Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law

FFOL is a godsend to those in law school. Professor Fleming’s courses helped me thoroughly understand the law and how to apply it for my exams. His exam writing workshop is aimed to fully understand your writing and how to improve it for both school exams and the bar. The feedback you get from FFOL is thorough because they care about how you do. I recommend all of Professor Fleming’s courses to every law student and pre-​bar student I meet. The staff and tutors are really down to earth and helpful. Check out FFOL!

I recently attended Fleming’s writing course for law school examinations. This course is really good and helpful! Mr. Fleming is an excellent speaker and mentor. He keeps the course fun and interesting with his informative lecture, helpful tools & techniques, and funny jokes. As a 2L, I can see that many of the things he says is true, since I experienced the same trials and tribulations in my first year of law school. In hindsight, I wished I knew some of this info in my 1L year. However, even as a 2L, this course is still helpful because there’s always room for improvement. In short, I feel that the information I learned in Fleming’s course is valuable and will help with law school.
Besides the course, he also provides many supplemental sources for purchase to help you through law school, such as outlines, MC questions, practice exams with both Q&A, and audio lecture CD’s on specific courses.

First let me start off by saying in order to see a big jump in grades you cannot be a complete idiot. In other words, you must give Fleming something to work with in order to propel you into the Top 10% of your class that you (may so) desire.
In short, I was apprehensive of taking his 2-​day course on how to write a law school exam even after reading the reviews because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to dish out the cash just for a 2 day course. Nevertheless, I signed up for the course and it was incredibly helpful. I went from a large majority of my grades being B’s to a large majority of my grades being A’s 1L year. Also, not only was I able to transfer to a top CA Law School but I was accepted to a plethora of top law schools with scholarship offers.

Flemings rocks! Let’s face it there are tons of law materials and bar prep and so forth but most you have to read and read again and then are so bored during the video lectures that you cannot stand them!
Fleming makes it easy to understand the concepts, he is the funny as heck makes you laugh even after you have listened and watched the same video lecture hundreds of times you can’t help but laugh at the jokes! «Costco» lunch anyone? LOl
He creates the road map to answers and the bar exam and gives you what you need in the shortest and most comprehensive and yet not boring way that there is!
Problem is that HE came up with this and I am not related to him so I can’t share in the profits but I can share in the success at least and did great in law school improved my GPA, knowledge and feel prepared to take the bar thanks to my hard work and Prof Fleming materials!

Jeff Fleming is the man. I think underneath all the skin and flesh, he is really a robot. I don’t know anyone as knowledgeable, dedicated, and hard working as Jeff which is why he’s been in business for over 32 years. Jeff can be strict on his students and pushes them to do their work because he cares.
I took Fleming’s for bar review and I couldn’t be happier. Everything we learned was on the exam. He gives you loads of past bar exams with answers as well as tons of MBE questions. I think i did over 3k questions and I still hadn’t gone through all the material.
We usually write out 2 – 3 exams every week under timed conditions. Feedback is returned a few days later both on your exam and through a CD from the grader. For those who have a different opinion about this program, it;s because they did not put in the work. This class motivates you and gives you the necessary tools to pass the bar exam, the passing part is up to you.
Sometimes during those civ pro and property lectures you just want to stab yourself, but Jeff always finds a way to crack a joke or to make things more sustainable. Take the program.

I was able to transfer to a top law school because Fleming’s enabled me to get into the top 20% at my Tier 3 school. Once at my new school, I continued to use Flemings for Civil Procedure and Constitutional law. I got great grades in both of these classes using the Fleming method.
All in all, FLEMING’S WORKS!

I am a 66 year old 1L in an online curriculum, and I am focused, dedicated and I did the work. I got through the EOY testing with midrange grades, but I will say, WITHOUT RESERVATION, there is NO POSSIBLE WAY I would have passed the BABY BAR on my FIRST ATTEMPT without attending the Fleming prep course. It was the roadmap for success. One of Prof Fleming’s tenents is «it is not enough to know the law to pass the test» rang true of every minute, of every grueling hour I sat in the test center.
If you want to have a leg up on this test, take his prep course.

I could not recommend Fleming’s more highly. I took the Ultimate Bar Review, rather than jumping on the Barbri bandwagon like most of my Loyola classmates. It was more expensive than Barbri, but completely worth it, given how personalized the instruction was (and still a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost of law school).
Beyond conveying the content, Fleming’s excels at teaching test-​taking techniques. Given how little time bar exam graders spend on reading each essay, it’s critical to make your essays as readable as possible for them to give you a high score.
Another big part of the bar exam is the psychological fortitude and physical endurance required to complete three days of testing. The Ultimate Bar Review provides «dress rehearsals,» full, three-​day simulations of the bar exam, which I felt played a huge role in me passing the first time.
If you’re looking for a more personalized alternative to Big Law Prep, definitely consider Fleming’s and the Ultimate Bar Review.

