A top law school for career outcomes

Preparing for the bar exam is a significant undertaking and commitment for most law students. 

At Iowa Law, students participate in a rigorous curriculum paired with individualized guidance from faculty and staff. Bar exam preparation is an extension of that support. Through individualized guidance, dedicated resources, and our Advanced Bar Preparation course, Iowa Law graduates consistently exceed average bar passage rates in Iowa and across the country.

For information about the bar exam including exam dates, jurisdiction information, recently released exam pass rates, and more, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) website.

NCBE website

100 %

Students employed or enrolled in graduate school within 10 months of graduation

Class of 2025

98 %

Bar passage rate among First-time test-takers in Iowa

Class of 2025

91 %

Bar passage rate among first-time test takers across states

Class of 2025

Advanced Bar Preparation course

Open to students in the spring of their 3L year, Iowa Law’s Advanced Bar Preparation course jumpstarts exam prep by providing a skill-focused, contextualized review of foundational subtopics across selected subjects, such as Contracts and Civil Procedure.

Each substantive review segment is crafted to build mastery in the subject matter with checkpoint activities and a capstone assessment to measure your understanding—all followed with feedback from expert faculty. Segments are then followed by interactive skill development and skill reinforcement lessons to sharpen your problem-solving skills, develop flexibility navigating a variety of question types, and reinforce your understanding of the substantive law. 

"Iowa Law has an incredibly high bar passage rate because the school goes above and beyond to prepare students for exam day. The bar prep course provides a significant headstart on exam content review, which made entering a summer of full-time studying feel much more manageable. I could not recommend this course more!”

Theresa Eckel smiles for a photo outside.

Theresa Eckel (26JD)

Exam preparation resources

Paid bar prep courses

Looking for extra resources as you prepare to take the bar exam? These four bar test prep providers are considered industry leaders for full-service bar review courses. 

Barbri
Helix
Themis
Kaplan

Free resources for students

Bar preparation is time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. The following are recommended resources that are available at no additional cost:

Support after graduation

Iowa Law continues to support students as you study for the bar exam after graduation, with faculty and staff available to provide advice and encouragement.

Recent graduates may opt to receive text messages with tips for taking the exam along with reminders of self-care and motivation when some can feel isolated. When available, staff and faculty will also keep an eye on your progress as you complete your study plan and will reach out to support students who need specific advice. 

Contact us

Headshot of Carin Crain smiling and seated at her desk in front of a bright window.

Carin Crain

Associate Dean of Student and Career Services
carin-crain@uiowa.edu
319-335-9648
Carin Crain has served as the Associate Dean of Student and Career Services at the University of Iowa College of Law since August 2007. Before coming to Iowa, she worked in various capacities at Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California, including: Lecturer In Law, Special Education Hearing Officer, Director of Off-Campus Clinical Programs, and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Dean Crain started her legal career as a Staff Attorney at the Sacramento and Shasta Regional Offices of Legal Services of Northern California.
Headshot of Tami Diebel smiling in white button-up shirt with green foliage in the background.

Tami Diebel, JD

Associate Director, Career and Student Services
tami-diebel@uiowa.edu
407-319-6742
Tami Diebel graduated from law school in 2003 before becoming involved in Career Services, where she found her true calling. She had been working with college students for years before joining Iowa Law.
Headshot of Caroline Sheerin seated at her office desk.

Caroline Sheerin

Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing and Research
Professor of Instruction
Ferguson Carlson Fellow
Director, Bar Success
caroline-sheerin@uiowa.edu
319-335-9131
Caroline Sheerin graduated cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University in 1993, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. She then taught English in Japan for two years and after returning from Japan, she received her Masters in East Asian Studies from Washington University in St. Louis. She then went to the University of Michigan Law School, where she received her JD.