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About Us
Study Smarter,
The Smart Bar Prep Story
We create outlines, tools, and guides that help students focus on the bar exam’s most important topics with the goal that examinees pass the bar their first time around!
What Inspired Smart Bar Prep™
A Smarter Solution for Bar Examinees
Hello, my name is Matthew Bates and I’m the attorney behind Smart Bar Prep™.
I was fortunate enough to pass both the New York and New Jersey bar exams on my first try. I even scored a 171.1 on the MBE (top 5% – see here). While I was thrilled with my personal results, I was incredibly disappointed with the available review materials I had purchased from a leading bar review company.
These materials were bloated with more information than I could study and they were wildly overpriced. They weren’t based on ACTUAL bar exams and they didn’t provide the single thing I needed most: a condensed, manageable list of the important topics and rules I was likely to face on the bar exam.
While making my own outlines, I got to thinking… “How can I offer a more effective solution for helping law students pass the bar.”
My initial goal was to create the most helpful study guide possible for passing the nation’s toughest exam: the New York Bar Exam. But I knew I needed to do more than simply copy/paste my personal study guide, so I spent countless hours reading and analyzing past New York Bar Exams. I compiled all of this information into a concise, simple outline that focused on the most important information needed to pass.
But it’s one thing to create something. It’s another thing to watch it actually work, and that was exactly the feedback I got from the initial round of Smart Bar Prep™ students as they passed the bar with ease.
Since that initial outline, we have helped thousands of students take the bar with confidence. We have expanded to creating guides for virtually every state’s bar exam, and we are constantly updating these guides for every exam with the latest test questions and data available.
Why do these guides work so well? I attribute the success of our students to one very simple concept… the 80/20 Rule.
Our Philosophy
The 80/20 Rule
I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 Rule developed by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. In short, the 80/20 Rule says that in almost anything in life, only a few things (the 20%) are essential, while the rest (the remaining 80%) are trivial.
After thousands of hours in review, my team and I proved that this rule can be applied to the bar exam. In line with the 80/20 Rule, patterns emerged. The most noticeable was that the bar examiners tested some material more frequently than others.
For example, whenever a Civil Procedure question appeared on the UBE/MEE, I found that approximately 40% of the time a component of the question dealt with the “Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Diversity of Citizenship” rule. Since this rule is tested frequently, it makes sense to spend more time memorizing it than, say, the rule for Depositions, which appeared only once in the last 20+ years.
Our team found very similar patterns for the California bar exam.
Also in line with the 80/20 Rule, focusing 80% of your time and energy on the 20% of the rules of law that are tested most frequently will maximize your chances of passing. Don’t just work hard; work smart by focusing on the right things.
This is the goal of our study guides: to help you invest your limited study time on the topics that are most likely to show up on your bar exam.
Ready to Study Smarter?
Integrate Our Guides With Your Bar Review Course
While our study guides are intended to be your go-to resource for passing the bar, they are also designed for integrated use along with popular courses like BarBri, BarMax, and Kaplan.
The Smart Bar Prep™ Essay Priority Outlines and study tools integrate well with review courses because each is arranged in terms of frequency and topic, saving you the hassle of trying to figure out which rules are the most important to study.
See Why Students Choose Smart Bar Prep
Smart Study Tools for Every Stage of Bar Prep
Smart Outlines
Three different outlines that work whether you have 6+ months to study or just 1 week left.
Smart Blocks
Ultra-condensed visual outlines featuring streamlined rule statements designed for quick review during the final weeks and days before the exam.
Smart Sheets
Concise yet comprehensive outlines to help you focus on the law that matters most on each bar exam section.
Priority Outline
Long form outlines to streamline the mountain of information you need to know for the bar exam. Great for in-depth learning, and includes each rule’s frequency, a list of exams tested, & model rule statements with important terms highlighted.
Every outline uses color-coded Priority Ratings to show you exactly which topics and rules to focus on for strategic studying.
