Our Mission: Help Students to Achieve Their Goals

The Office of Academic Success provides the resources needed to succeed in law school, pass the bar examination, and develop habits that will carry over into a professional setting. We partner with the doctrinal faculty, the senior administration and outside experts to achieve our mission and promote the principles we embrace.

The Office of Academic Success offers courses and programs, built around the curriculum, that promote active, engaged, and self-regulated learning. Though our programs, we help Elon Law students develop the fundamental skills for effective class preparation and exam taking, including:

  • Critical reading and exam
  • Logical, strategic thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Effective writing
  • Time and stress management

What Students Are Saying About OAS

“I came to law school…with no prior legal experience. Despite being told that law school can be difficult, I took no heed of that advice during the first trimester. I was aware the Office of Academic Success existed, and that I could visit the professors to iron out any questions I may have had. Despite that, I made zero visits. The next trimester, I visited Professor Cyr in OAS on a weekly basis, frequently receiving practice problems, both essay and multiple choice, and finishing them within a few days. Professor Cyr and I would then go over my answers at the next meeting, and this pattern was tremendously helpful.” – Member of the Class of 2020

“When I received the results of my first set of law school grades I was shocked, confused, and disappointed, but not discouraged. I immediately began weekly meetings with the Office of Academic Success to help me move past such a difficult fall term. I learned how to find various study tools and methods to test what works best for my learning style, how to write an essay for law school, how to use constructive criticism on my memos, and how to budget my time between classes so no class becomes neglected.” – Member of the Class of 2020

Meet Our Team

Course Offerings

1L Required Course

Introduction to the Study & Practice of Law – LAW 6060 (3 credits)

This course helps entering students with the transition from learning in undergraduate or graduate school to learning in law school, by assessing students’ knowledge and skills development. The course also begins the process of preparing for the bar examination. Students earn two credits for ISPL at the end of August term and one credit at the end of Fall trimester.

2L Elective Course

Mastering Legal Analysis – LAW 6830 (2 credits)

Mastering Legal Analysis improves students’ ability to deconstruct legal rules, to explain and evaluate the significance of facts, to thoroughly support conclusions of law, and to effectively organize content. These skills are critical in applying law to the hypothetical questions typical of both law school and bar exams. The hands-on learning methodology used in the course will include in-class analytical and writing work in both individual and group settings. This is a graded course.

3L Required Course

Bar Exam Foundations – LAW 8220 (2 credits)

This course, which takes place during the final trimester of the third year, is designed to help students maximize their performance on the bar exam. In addition to reviewing selected bar-tested topics, students will be directed to develop expert study strategies.  The course will also provide students exposure to and experience in each of the three components of the Uniform Bar Exam—multiple choice, essays, and performance tests.  Course assessments will be based on simulated bar exam components.  This is a graded course. Assessments will be based on simulated bar examinations. Enrollment in this course is limited to third-year students. This course is not available to satisfy the upper level writing requirement.

Programs & Resources for Current Students

Academic Fellows

The Office of Academic Success selects upper-level students to serve as Academic Fellows based on academic achievement, commitment to the Elon Law community, aptitude for expert learning strategies, and interest in education. Academic Fellows assist OAS faculty in:

  • Guiding you through the process of honing the skills needed to prepare for class (case briefing, case synthesis, outlining and time management);
  • Developing strategies for preparing and taking law school and bar exam style tests; and
  • Achieving the learning outcomes listed on your professors’ syllabi.

Academic Fellows hold office hours, work with faculty Teaching Assistants, participate in Introduction to Legal Studies and Learning Excellence Applied Personally (LEAP) workshops and develop additional programing under the guidance of OAS faculty.

MPRE Workshops

The Model Professional Responsibility Examination is given three times a year: March, August, and November. The Office of Academic Success offers a six-week workshop prior to each iteration of the MPRE. This workshop covers highly tested topic areas and review of practice exam questions. The workshop series culminates in a full-length simulated practice exam with feedback.

Bar Application Workshops

The bar application process can be cumbersome. The Office of Academic Success aims to support each student throughout the arduous process of applying for the bar examination. Each week from August-October, the Office of Academic Success hosts Bar Application Workshops. Upper-level students applying for the bar exam can bring their questions regarding the bar application to the workshop.

General Bar Exam Information

Registration

Registration deadlines vary by state and change periodically.

The National Conference of Bar Examiner’s website has all the information you need, plus links to every state’s own website. Start at the National Conference of Bar Examiners home page or the NCBE Jurisdiction Information page for information on specific states. The “Comprehensive Guide” on that website has information on all the states in summary form.

Information about the North Carolina Board of Bar Examiners is available online and includes links to all important documents needed to sit for the UBE exam in North Carolina. The test is administered each year in February and July.

Additional information:

MPRE

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a 60-question, two-hour-and-five-minute, multiple-choice examination administered three times each year. The purpose of the MPRE is to measure the examinee’s knowledge and understanding of standards associated with lawyers’ professional conduct. It is based on the law governing the conduct of lawyers, including the disciplinary regulations of professional conduct set forth in the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as generally recognized principles established in case law and in procedural and evidentiary rules, plus controlling constitutional decisions. A list of jurisdictions currently using the MPRE is available on the MPRE website. Passing scores are established by each jurisdiction.

Pro Bono Requirements

Many states require applicants to have worked a number of pro bono hours prior to their admission to practice law. Please check the state bar website of the jurisdiction in which you intend to practice to ensure compliance with this requirement. Elon Law provides a number of opportunities for pro bono service. For additional information, contact the Office of Career and Student Development.