Essay Exam Writing for the California Bar Exam

by Mary Basick, Tina Schindler

The Third Edition of Essay Exam Writing for the California Bar Exam contains everything needed to pass the essay portion of the California bar exam. The book combines a comprehensive, yet efficiently concise review of volumes of substantive law with the authors' proven-effective strategic plan for writing passing bar essays. Rule outlines are supplemented with issues checklists to aid issue spotting and memorization attack sheets, to make memorization manageable, while practice questions productively cover favorite and newly added testing areas so that bar study is targeted and effective. 
 
New to the Third Recent and updated rule developments in all subjects Expanded coverage of new topics emphasized on recent bar exams Updated issues tested matrices, rule memorization attack sheets, and topic specific approaches to reflect current testing trends, as well new testing charts for heavily tested topics such as conflicts of interest in Professional Responsibility or Fourth Amendment approach in Criminal Procedure, as well as others Three new essay questions and corresponding grids per subject including crossover questions Three sample answers per chapter with updated grids for all questions Testing strategies and approach to taking an online bar exam  
Professors and students will benefit Concise easy to memorize rule statements Fact triggers and exam tips that aid the transition to bar exam writing style New charts for some heavily tested topics to aid visual learners Easy to follow essay approaches for key topics Practice essay questions with corresponding answer grids identifying issues and analysis required for a passing score Realistic sample answers that could be written under timed conditions, closed book Coverage of all heavily and newly tested topics in each subject and crossover questions Issues tested matrices identifying the subtopics tested in every essay given in 35+ years  
 

896 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2025

Reviews

[Dana Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful book. I leaned on it less than I planned (instead, I adhered closely to the demanding and time-intensive prep course). Even so, I supplemented the thousand-hour Themis march with this book and liked it. Blissfully concise as compared to other resources.

Took the California bar exam in July 2026 — hopefully, for the last and only time!

[Michael Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not have passed the bar examination without this book. It develops these, criticizes proposed answers, gives you a skill to develop ideas and strategies to pass. This was essentially my most important reference book to prepare for the examination. I passed on my first attempt and I took no courses. I hadn't been in law school for 47 years. It is highly recommended.