Smart Flashcards
Smart digital flashcards that adapt to your strengths & weaknesses, while applying decades of cognitive science research to accelerate the learning experience. Designed to help you learn faster and master the legal rules with ease. Printable flashcards are also available.
Frequency Charts
Charts for each exam section that show the frequency of items tested, so you can easily see at a glance what’s highly tested to prioritize your studying.
Smart Guides
No-nonsense guides that simplify & break down exactly how to prepare for the bar exam —including practical tips, clear strategies, and step-by-step approaches to maximize your score.
Practice Questions
Real, licensed bar exam questions that mirror the actual exam experience, so you can master each section, maximize performance, and walk in fully prepared & confident.
Plus More
Select your exam State or Jurisdiction to see even more Study Guides for your specific bar exam!
Ready to Get Started?
Select your exam State or Jurisdiction to see even more Study Guides!
What Students are Saying
99th Percentile Score
“Finding Smart Bar Prep on day 1 of studying would have saved me close to a thousand dollars on other useless materials... I passed with a 329 (99th percentile) and I owe so much of that to smart bar. GOATed bar resource.”
★★★★★
JH
Josie H.
Mastered the Rules
“Your materials are SUPERB. Thank you for being an important part of the reason why I passed the July bar!! The way you present your materials is clear, understandable, and overall, excellent. Your materials truly made all the difference… thank goodness I had them because they really helped me master the rules… Your materials really did help me pass the bar, and I am so thankful.”
★★★★★
JA
Jill A.
Made Everything So Much Easier to Understand & Memorize!
“SmartBarPrep was absolutely essential in helping me pass the July 2025 Bar Exam... The concise rule statements and clear, structured analysis in SmartBarPrep made everything so much easier to understand and memorize! I especially loved how straightforward the outlines are. They really helped me organize my thoughts and practice writing essays more efficiently. The materials are easy to use, very practical, and incredibly effective! I highly recommend SmartBarPrep to anyone preparing for the bar exam, especially if you struggle with essays or memorization. Thank you again for all the help!”
★★★★★
YW
Yewei W.
Single Mom, Full-Time Job, Passed First Try
"With the help of SmartBar Prep I was able to pass the NY Bar as a foreign-trained Attorney, single Mom of a 7 year old with a full time job at my first sitting."
★★★★★
GP
Gillian P.
One Month to Exam, It Changed Everything!
“SmartBarPrep was recommended to me by my school's bar professor when I was panicking with one month until the bar... I got SmartBarPrep and it changed everything.”
★★★★★
C
Charles
Strategic Approach
"I strongly believed that because of this program, I passed the CA bar exam... They break-down the material in a way that makes memorization of key concepts so much easier than the other commercial outlines and programs... Their team have dedicated a detailed review of all of the past bar essays and made a list of all the possible rules that have shown up on all the past bar essays, which they list by priority. This way I knew exactly what rules to focus on the most.”
★★★★★
PA
Pardis Amirhoushmand
Comprehensive Praise
"SmartBarPrep was an absolute game-changer in my bar exam preparation... The Smart Sheets & Smart Attack Outlines were, hands down, the best resources I used... I highly recommend SmartBarPrep to any future bar takers."
★★★★★
MD
Miriam D.
Study Tools Played a Vital Role in Success
"I used the flashcards, outlines, MCQ [Smart] blocks, and bar test patterns — and each tool played a vital role in my success... I passed the February 2025 Bar Exam on my first try!"
★★★★★
CN
Cassandra N.
Superior to All Competitors
"After comparing a variety of bar prep resources, Smart Bar Prep stands out as superior in every aspect. I genuinely believe it offers the best value and effectiveness of all the materials I tried."
★★★★★
DC
Dylan C.
Visual Learner Success
"I used the smart sheets and the smart blocks. I absolutely loved the smart blocks! The formatting of the information into the colorful blocks was really helpful from a visual standpoint... I passed with a score of 341!"
★★★★★
PM
Peggy M.