I love Flemings CDs & outlines!!! I can’t made it through law school without them! Plus, their writing course & bar review is a MUST!!!

I am currently a 3L, and while I cannot attest to the Bar Prep Course yet, I can attest to the phenomenal writing course and exam prep Flemings provides.
WRITING COURSE
When I first heard about the writing course I was skeptical because dedicating an entire weekend to an out of school course when I just started law school seemed daunting. However, i can honestly say it is the best decision I have made in law school. The course is thorough, well thought out, and incredibly helpful. It spoon feeds you everything you don’t get told in your first year (like how to write essays and issue spot). It was incredible. The most amazing part is that once you take the course, you can repeat it as many times as you like. This is going to be particularly handy when I need to hone in my writing skills for the bar.
EXAM REVIEW
This was and is a life saver in law school. The exam review lectures are normally about 4 hours and cover the entire course. The outlines are thorough, easy to read, and the lectures follow a linear path that you don’t get in law school. There are practice problems with the outline and Jeff goes over everything you need to know to write the perfect answer. This is truly the secret to doing well your first year of law school!
EXTRA PERKS
As a side note, what makes Flemings amazing is the personal service you get. Every time I call the office (which probably happens more than they would like), someone answers the phone ready to direct my call. Jeff Fleming seems to always be available to answer any questions I may have which is truly remarkable. I would recommend getting on the Flemings schedule early — you will not be disappointed!

I am so grateful that I enrolled in Mr. Fleming’s writing course before I started law school. But for taking his writing courses there would have been no way that I could have gotten an 80 in my contract class! Furthermore, his bar review course is excellent.
Moreover, Ms. Sneidmiller, a Fleming’s co founder and chief instructor for the Fleming’s Performance workshop, truly helped me master the performance exam in a very short period of time.
I wanted to write this review to thank both Mr. Flemings and Ms. Sneidmiller for helping me pass the 2014 bar examination. I could not have done it without their help!
Best Regards,
Ladan Palabod, Esq.

I am so grateful that I enrolled into the Long Term Bar Review. The program is excellent and really challenges your limits in order to prepare for the CA Bar Exam.
I just got done with the bar and will be taking the exam in a few days. I wanted to write this review now, because my ratings and review of the program is really independent from whether or not I pass or fail the CA Bar Exam.
As a foreigner, I enrolled into the program not knowing anything about US law. I managed to learn and understand all 15 subjects of CA bar with the program and practice all 3 sections of the exam, which gives me hope that I will at least have a «fair» chance on the exam. The program is really concrete and it forces you to put the necessary effort in order to succeed. For example, you have to prepare for class, you will write 3 essays on each subject every weekend, you will be doing 100 MBES per day, and you will learn at least 4 Performance Tests under timed conditions.
Professor Fleming and his staff are really genuine and passionate about their work! They are there to help you, if course, you want to help yourself first!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

This course is excellent. I took the in class short term Bar prep to prepare for the February Bar exam.
I originally qualified in another jurisdiction and did not attend US law school. Everyone told me to take one of the well known Bar prep courses and do exactly what they tell you to do. That was not good advice as most of the Bar preps do not tell you how important the MBEs are, give correct guidance for the PTs or make you practice writing as many essays.
Jeff and his team are passionate about what they do and it is contagious. They care about their students and are personally invested in your success. Jeff is a great instructor, knows all the material backwards and forwards and is amazing with preparing for the essays. Susan’s PT course is revolutionary. The materials for the course are fabulous.
There is no getting around the preparation required. However, I also needed the right people, advice and materials. Flemings provided this and helped to make the process as enjoyable as it can be. I also passed.
I highly recommend Flemings!

I could not be happier with the Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law Bar Preparation Program.
I took the short-​term bar prep course to prepare for the February 2014 California Bar Exam. Living in the San Diego area, the drive to and from Fullerton four days per week was a challenge. Also, like many older bar candidates, I was studying for the bar while raising two young sons and continuing to work to keep food on the table. Despite these challenges, along with others, I was able to pass the test on my first attempt. I MUST credit Jeff and his program for this. While the California Bar Exam can be overwhelming, Jeff’s system provides a clear and understandable framework to work within. This system was key in my approaching and defeating the test.
Two of the main factors that make FFOL’s bar prep course so great are the amount of writing bar candidates are made to do, and the Practical Test preparation. Writing over 60 practice essays help students see patterns that recur on the bar exam. The PT prep gives bar candidates a method with which to process and organize the information provided in such a way that there is actually time to write coherently.
I highly recommend FFOL.

