Declining law school admissions create ripple effect, related businesses must chart new courses

DALLAS, Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Given the decline in law school applications and admissions, law schools aren't the only organizations that must reexamine their business models. Companies that target law school graduates also must identify new ways to grow.

BARBRI, the company that has helped almost every lawyer in the United States today prepare for the bar exam, now offers a suite of new professional effectiveness products that complements its core offering and extends its market reach. With fewer students entering law school, BARBRI is creating growth opportunities within the legal training category by offering new educational course for students as well as lawyers.

"Through strategic acquisitions and new product development efforts, BARBRI now supports every stage of the legal life cycle – from pre-law student to practicing attorney," said attorney and BARBRI President Mike Sims. "Our legal education experts help law students succeed and lawyers thrive in a changing environment by filling in some of the gaps left by law school curricula."

BARBRI is widely known for the industry's leading bar review course and for making complex information easier to understand and remember. Drawing from its related expertise, BARBRI has added legal education programs for new audiences. Two acquisitions over the past year – Law Preview and Telestrat Education – have expanded BARBRI's offerings with courses for students entering law school, and for attorneys who want to bolster their professional skills.  

All of BARBRI's educational services are designed to help develop successful lawyers in an evolving industry and a challenging job market. Students at the beginning of the process are well-served by Law Preview, the company and course BARBRI acquired in June 2012.

Law Preview has long been known for preparing incoming students for the unique challenges of law school – a dramatically different experience from undergraduate studies – by teaching academic strategies such as test- and note-taking skills, case briefing, time management and how to survive the Socratic teaching method. Law Preview students also gain a better understanding of first-year subjects, affording them a head start on all other 1Ls – a critical component of future success, since first-year grades are a primary criteria law firms consider during recruiting efforts in students' second year of law school.

After graduating and passing the bar, lawyers who need to sharpen specific professional skillsets can now rely on BARBRI for Legal Practice products. Through its Legal Practice courses, BARBRI teaches practice-ready skills to first-and second-year associates and professional effectiveness to attorneys at all levels.

Finance is one area most attorneys agree they should know more about. BARBRI's Financial Skills for Lawyers courses were formerly known as Telestrat Education, the company BARBRI acquired in October 2012. In these classes, top financial and business experts teach finance for lawyers and make understandable such topics as accounting essentials; corporate transactions; finance and valuation; forensic accounting; stocks, bonds and options; and financial statements. BARBRI also has developed courses on professional effectiveness, communications and other subjects that help new and seasoned attorneys enhance and grow their businesses.

ABOUT BARBRI
BARBRI, Inc., has helped more lawyers prepare for the bar than any other company and is now positioned to meet the legal education needs of both law students and attorneys throughout their academic and professional careers. BARBRI's leading legal and education experts cultivate better prepared, engaged students who are more likely to succeed, which translates to lower attrition rates at law schools and higher bar passage and job placement rates. Founded in 1967, BARBRI is headquartered in Dallas with offices throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.BARBRI.com. 

SOURCE BARBRI