Passed Two Bar Exams Easily
"I could not recommend SmartBarPrep enough... I passed both the California and UBE bar exams easily first try in major part due to the SmartBarPrep MBE smart sheets, essay sheets and flashcards. When you get down to a month or so before the exam, you have to prioritize the forest over the trees and the foregoing materials help you do just that. They stick to the major rules and give you the perfect amount of information that allows you to digest the info easily while still allowing you to learn the necessary information."
★★★★★
HB
Hutton B.
The 80/20 Approach
"Smart Bar prep provides the best outlines in the market, mostly because it does a great job articulating in a simple way the black letter law without digging into the unnecessary, untested details. It saved me a HUGE amount of time and was of great help not only for the MBE part but also for the Essays. The outlines are well-written, concise yet complete, easy to process and help you focus on what will be actually tested, statistically... The 80/20 approach is very smart and it's working! It's actually pretty affordable for everything it offers. Every student should have these outlines with them... it really made the Bar Exam a fun game to pass."
★★★★★
B.K.
B.K.
Limited Study Time Success
"I had just two weeks' notice that I was going to have to take the Mississippi bar... I absolutely credit these materials with helping me pass the bar despite having limited time to study."
★★★★★
CD
Casey D.
Foreign-Trained Attorney, Crucial Help on the Bar Exam
"As a foreign-trained attorney, 'Smart Bar Prep' was crucial in helping me on the July 2024 bar exam... I highly recommend your materials, particularly the 'smart sheets,' to anyone preparing for the bar exam."
★★★★★
A
Aqeel
The Best!
"SmartBarPrep is the BEST!!! I find your Smart Sheets the best for learning black letter law. It is so condensed and I can review it again and again effectively... I did not write many words during the MEE, but I still got a score higher than passing score."
★★★★★
KL
Kai L.
Multiple State Success
"If I could buy any resource for the bar exam, it would be Smart Bar Prep's essay priority outlines!... I used these to prepare for the CA bar and the NY bar and passed both on the first time."
★★★★★
S
Simran
Retaker Success with SmartBarPrep
"After failing the July 2024 NY bar exam, I PASSED THIS FEBRUARY!!! These materials are absolutely priceless."
★★★★★
J
Jaclyn
Dramatic 35-Point Score Improvement
"My writing score improved from a 123.4 on my first try at the bar to a 159.1 on the second try. I passed the bar with over 300 total points. Thanks, SmartBar!"
★★★★★
JRG
J. Raul G.
16-Point Essay Improvement
"I failed the bar in February and started researching supplements and found your program... I increased my score on the essay portion of the exam by 16 points. Needless to say, I passed the July bar and I crushed it!"
★★★★★
LC
Louis C.
Phraseology Problem Solved
"What I found challenging about studying for the bar wasn't understanding the concepts but knowing what to say and what order to say it. SmartBarPrep gave me the tools to know how to phrase the rule statements so I didn't have to spend hours and days hunting down the expected phraseology."
★★★★★
SM
Sam M.
Made Bar Prep More Efficient
"Smart Bar Prep made my bar prep more efficient by identifying the exam frequency of the rules. I also really appreciate its staff's quick response to my questions."
★★★★★
KZ
Kim Z.
Too Much Information Problem Solved
"I tried multiple ways to study for the bar and found that there was too much information out there that ended up muddling up the black letter law for me. SmartBar Prep was recommended to me, and it was the best decision I made. I only used their materials and Adaptibar multiple choice app and passed the CA Bar."
★★★★★
SK
Sarah K.
Last-Minute Rescue
"I have to tell you, you guys have the BEST stuff!!! I only wish I found you sooner. I'm going to pass along to those who come after me, because if I pass, it will be because of YOU!!"
★★★★★
GB
Gina B.
Incredibly Helpful
"I passed! Smartbarprep's materials were incredibly helpful, thank you!"
★★★★★
JE
Joshua E.
First Try Success
"I passed in my first attempt and all thanks to your amazing materials! Thank you!"
★★★★★
DC
Diksha C.