Performance Exam Review — Susan Sneidmiller, Professor
Performance Exams are not easy and the CA PT is no «ninety minute» exam — yet. That said, one must seriously prepare for this 3-​hour exam or resign to become a repeater of the CA Bar Exam. Ultimately to succeed on the CA Bar Exam, one must succeed at Performance.
I have taken Professor Sneidmiller’s Performance Exam Review and I have also taken J. Holtz Performance Review. I have also read the reviews posted here so this is what I will say:
Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law (FFOL) provides a very structured approach to bar prep and this includes the Performance Exam Prep (PT).
The Performance Exam Prep requires that the student study the materials BEFORE class because the pace of the class is fast since the depth of the material is deep. There are no shortcuts no matter whose class one takes. FFOL and Sneidmiller provide a «tired and true» check-​list approach to the exams. One takes this checklist (committing it to memory) and applies it to the facts and then writes the exam accordingly. Because one is required to memorize the checklist, it requires a commitment that some students do not elect to make during bar prep. One must also commit to turning in several practice exams which also require a commitment that some students don’t wish to make since it requires considerable time to do each exam — CA Bar gives one 3 hours and in practice it takes more than that at first.
Professor Sneidmiller is a dedicated professional who has perfected a methodology that works. She provides the «inner and outer» checklists that one needs to develop when applying this methodology to the fact pattern in each PT. It is critical that one outline the PT since there is simply too much information — some of which is not relevant — or one will write on the wrong issue, fail to conclude or simply run out of time. Professor Sneidmiller’s approach, if followed, prevents this because outlining the exam is not an option. The good news is she teaches you the How and Why of outlining that translates to your other essays as well.
As far as cost goes, I don’t think that one can place a value on the exam course because it is higher or lower than other courses. Nor can one place a higher value on a course because one gets more «handouts.» The fact is that the value place on Performance Exam Prep is whether one can implement the methodology taught by the professor. In my opinion, I would use Professor Sneidmiller’s approach over any other because it is a method that can be readily mastered with commitment and practice. It’s the best!
FFOL with Professor Fleming and Professor Sneidmiller have provided the winning methodology for Law School, Baby Bar, Performance Exam and General Bar Prep more that 30 years. Use FFOL Methodology and you too will be a winner! No one better!

I took the 2 day Fleming’s Writing Workshop during my first semester of my 1L year at CWSL.
Bottom line: I THINK THE WRITING WORKSHOP SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL 1L’S! Not only did it help with my test taking skills, it helped with my overall legal writing for memo’s, briefs, and all other legal document.
The overall focus of the class, I would say, is learning the skill of IRAC and CREAC; a stable in all aspects of legal writing. As a 1L I had no experience with that concept or that type of writing. To say the least, the class along with all the additional resources that come along with the class give you the opportunity to become a pro… if you chose to do so.
The first day of the class Fleming lectures and goes over the process of exam taking/​legal writing. There’s a book that you follow along with and take notes. While it was tedious sitting in a class room all day on a Saturday, Fleming is a very captivating teacher… he keeps everything interesting and it’s pretty hard to get bored.
The second day is focused on applying what you learned on Sunday. You do a practice test before lunch. After lunch everyone comes back and goes over the test as a group to see how everyone did. Later, you take another test. That test is sent in to Fleming’s office and is graded by a professional. Within a week or so you are given a CD that goes over your test and gives advice on how to improve, etc.
Each student is also given the opportunity to take 2 additional tests and have them sent in to be graded. I highly suggest you take advantage of this opportunity.
PERSONAL STORY:
One of my good friends didn’t do so hot 1L year… was extremely close to getting kicked out for bad grades. I told him about Flemings and how it helped me understand what professors are looking for on exams and how to write effectively to get a good grade.
He ended up going to the Writing Workshop. I’m not even exaggerating when I say the next semester he AMJUR’D 3 of his 5 classes. I’m not saying Flemings was the reason this happened but I can affirmatively say it was definitely a primary factor.
Overall, I would suggest anyone, especially 1L’s, to take this class. Even if you’re doing pretty well in law school there’s ALWAYS room for improvement.
Side note: I took the class over a year ago so if my details about the class are slightly off my bad.

