE), I knew I needed as many points possible with the writing portion. I searched online for local GA essay classes, discovered Barbara’s class, and immediately enrolled. After taking her class and before sitting for the exam a second time, I realized that my essay and MPT writing skills were previously insufficient for bar exam purposes. Barbara teaches simple, straightforward techniques to quickly improve your essay writing. Without a doubt, her class is the reason I recently passed the February GA Bar exam since my MBE score went down, yet I gained immense points on the writing portion, which put me over the 270 edge! You won’t regret taking her class. Worth every penny, and you will gain skills that will serve you in your legal career going forward!
~Ashley, February 2020
I’m a foreign attorney who graduated with a LLM degree and decided to take the GA Bar exam. After 2 attempts where I was 15 to 20 points shy of passing, I decided to take Barbara’s course. Not only did she give me a better understanding of the exam in general, but Barbara provided me with specific strategies to apply during the exam. Most importantly, after her course I had the confidence I needed to take the Bar exam. In February 2019, I passed the GA Bar exam, dramatically improving my essays and MPT by a total of 30 points. I can’t thank Barbara enough for her help.
~P, February 2019
As an out-of-state practicing attorney that hadn’t taken a bar exam in 15 years, I was apprehensive about how I was going to prepare for the Georgia attorney’s exam. I’ve always found essay exams to be tough in that addressing the issues, without wasting time with irrelevant information, had always been a challenge for me. Barbara’s system taught me to focus on the issues, identify the information necessary for the analysis and structure the answer in an efficient presentation while excluding irrelevancies. With the help of Barbara’s strategy, I was able to fully answer the essays and MPTs in a timely manner and passed the Georgia Bar on my first attempt. I highly recommend Barbara’s course for anyone preparing for the Georgia Bar.
~Paul, February 2019
I highly recommend Barbara’s course if you are attempting to score as high as possible on the Essay portion of the Bar exam. The course is tailored to maximize the amount of points you can receive on the essays. Through Barbara’s course you will learn how the essays are graded, how to catch the eye of the grader, how to best organize your responses and what strategies and techniques to employ going in on the day of the exam. I think all of these skills are crucial so you can enter test day feeling fully prepared and confident.
~Frank, February 2019
At the start of Ms. Katz’s class, I was a two-time Ga Bar failure. I had failed the Bar by 14 and 15 points each time and I KNEW the essay portion was my downfall. Instead of failing a third time, I googled essay tutors and found Ms. Katz. Before her class, I honestly believed that I wasn’t gaining points on the essay portion because I didn’t know enough about the tested topics. After the first class, I knew I had failed the bar twice due to horrible organizational skills. Ms. Katz helped me learn how organizational skills alone gives you points. Ms. Katz’s class will teach you how to organize, save time, and write bar passing essays. For the February 2019 Bar, my MBE score actually dropped and I still passed the exam. I know it was due to learning how to organize my essays and writing a well thought out essay.
~ E., February 2019
I cannot recommend this class enough! Before I took Barbara’s class, I had taken the bar exam three times and gotten three scores of 259, 252, and 262. After I took her class, I took the bar exam for a fourth time and got a score of 285! Barbara’s class was the main reason. It was my essay score that really put me over the edge. She really explains what the bar examiners are looking for and gives you practical techniques on how to approach each MPT and essay. I used her techniques for each MPT and essay question and the result speak for itself. I would highly recommend anyone looking for an essay class to stop looking and sign up. Practice, practice, practice the techniques she teaches and use them!
~Elijah A., Feb 2018
Best decision I ever made!!!! I improved 26 points for the essay portion of the bar exam on my second try! I wish Barbara was my LRW professor in law school. I learned more about legal writing after just one class with Barbara than 3 years in law school. Not only does she give you the tools you need to pass, she also gives you the confidence you need to overcome the anxiety, stress, and fear towards the bar. I most certainly would not have passed the second time without Barbara’s help. I walked in with all the tools and strategy she taught in class. I walked out of the exam room feeling like I absolutely crushed the essays. And I did!! Guys, 26 points increase! Thank you, Barbara!
~Joey, Feb 2018
I took Barbara’s legal writing bar prep class before the Feb 2018 test and she not only helped to vastly improve my legal writing skills but boosted my confidence level by an order of magnitude! Before taking her class I was so nervous taking the bar exam I was sick to my stomach. During this last (and final!!!) bar exam I was ice calm and able to focus so much better than before. Whether you need to fine tune your legal writing skills or need a confidence boost, I highly recommend her class!
~Diana, Feb 2018
I recently passed the February 2018 bar exam, due largely to this focused writing class. After missing the passing score on the February and July 2017 bar exams and realizing the essay portion of the exam was where I struggled most, I searched for a reasonably priced class that focused on the essay portion of the bar exam. Ms. Katz prep class came up on the first page of my google search. This was hands down, the best money I ever spent. The class was focused, provided tips for getting the maximum number of points, and provided detailed, one-on-one feedback. Ms. Katz pointed out both the strengths and weaknesses in my writing. I got more out of this class than I got out of any writing class in law school. The proof is in the numbers, my essay score improved 9 points over my best previous essay score. I highly recommend this class.
