Access for All: Bar Prep the UMKC Way
UMKC School of Law invests in bar preparation access for all J.D. graduates
By: Kaitlin West
Say the words “bar exam,” and you’re likely to receive sympathy from those who have passed it and apprehension from those who will take it in the future. These reactions are understandable, as there are few career fields where years of classes and a future career hinge upon an intensive two-day exam.
Faculty and staff at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law know that the pressure is astronomical, and they’re doing their best to prepare graduates to pass the bar exam on the first try. The latest in that effort is monumental for all future students. The law school is providing complete access to a commercial bar prep program for every graduate — at no cost.
Beginning with December 2023 graduates, every J.D. graduate will receive access to Helix Bar Review, a premier online bar-prep program, as part of their tuition and fees. The law school didn’t stop here, though — the current in-person bar prep program, taught by Wanda Temm, a nationally recognized expert on bar passage, is now also free for these graduates.
“This is a game-changer for our students,” UMKC School of Law Dean Lou Mulligan said. “Law school is probably the most challenging intellectual exercise they’ll engage in, and the bar exam is the top of that mountain. This initiative ensures that every student has access to these important resources and the best chance to be successful.”
Reputable commercial bar preparation programs cost an average of $4,000 — a high expense to ask students to pay before many of them have full-time jobs. Most students will have to decide whether they should take out a commercial loan to pay for a bar prep program or try to pass the bar without this resource.
Joel Suárez is in his final semester of law school, and the expense of preparing for the bar was looming over his mind.
“The financial relief I felt when I found out UMKC would be covering the Helix bar prep program can’t be overstated,” Suárez said. “It’s an honor to know that our class is the first of many beneficiaries of such a great program.”
Some large law firms will pay for bar prep expenses, but students with ambitions in areas of law that don’t pay for bar prep — and likely don’t start at high salaries — can now pursue those with less concern regarding debt. UMKC School of Law prides itself on its ties and service to the Kansas City community, and this is one more way it provides value to that community, as well as the student community.
“This initiative is deeply in line with our mission,” Mulligan said. “First-generation and other students with fewer economic means now have access to that resource to succeed. We’re also creating opportunities for lawyers who seek careers outside of the private sector, such as in public defense, district attorney offices and public service work.”
“Large law firms, which may help pay for bar prep, employ only 10-12% of any given graduating class,” said Jennifer Dierks, director of the Professional and Career Development Center. “So, for 90% of our students, this new access is huge.”
Temm knows better than most just how instrumental this could be. She founded UMKC School of Law’s bar prep program in 2003 and has taught it since then. She is familiar with the anxiety and anticipation students feel when it comes to taking the bar exam.
“I have students who are ecstatic they no longer have to pay for this,” Temm said. “It’s a huge financial burden, so some students try to skip a commercial prep program or work while preparing for the exam to cover the cost, which leads to a higher chance of failure. Providing this financial relief will be immensely helpful.”
Temm’s bar prep class, which used to cost $600 and is now included in tuition, focuses primarily on test-taking strategies, tactics and coaching to prepare students for the exam.
Professor Wanda Temm with two law students (Photo: Brandon Parigo)
“Knowing how few law schools provide this service, I feel so fortunate to call UMKC my school ... I've never felt prouder to be a Roo."
Joel Suárez, J.D. ’23
It will act as a supplement to the Helix program, which focuses primarily on the law itself. Students who utilize both the Helix program and Temm’s course will receive the benefits of both a commercial program and a more personal coach, someone who has been there through their law school journey.
“Preparing our students for the bar exam is important to faculty,” Temm said. “If students haven’t signed up for the prep course, faculty will contact them individually to encourage them to do so. We want every student to pass. It’s that simple.”
The UMKC School of Law is one of few in the country to provide both a commercial bar preparation program and a supplemental in-person course at no cost to students beyond tuition and fees.
“Knowing how few law schools provide this service, I feel so fortunate to call UMKC my school,” Suárez said. “I’ve never felt prouder to be a Roo.”
The law school expects that this investment in students will continue to make an impact on the entire law school community, from future recruiting efforts to alumni and employers.
Breana Boger, director of law school admissions, says that the security of knowing bar preparation is covered should help students feel confident from the beginning of their law school journey.
“This is a top selling point when we talk with prospective students,” Boger said. “Sometimes they’re only thinking about the initial admissions criteria — ‘how am I going to get into law school?’ — and they don’t think about the end of that journey. This brings the end goal to the forefront — will they be qualified to pass the bar exam? Now we can tell them at the beginning of the student journey that this resource is included in their tuition and will help them be successful.”
This investment in success isn’t just for students; it’s for the law community at large, especially the Kansas City and alumni community.
“I hope this helps employers feel comfortable making an employment offer to students, knowing that they are well-prepared to take the bar exam,” Dierks said. “It definitely builds in some extra reassurance that they’ll be able to pass on the first try.”
Temm may have said it best.
“Why UMKC? Not only will you get an excellent legal education, but we will also be there to support you all the way through the bar exam. You don’t have to worry about it because we’ve got you covered.”
Sponsor a Law Roo for Just $1,000
Invest in the UMKC School of Law community by investing in students. A contribution of $1,000 sponsors a student for both the Helix bar review program and the in-person bar preparation class. Alumni support helps ensure the continuation of this new initiative and the success of future graduates.