I passed the CA Bar on my first try and never earned less than a B+ at Southwestern Law School because of Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law.
MY OVERALL SUGGESTION: Start FFOL early and USE IT! Listen to all CDs and use the outlines during law school. Then, take FFOL Bar review. FFOL bar review is less stressful than other commercial courses and allows you to work or have a family and still pass.
JULY 2013 BAR EXAM; DAY BEFORE THE BAR: Jeff predicted 6 essays; both subject and issues within the subjects with perfect accuracy!!! Gulp!
How much help can that be the day before the exam? Very helpful because Jeff told you which past exams to review before walking into the exam during his predictions (for example: «Essay prediction number two: Con Law– equal protection, substantive due process, procedural due process… review essay where young pregnant GIRL FORCED TO ATTEND pregnancy classes BECAUSE SHE IS IN AN AT RISK CLASS –PREGNANT GIRLS for equal protection, etc.» Then, next day on bar exam the EXACT inverse of that exam was the essay question– a BOY IS FORCED TO ATTEND a forestry camp BECAUSE HE IS AN AT RISK CLASS– TRUANT YOUNG BOY.
Jeff did this with perfect accuracy for each essay and each issue within the essays. My friends and I felt like we were cheating!!!
JULY 2013 BAR PREP: I highly recommend Flemings fundamentals of law bar prep because
1) Jeff PREPARES you for the bar: by the time the bar came around I was extremely prepared evidenced by my passing the Bar on my first try; and
2) Jeff gives you the SUPPORT you need to study for the bar: I was really busy while studying (I worked during bar review) but Jeff, Julie and April were just a phone call away when I was nervous, tired, defeated or confused. It was really easy to text or call when I had a quick issue or just needed to hear someone have confidence in me.
3) Jeff gives you PERSONAL ATTENTION that larger companies cannot offer.
Essays
Materials: 1) Essay approach book; 2) 2 day workshop; 3) two books containing
EVERY past bar exam essay published with a «model answer» and the published
«passing answer (s.»
How this was helpful: The bar only tests certain issues in each
subject, those issues are often repeated quite similarly (see above example).
Result: By day one of the bar, I wrote over 100 essays, thus had «templates»
ingrained in my mind. I was extremely prepared for the essays (I was even able
to cite cases during my exam!!).
MBE (Multiple Choice)
Materials: 1) MBE approach book, and 2) MBE workshop (Science of the MBE is
MAGIC), 3) two books containing EVERY Bar released multiple choice question,
big book (the one everyone tells you to buy).
How this was helpful: I had over 3,000 real MBE’s at my fingertips, I was familiar
with the Bar’s rhythm of testing, knew how issues are tested, and even recognized
issues being tested.
Result: MBE has always been my weakest spot, and I fell behind on the assigned
MBE homework but I STILL PASSED… If I had to do it again, I would do every
MBE Jeff assigns because friends who did every MBE Jeff provided recognized
issues, answers, fact patterns, etc.
Performance Test
Materials: Sue teaches a performance workshop and gives you tons of practice!
How this was helpful: I had an approach for anything that can be tossed at me.
Result: I passed the Bar on my first try!
LAW SCHOOL OUTLINES AND CDs:
I owe my law school success to Jeff! I started using FFOL my very first semester of law school and used it for every bar subject. I never earned lower than a B+ using FFOL CDs and outlines. I know I passed the Bar because I used FFOL during law school. Bar review was really a review for me because I knew and remembered all of the mnemonics and funny jokes Jeff told to get me through the subjects (QTIPs, Mr. Dog, I’M FOR SANDI, CAMPER, ABC FITT, the murder room). During bar review I was still able to repeat perfect rule statements I learned three years earlier.
FFOL WRITING WORKSHOP:
TAKE IT!!! Even when I took exams and knew NOTHING about what was being asked, I could always spit out a winning answer because Jeff taught me how to write. If you can write well you will succeed in law school. I know it is a pain to give up a weekend during your last weeks of the semester but a weekend spent taking the workshop is never wasted. I think I took the workshop like three times– not because I forgot but because I knew I got better each time. I learned something new each time I took the course.
Jeff, Julie, April: You are the best!!! You are amazing people and I am so grateful for all of your help and support. I am better for having met you!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