~Sheryl, January 2018
There is a certain amount of science behind bar exams, and Barbara shows you how to reach the necessary passing score by drawing on her actual experience as a former legal writing professor, as well as a long-standing bar tutor. Her teaching is very methodical and you learn to no longer be scared of the bar exam but actually embrace it after learning, or “cracking”, the ways that the bar examiners think and write questions year after year. Combined with self-study of the MBE multiple-choice questions, her essay/MPT course should get you the necessary score to pass the bar exam and claim your law license! Thank you Barbara!
~An applicant who passed on his second try in February 2018 (essay/MPT score increased by 28 points)
I have no doubt that I would not have passed the Bar Exam if I had not taken Barbara’s class. I am a LL.M. graduate and English is not my first language, so I’ve always struggled with the written part of the Exam. After taking Barbara’s class and by following her method, I improved my essay score by 13 points and was finally able to pass the exam. I definitely recommend her course to anyone who needs to improve their essay score.
~ Helen, July 2017
Taking Barbara’s course helped me improve my essay and MPTs scores by 19 points. Barbara taught me how to properly organize my answers to maximize my score. She explained what the examiners are looking for. She taught me that knowing the law is not enough to get a passing grade, and I learned what was needed to achieve a passing score. Barbara’s course played a key role in my successful passage of the Georgia bar exam. Thank you Barbara!
~ Feb. 2017
~Brian, Feb. 2016
This class was the reason I passed the February 2016 GA Bar! As a repeater, I knew my weakness was writing. Ms. Katz helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the process, she provided invaluable feedback and encouragement. Thanks to Ms. Katz’s methods, I raised my writing score by 20 points.
~T. Williams
If you have any concern about the written portion of the Georgia Bar (and probably any other state bar), I cannot recommend this course enough. I had taken the exam before and, as a result of this course, my written score increased by double digits. I have struggled with writing under timed conditions and this course helped me to be more focused and efficient. If you follow, employ and practice Professor Katz’s methods, you will do well on the exam.
~Rodrick, July 2015
Ms. Katz’s class made the difference in my passing the Bar Exam. Her step-by-step process truly prepared me for the MPT and Essay portions of the Bar and showed me exactly what Bar Exam Graders were looking for in an answer. All I have to say is, without her, I don’t believe I would have gotten my grade of 160 (an improvement of 25 points) on the written portion. If you struggle with multiple choice like most of us do and need to make up the extra points on the written portion of the exam, take Ms. Katz’s class!
~ Jonathan, July 2015
Thank you for your guidance and support while I was preparing for the Georgia Bar. When I signed up for your training, I had gone to law school in Florida and was licensed to practice there. I was unsure how to prepare for the Georgia Bar Exam because Florida did not require the MPT. At the beginning of my preparation, my anxiety level was high. However, by the end of your course, I had a keen understanding of what to expect and my high level of anxiety had been replaced with a sense of empowerment. The information you shared in the bar prep workshop made the difference in my level of confidence and definitely aided in my success. Thanks for your professionalism and commitment to the success of your students!
~ Rowena, February 2015
Ms. Katz’s Bar Exam Essay Course helped me improve my overall understanding of exam worthy essays. Her feedback and easy to follow writing methods made it possible for me to improve over ten points from my previous essay score.
~ Matthew B., February 2015
~ Keenan Rogers, February 2015
~ Andy, July 2014
Not only did I enjoy the course, but I got all the information I needed to successfully get through day one of the Georgia Bar. I had no idea what the examiners were looking for before taking the Katz course. I passed! Day one piece of cake! Thank you!
~ D. Stewart, July 2014
Before taking Ms. Katz class, I had taken the BAR three times to no avail. Time management was my main problem. Each time I took the exam, I always ran out of time. I had a hard time managing and organizing both the essay and the MPT portion. After learning about Ms. Katz program through a friend, I immediately signed up for her course. I figured I had nothing to lose. Best decision I ever made!!!! Her class not only helped me organize my writing, but my confidence was also restored. It gave me the will to try again, unafraid. Seeing my name on the pass list this past summer was the best feeling I’ve had in a long time. I finally felt vindicated. Thank you, prof. Katz!!!
~ S.J., July 2013
“Barbara Katz’s Essay Writing Program gave me the confidence to conquer the essays without fear and anxiety. I dreaded the writing portion of the bar. However, with Barbara’s strategies and methods, I walked into the Bar Exam feeling confident and ready. One the day of the exam, I followed all of her suggestions and methods, and I am honored to say I passed the 2013 Georgia Bar Exam.”
