Failed FL BAR twice — what finally worked for my third attempt?

by David K. 27 views3 replies
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David K.OP
May 27, 2026

Okay so I'm not proud of this but I failed the Florida Bar twice before finally passing last February, and I figured someone out there might be in the same boat and could use some real talk instead of the generic "just study harder" advice. After my second failure I completely overhauled my approach. I'd been reading outlines for hours every day but not actually testing myself, which is honestly the worst way to prep for this exam.

What changed everything was drilling with a solid FL BAR practice test bank — like actually timing myself and treating each session as the real thing. I also found a study guide that broke down Florida-specific distinctions from MBE subjects, because those tripped me up both times. My weak spots were Con Law and Evidence, and I needed targeted work there specifically.

I went from a 262 on attempt two to a 285 on attempt three. If anyone wants to talk through what resources helped or share what's working for you, I'm happy to dig into it. Especially curious what exam tips others have for pacing the MEE section.

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Samantha C.
May 27, 2026
This hits close to home. I'm on my second attempt prep right now and the pacing issue on the MEE is killing me. I've started doing timed 30-minute essay blocks and honestly it's uncomfortable but I think that discomfort is the point. What was your daily schedule like in the final 6 weeks? I'm trying to balance full-time work which makes it brutal.
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Jessica L.
May 28, 2026
The Florida-specific distinctions are no joke. I passed on my first attempt but I almost didn't — I underestimated how much Florida deviates from the uniform rules on things like homestead and civil procedure. Did you use any particular bar review course alongside your practice tests, or mostly self-study? I used Barbri but supplemented heavily with outside materials.
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Nicole F.
May 28, 2026
Congrats on passing — seriously, third attempt takes real grit. For anyone reading this still in it, don't sleep on the MPT section. It's the most coachable part of the whole exam and most people underprepare for it. One good session working through past MPT prompts can move your score noticeably.

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