I took Fleming’s Fundamentals of Law UBT Bar Review and Writing Workshop.
WRITING WORKSHOP: Flemings Writing Workshop is a weekend long seminar designed to increase a law student’s ability to efficiently write a law school essay. Truthfully, I had a hard time sitting through an hour and 15 minute class during school and so naturally the thought of a two day seminar was repulsive. I was pleasantly surprised when I showed up. Jeff Fleming has a unique ability to draw my attention in and hold it. He teaches through repetition and humor, which kept me fully engaged. I found that I wasn’t looking at the clock every 15 minutes and I wasn’t itching to get on Facebook and chat with my neighbor. At the end of the two days I was more comfortable with the IRAC structure and I learned a lot about how to write a proper law school essay. Throughout my law school career I used Jeff’s reference book on many occasions for a refresher on how to write. After Jeff’s workshop I saw an increase in my grades. My essays were better organized and I used the IRAC more effectively.
ULTIMATE BAR TUTORIAL (UBT): $ 6,400 sounds like a lot of money, but in comparison to the $ 161,000 of student debt it is only a small price to pay. It is also worth the money to be a first time bar passer. Not having to take the bar exam again was worth every penny spent, every tear shed and every mile driven. The UBT course is a very small course limited to 20 students, my class only had 5 students in it. UBT is a very intense course that started in March for the July bar exam.
Materials: In the UBT course I was given a full set of Gilbert’s for each one of the 7 multiple choice subjects, outlines for each of the 15 subjects, past bar questions, sample answers, 5 books on multiple choice and a couple different work books. Needless to say, the amount of material that comes with the course is overwhelming at first. I honestly didn’t think we would get through all of the material, but I was wrong. The Fleming’s outlines and lectures are longer than average, but the material is very in depth and establishes a solid platform on the material.
Multiple Choice: In UBT there is a 6 day multiple choice «bootcamp.» I liked this «bootcamp» because it was a good starting point. We took a full length MBE exam broken up in 4 days. The results of this exam played a key role is seeing progress. Jared (I forgot his last name) is the MBE professor. He does a really good job in helping you diagnose where your weak areas are on the MBE. Jared was also an awesome counselor and let me know that it was OK to cry. After my meeting with him, I cried and then I was able to get my head back in the game. Flemings gives everyone a lot of books to work from. I personally supplemented the books with MBE Edge out of convinced and not having to carry more books than necessary.
Performance Workshop: My performance workshop (s) were taught by Susan Sneidmiller. Often times the PT’s are over looked by bar candidates. I know one girl who didn’t do a single PT before the bar (she didn’t pass). Susan (Sue) taught performance through repetition. The way that she taught us how to navigate a performance exam was more like a puzzle, we just needed to find the different pieces and put them together. Sue always talked to me with respect and was very encouraging. During UBT we go through 11 performances exams, Sue grades every single one and gives in depth feedback. I requested more exams from Sue to practice on my own and she was happy to oblige. I never felt uncomfortable talking to Sue or asking Sue a question. I was eager to learn and she was eager to teach.
Essays: By the time UBT came to a close essays were like second nature to me. I have written over 88 essays by the time the bar came. There was very little that I hadn’t seen and hadn’t written. The biggest thing about Flemings, in my opinion, is the issue-​spotting checklist. April Molin (Professor) would always tell the class that if we memorized our checklists and approaches it was like taking the answers in to the exam. I didn’t believe her until the moment that I was looking around the room for a proctor because I felt like I was cheating. The checklists and approaches made the world of difference during the bar.
I highly recommend Flemings Ultimate Bar Tutorial!

I lost the suit. Pure contract law.
My suit had various causes of action including breach of contract, breach of warranty, product liability, and equitable reasoning for detrimental reliance. None of it worked. The judge favored FFOL. One of the reasons to be honest… I don’t know how much he paid attention or gave me credit for the various causes. Also…
Why?
He pointed to the express clause int he contract: «Please note that all payments are non-​refundable once home study materials have been opened.» I mean talk about fine print. Yeah… yeah its there in black and white.
Pure contract law prevails. Express terms win, parole evidence loses. However, is that the whole story? Absolutely not. However, in court, that’s what won the day. I can’t do anything about it.
Professor Fleming and I had a follow up call. We sort of buried the hatchet. I’m not happy but I did take away a valuable learning experience from this. In a way I’m glad it happened. Better now then later in life.

I took the Writing Workshop course from Jeff Fleming during my first year of law school in 2010. Hands down, this was one of the best investments I made!
Learning how to take a law school exam is crucial to your success in law school. A Professor himself, Jeff teaches you what your law professors expect you to know and want to see when they are grading your exam, yet don’t fully explain how to do.
Fleming’s also offers a host of law school prep materials that I have found extremely beneficial to my success. Take one class and you’ll be hooked too! The Fleming’s team is very knowledgeable and is as committed to your success as you are.