Essay Exam Writing for the California Bar Exam

by Mary Basick, Tina Schindler

Based on the authors’ proven-effective methodology, Essay Exam Writing for the California Bar Exam contains everything bar exam candidates need to pass the essay portion of the California bar exam. This text combines instruction and practice in essay writing, fact analysis, and issue spotting, with a remarkably efficient review of substantive law, as well as time management tips and strategies for improving test performance.

New to the Second

Updates to the law (there have been some important changes to the law, particularly in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure and Business Assocations) Updated coverage to keep up on bar testing trends with expanded coverage on some topics that are now more frequently bar tested than they were at the time of the first edition Updated practice questions to include questions from the recent bar administrations Updated Issues Tested Matrices to include the past 5 years of bar examinations

1002 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2018

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.