[rehab] FW: Accessible Bar Review Course

[Dick Davis]

Hi,

I wanted all of you to have this information from Elizabeth Rene.  Good
job, Elizabeth, and thanks for making things easier for others similarly
situated.

Dick Davis, Chair

NFB Employment Committee



*From:* Elizabeth Rene [mailto:rene0373 at gmail.com]
*Sent:* Monday, September 16, 2013 1:42 PM
*To:* Dick Davis
*Subject:* Re: Accessible Bar Review Course



Dear Mr. Davis,

In early June, I wrote to you asking whether you or any NFB lawyers knew of
an accessible bar review course that could prepare me for the UBE in July.



Washington State administered the UBE for the first time this summer.



I'd previously failed Washington's February all- essay exam, but didn't get
my results in time to enroll in a traditional bar review course for the UBE
in July.



I'd used BARBRI for my earlier essay  bar prep, and got fine Braille
materials and good tutoring from them, but they could not offer Braille for
any MBE/MEE/MPT - type exam.



I want to let you know that I've just passed the UBE, and that I used an
iPhone and iPad with VoiceOver, paired with a HIMS, Inc. Braille Sense U2,
to study for it.



The excellent bar review course that helped me do this was BarMax.



I found BarMax on the Internet. In my experience, everything said about
BarMax on the Internet is true.



Most importantly, the developers of BarMax went out of their way to make
their materials accessible to me. They were enthusiastically helpful and
supportive throughout.



BarMax offers minibar and full bar exam review for  California, and full
bar review courses for New York and for that UBE. It offers a free MPRE
course, and interactive study materials for the MBE.

All of these courses are offered as iPhone/iPad apps exclusively.



BarMax is still working to make its products universally compatible with
VoiceOver.  This is a new company that's still perfecting its software. But
I can't overstress the developers' flexibility and commitment to helping me
pass the bar exam. I couldn't even have studied for the bar exam, much less
pass it,  without their help.



NB: Since I was retaking my exam, BarMax gave me their course at a 50%
discount.



Thank you for the suggestions that you made to me in June.



I hope that this account of my experience with BarMax will help someone
else.



Best regards,



Elizabeth M René


On Jun 7, 2013, at 6:18 AM, Dick Davis <ddavis at blindinc.org> wrote:

Dear Rene,

I have no doubt that there are such courses out there.  I am surprised that
the blind lawyers list members didn’t give you any sort of response.  You
could try the jobs and rehab lists too.  The jobs listserv is particularly
active.  One of our graduates just went to work for Brown, Goldstein, and
Levy in Baltimore.  His name is Matthias Niska.  Scott LaBarre is head of
the blind lawyers division.  His business is LaBarre Law in Denver.  His
phone number is o on the list of division presidents on the NFB website.  I
would look up both numbers for you, but our internet seems to be down right
now.  Charlie Brown works at the National Center, and may be of help to
you.  Their general number is 410-659-9314.  I hope this helps.

Dick Davis