Barbri iPhone App: Is there any utility?
Nov 10th, 2009 | By Katie Luper | Category: Attorney Gadgets, Featured, First Year, Law School, Lead Article, Social Media, Web 2.0Barbri is a known frenemy (see definition here) to law students around the nation. You hate the price and the grueling schedule, but many of us would not make it to the licensed attorney stage without it. On September 17th of this year, Barbri released an iPhone app, now on version 1.1.
I downloaded the app a while back but I’ve recently started playing around with it. In my Wills and Trusts class, I was getting a little confused about per stirpes and various intestacy statutes and I decided to check out the Wills & Trusts lectures on the barbri app. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great overview of the subject and it was easy to access. Basically, there is a bank of audio lectures for both first year students and upper level students that are nice generic overviews.
After that surprise, I decided to play around a little with the “barbri challenge” the law school game on the app. Now, for those of us fortunate enough to be in law school, the concept of a law school game based on the multi-state bar exam is truly laughable. However, it’s a nice little game to kill time (think waiting in line at lunch) and learn a few things.
One interesting thing for the 1Ls out there is that barbri is offering a promotion where you can save some money on a iPhone or iPod Touch purchase! As seen on barbri’s site:
Special Offer: BARBRI is running a special promotion to make it easier for you to purchase your own device. If you are a law student who purchases a new iPhone® or iPod touch® between August 15, 2009 and November 20, 2009 from an authorized Apple retailer and downloads the BARBRI app, you can receive a discount on your BARBRI Bar Review or BARBRI Mobile™ course tuition. For more information, please see the iPhone® / iPod touch® Discount Claim Form.
If you are a Repeater or Alumni student who purchases a new iPhone® or iPod touch® between August 15, 2009 and November 20, 2009 from an authorized Apple retailer and downloads the BARBRI app, you can receive a discount on your BARBRI Mobile™ course tuition. For more information, please see the iPhone® / iPod touch® Discount Claim Form for Alumni & Repeaters.
You’re probably going to take barbri (or some other bar prep service) anyway and so this is a neat way to get a cool gadget and save a little dough.
Pros: it’s free, learn a little while killing time, decent summary lectures
Cons: Since it’s free, how can there be a con? I wish it had more information but again, it’s free.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rex7 and Rex7, jaredcorreia. jaredcorreia said: RT @Rex7: Barbri iPhone App: Is there any utility? http://ff.im/-bfYRM [...]
IT IS NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT free people
It may be free to download but you have to PURCHASE the newest ipod update in order to sync the Barbri application–translation: you get the application but you have to pay to use it. So stop saying that it is free. And it’s not like the update costs that much, it’s the principle of the matter: Barbri wants your money, Apple wants your money, and they collaborate to pretend to give you a deal, only to ask you for more money when you fall for it… it’s a freaking scam and we’re at their mercy because at this point, the Barbri is pretty damn closed to a requirement and everyone wants an ipod.
Bright side: the app IS good once you pay for the new ipod, download the free app, and then turn around and have to purchase the software to use it (kinda feels like you have to buy the app, right? a $4.95 app…) I just don’t think it’s fair for them to give the impression that you just need to buy the paperwork, download the free app and get to studying, when there’s a step in between that requires you to shell out more cash…
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[...] has finally pushed me over the edge is the BarBri application discussed by fellow contributor, Katie Luper. I think this is a great idea, and as soon as I saw [...]