The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action, Whitney Roberts
Textbook Testimonials

"The Bar Code Cheat Sheets were an invaluable tool for me during my preparation for the California Bar Exam. My other review course simply did not give me any credible guidance for the proper flow and structure for an essay response. The Bar Code Cheat Sheets did just that, and even highlighted the key concepts to include when writing my answer. I'm convinced Whitney Roberts' guidance helped me pass that dreaded test, the first and only time I took it. Thanks Whitney!"

L. Red Gobuty, Esq.

"The Bar Code Cheat Sheets book is undoubtedly the reason I passed the Bar Exam. The book not only helped me learn the substantive law in a new way, but it taught me how to write a successful Bar Exam essay. I loved the "cheat sheets" so much that I memorized every single one and I ended up applying them in some fashion on all six of my essays. When using this book, one really does feel like they have an advantage over all the other test takers. I personally felt like I'd seen the questions before and I knew exactly how to attack the answer, pick up the points, and move on.  During the prep period, this book helped me feel confident that I was where I was supposed to be and I spent less time obsessing about my progress than my peers.  If you do only one thing to supplement your studying, it should be buying, using, and memorizing this book."

Amanda Hairston, Esq.

"It was already late June when I started getting my regular review course essays back.  I had studied my outlines backwards and forwards and knew them cold.  So you can imagine my frustration when, with only a few weeks until the exam, each essay I wrote received a failing grade, but without an explanation from the grader as to why.  My law was right, so what was I doing wrong?  So I used Whitney Roberts' method and cheat sheets book to model and shape the flow of my answers, which in turn allowed me to spend more time where it really counted.  I just found my name on the pass list.  Whitney - I do not believe I could have done it without you.  Thank you." 

Nathan Bartos, Esq. 

"The Cheat Sheets in Action book was an invaluable tool that I used constantly while studying for the bar exam. I read the book cover to cover several times, and often referred to it when answering and reviewing practice essays. This book breaks down a massive amount of substantive law into very discrete categories of essay questions, and then provides a framework for writing high quality answers to each of those questions. No other test prep company or program simplifies the process of writing essays quite like Whitney Roberts' "Cheat Sheets." This books makes the essay portion of the bar exam manageable, which is no small task at all."

Matthew Brady, Esq.

"The Bar Code Cheat Sheets are amazing. They are an easy and straightforward way to attacking the California Bar Exam. Whitney Roberts has taken something as daunting as the Bar Exam and completely removed the complexity from it. If you correctly apply the cheat sheets, you cannot fail. Seriously, they are like kryptonite."

J. Balogh, Esq.

"I highly recommend The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action textbook by Whitney Roberts. This book was one of the best bar review purchases I made. It helped me understand how all of the legal issues fit together for some of the larger topics tested on the exam and I definitely felt more prepared because it. Because I knew how to effectively lay out the law before reading the essays, I was able to save myself time answering each of the questions. That in turn gave me more time to do effective factual analysis and most importantly, FINISH every essay. This book contains information that is just not presented in the general bar review courses and is well worth every penny! I felt more confident and at ease walking into the exam and it was all because of this book. Thank you, Whitney!"

Allyson Bennett, Esq.

"The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action book by Whitney Roberts was one of my best resources for studying for the bar and for handling the organization bar essays require quickly. And time saved during the exam is more time to write a successful essay answer. Studying for the California Bar Exam is an enormous task and these cheat sheets were invaluable to me. I did not have to think about how to craft an approach to handle the topics covered by the cheat sheets during the bar; I knew the cheat sheets by heart and could apply an entire cheat sheet or just a portion of one depending on the call of the question. That left me time to think about factual analysis. Traditional bar study courses were not enough for me. I needed a plan and The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action was an invaluable resource. They are truly a "must" for effective bar preparation."

Diane Sabonis, Esq. (2008)

"The Bar Code Cheat Sheets book is a total blessing. Now I just need some shortcuts for kicking butt in the legal world! Thank you so much for assisting me with this monstrous hurdle."

Marissa L. R. Dragoo, Esq.

" Knowing the law is only the first step toward passing the California Bar Exam; I found out the hard way. I memorized my outlines and was all-around confident in my legal knowledge. But I failed the test my first time. After reviewing my answers, it was painfully clear that my approach to the essays was inadequate. I prepared for the exam again using Whitney
Roberts' The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action. Her book helped me to re-tool my entire approach to the essays, arming me with a framework to quickly organize my answers in a format easily recognizable to the graders. The samples and tips Roberts provided also helped me to understand the graders' expectations, efficiently and effectively maximize my points and pass the exam on my second attempt. I highly recommend The Bar Code Cheat Sheets--they're a great way to get over the hump known as the California Bar Exam and move on with your life!"

Humberto N. Macias, Esq. (2008)

"'Just IRAC it.' 'All you have to do is IRAC.' This advice was forced upon me ad nauseam as I prepared for the California Bar Exam. People assumed IRAC was a simple and understood concept, or treated it like it was a guaranteed way of passing the exam.  But having read low and high scoring essays that were all organized in IRAC form, I learned early on that IRAC was not that simple, and required much more in the bar exam context.

The Bar Code Cheat Sheets became my bible on how to attack and format the essays. Whereas other books taught a generalized approach, the Cheat Sheets offered clear and specific explanations of how IRAC is applied within each area of law.  The actual templates are amazing.  They showed me exactly how to separate and treat sub-issues for each selected topic.  They also provided advice on presentation, so that it would be easier for a bar grader to read and grade my answer.  In addition, the book is full of very informative footnotes that offer clear explanations about the proper location of certain arguments, as well as discussions of the common errors made by students and concrete ways of improving your level of analysis.  The book also contains a variety of exercises and sample answers that demonstrate the level of analysis needed to pass.  After practicing the techniques in the book, I made the templates my own by modifying them to reflect my writing style, deviating when appropriate, and even creating my own templates for issues not covered in the book.

This book was the best money I spent for bar preparation.  No doubt—it was the most helpful resource as it provided me with the level of detail and guidance I needed to understand IRAC.  I have and will continue to enthusiastically recommend this book!!!  Thank you Bar Code!  And thank you, Whitney!

Eloisa Rivera , Esq. (2008)

" Is your bar review course preparing you for the 1989 bar exam?  Each year the California bar exam grows more complex with higher and higher grading standards.  Yet each year, most bar review programs simply change the color of their book covers while clinging to the same old content and structure they’ve been using since your partner sat for the exam.    

The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action book stands alone as the only resource available that provides step-by-step instruction on writing for today’s bar exam. 

In an era of rising standards, doing what everyone else does may not be enough to pass the exam.  Everyone knew enough to graduate from law school.  Everyone studies hard for the bar exam.  Everyone makes flashcards and memorizes rules of law.  Everyone reads old exam questions and practices spotting the freight train issues.  But NOT everyone knows how to present that information in an essay that addresses all the issues, major and minor.  Not everyone knows what structure will make their answer easiest to grade. 

Simply put, The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action by Whitney Roberts answers the question “What are they looking for on the exam?”  You’ll learn how to present answers that will encourage a grader to give you the most points available.  Using this book is like having your own private bar tutor.  If you want a competitive edge, this is the book for you.  And if you work in a firm that expects you to pass the exam, you owe it to yourself to use The Bar Code Cheat Sheets in Action.

I did and I passed." 

Ted Finamore, Esq. *

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