Academic & Bar Success Programs

By providing additional instruction, guidance, and encouragement as students confront the rigors of the study of law, the Academic & Bar Success Programs fulfill our primary mission of educating men and women for membership in the legal profession.

For: All students | 1Ls | 2Ls & 3Ls | Bar program

All students

Orientation: Orientation prepares students for the rigors of law school academics and the essentials of law school life.
Academic Advising: Faculty advisors assist students with academic and career planning.
ADA Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are provided for students with documented disabilities.
Individual Counseling: Students meet with academic advisors and members of the Academic Resources team to address time management, study techniques, supplemental materials, and other matters related to academic progress and the bar exam.
Director of Student Engagement: Personal problems can compromise attention to legal studies. If a student is struggling due to personal issues, he or she should contact the Director of Student Engagement. Help is also available at the main campus’s Counseling Center.

1Ls

Academic Skills Lab: Incoming students are enrolled in an Academic Skills Lab to practice the skills necessary to succeed in law school and on the bar exam.
Introduction to the Bar Exam: All 1L students have the opportunity to discuss bar exam essentials with a member of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners.
Law Learning Center & Academic Fellows: Workshops and one-on-one intensive sessions focus on academic skills and legal writing basics.

2Ls & 3Ls

Academic Advising: Advisors provide guidance on registration, course selection, and curricular planning with a focus on career goals and experiential education.
MPRE Preparation & Simulation: Individualized Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam study plans and simulated MPRE exams are offered for all students.
On-site MPRE Test Administration: UMass Law is an LSAC-approved test administration site. The MPRE is administered in March, August, and November.
Character & Fitness Presentation: The Executive Director of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners presents invaluable advice for the bar application process.

Bar program

Required Bar Preparation Course: UMass Law offers a graded, for-credit class focused on the doctrine and skills needed for bar exam success.
Bar Preparation Program: UMass Law partners with commercial bar providers and partially subsidizes bar review courses for students, including individual tutoring and essay workshops.
Individual Bar Meetings: The Bar Director meets with students in their 1L, 2L, and 3L years to discuss course selection and devise an individualized bar study plan.
Bar Mentors: Coaching support, through our faculty mentoring program, is available. In addition, mentoring and other support is available for repeaters.