Widener Law Commonwealth’s Bar Success Program: Supporting Students Every Step of the Way
Preparing for the bar exam is one of the most significant challenges law graduates face, and Widener University Commonwealth Law School is committed to ensuring its students have the tools and support they need to succeed. Through its comprehensive bar success program, the law school provides structured courses, faculty mentorship, and personalized coaching to help students navigate the rigorous exam process with confidence.
“We have two classes that we offer in a student’s final year: fundamentals of the bar, which covers the multiple-choice portion of the exam, and writing for the bar, a seminar focused on the written components,” said Jamie Zadra, director of bar success at Widener Law Commonwealth. “These courses are designed to prepare students as they get closer to the exam.”
Beyond coursework, the law school offers a summer bar coaching program, pairing students with faculty mentors for individualized support. Weekly lunch-and-learn workshops, bar boosters sessions throughout the semester, and an intensive bar boot camp further enhance preparation by focusing on specific exam strategies. The program also emphasizes pacing, self-care, and mental wellness to help students manage the stress of bar preparation.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to bar prep,” Zadra said. “Success requires mastering a range of skills, from writing concisely under time constraints to navigating the complexities of multiple-choice questions. We’re incorporating multiple strategies to give our students the best possible advantage.”
For Erika Firestone, a 2024 graduate and now an attorney at McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, the biggest challenge of bar prep was isolation. “You are the only person at the end of the day who can get yourself through your own bar experience,” she said. “I overcame this by studying around other people in the library, attending school-sponsored bar prep lunches and lectures, and spending time with my family and friends while making sure not to talk about the bar exam. It was important for me to realize that even though this was my bar journey, I wasn’t alone.”
Widener Law Commonwealth’s bar success program helped Firestone and her peers stay engaged and supported. The weekly lunches on campus provided a sense of community and encouragement from faculty. “The weekly lectures hosted by various faculty members were also a great way to switch things up,” she added. “You start to live inside the screen that is your bar prep course, so it was helpful to get in front of a live lecturer to review various topics.”
For Gabrielle Spisak, a 2024 graduate and now an attorney at the Law Office of Andrew H. Shaw, P.C., the biggest challenge was balancing the demands of studying with the distractions of summer. “The hardest part of bar prep is everything outside of bar prep—the warm summer weather, family obligations, and enticing plans with friends. You truly have to go all in and commit,” she said. “Bar prep is seven days a week. I took two full days off the entire summer. That was it.”
Spisak highlighted the importance of the bar success program in keeping her on track. “Jamie was an incredible resource throughout the summer,” she said. “She made herself available to everyone, providing insight into study strategies and the emotional aspects of bar prep. Having a faculty bar prep advisor for weekly check-ins also helped keep me accountable and focused.”
In addition to rigorous study schedules, both graduates found ways to incorporate self-care. Firestone prioritized healthy eating and daily walks, while Spisak found motivation in envisioning her future as a practicing attorney. “I knew bar prep was something I only wanted to experience once,” Firestone said. “That kept me motivated to push through.”
For December graduates preparing for the February bar exam, Zadra’s advice is simple: believe in yourself and trust the process. “You don’t want to have any regrets,” she said. “Work as hard as you can, study as much as you can, and go into the exam with confidence. Hard work and positive thinking go a long way.”
With dedicated faculty, structured programming, and a strong sense of community, Widener Law Commonwealth’s Bar Success Program continues to empower students to achieve success on the bar exam and beyond.
For more information on the bar success program, visit Widener Law Commonwealth’s website.