~ April, July 2013
When I stumbled upon your website this past summer, I’d already taken the bar exam two times. I was discouraged about my writing and unsure of what I should I do next. Barbara, you restored my confidence in my ability to write. When I took the exam for a third time this summer, I ran into a time crunch, but with the steps you’d gone over with me and the essay structure you’d ingrained in me, during the exam, I remained confident that I was composing succinct answers. My overall score increased by 20 points, with over 2/3 of those points going towards my written score. Thanks so much for working with me and for always being very thorough and positive. Your services were a great investment–I can’t thank you enough.
~ Leigh, July 2012
Thank you so much for working with me this summer. Because of your course, I not only passed the exam, but I did so comfortably! My essay score increased by 17 points (31 points overall)! I’m overjoyed, and I am positive that your pointers for dealing with the essays put me over the top. Your strategy for conquering the MPTs allowed me to complete them with confidence, and your essay suggestions were exactly what I needed to keep me organized during the exam. I’m so grateful for your continued encouragement, and for helping me to believe that I could do it. Thank you again, and keep doing what you’re doing!
~ B.C., July 2012
As you are aware I was not successful back on the Feb ’12. But grazed it by hairs this past Jul. My writing score was higher than my MBE score both times. Thank you, thank you many times over! I am more than confident my investment in your writing course made all the difference!!! Most importantly you gave me confidence, something I often lacked about my writing in law school. Pin-pointing how and why I lost writing points was phenomenal!
~ Kim (July 2012)
My friend and fellow attorney recommended your bar writing course when I had difficulty passing the bar and I cannot thank her enough! Barbara, the skills I learned in your class gave me the confidence and organization I needed to stay focused while writing essays for the bar. I honestly feel that what I learned during your course helped me compose very succinct answers. What you taught me pushed me over the top and I would recommend your course to anyone! Thanks so very much for all of your help!
~ S.N.
Barbara’s class was exactly what I needed to help me structure my writing for both the essay and MPT portion of the exam.I struggled with managing the material for the MPT, but using her method helped me identify the important pieces of the puzzle and put together cohesive, high-scoring MPTs.I truly feel that it is a result of her instruction that I passed the February bar exam and would not hesitate to recommend her class.
~ April S. (February 2012)
It is with great gratitude that I send this email. I have struggled to pass the bar exam and repeatedly failed the test by just a few points each time. I took your class and as a result my score increased 17 points! I did much better on the writing portion of the test. I applied the strategies that you teach in class and they worked! Thank you for your patience and encouragement. You are the best!
~Tiana (July 2011)
Thank you so so much for the help and encouragement you offered during your January 2011 bar prep class. I am so happy to tell you that I raised my score 23 points. Your class really was just what I needed. Not only did it give me the right organization and structure to use for the exam, but I also gained so much confidence.
~ Amanda F. (January 2011)
I would like to thank you for all the pointers you gave me this past summer!! There is no way I could have passed the exam without your assistance. I cried for three hours after I saw the certificate. Your expertise allowed me to see exactly where I was lacking in my essays. You also served as a counselor for me and encouraged me to let go of the past failures. In sum, you were an angel to me. I thank God for your unselfishness and I thank God that I passed the Georgia bar. Wow! I am an attorney now. God is good!!!!!
~K.G. (July 2010)
I want to thank you for helping me study for the July (09) Georgia Bar Exam. After two previous failing attempts, I passed, and I am very happy about that. The work we did on essay writing and especially formatting helped me a great deal. The one-on-one attention (even though I was in D.C.) was great, I am SURE this is what put me over the top. Again, thank you!
~William (July 2009)
I passed! Thank you for all of your help over the summer. You truly gave me the blueprint to pass!
~Angela (July 2009)
Thank you! . . . I really appreciated your help and motivation. It definitely helped as I prepared for the bar. . . . I’m so glad it is over. I wish you all the best, and if you ever have a student requesting information about your services, I will gladly serve as a referral.
~L. Lee (February 2009)
Thank you Barbara. I certainly don’t think I could have done it without you. I appreciate all of your help, advice, and words of encouragement. Hopefully one day (if I ever find a job in Atlanta- things are tough out there!), I can take you out to lunch for a proper token of appreciation.
~Kate (February 2009)
Thank you Barbara!!! I sincerely appreciate the help that you offered in your class. CIRAC made much of the difference!!!
~Nicole (February 2009)
Barbara’s tutoring gave me directed, targeted advice on how to prepare for the essay and MPT portion of the bar exam. I threw out my previously purchased essay prep course books after meeting with her. I did not have an abundance of time on my hands with a new baby but Barbara guided me through the process efficiently…and I passed!
~B. Gearhart (July 2007)
From 1994 through 2006, Ms. Katz was the program coordinator and writing instructor in the Bar Admissions Court of Study, a Georgia bar review course administered by Georgia State University School of Law. This course has been suspended indefinitely, although information about the course may still available at its web site.
