Robert Takasugi Pro Bono Bar Review turned 60 this year

Six decades after the late U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi began tutoring bar exam takers at his family's dining table, a new cohort gathered Tuesday inside a courtroom at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse to continue the legacy.

The no-cost, essay-focused program he created--built for repeat test-takers and rooted in community service--quietly turned 60 this year, still operating with the same mission: to open doors that traditional bar prep often leaves closed.

"This started at our dining room table," said Superior Court Judge Jon R. Takasugi. "My father began this in the mid-1960s. I was just a little boy--probably making noise and being shushed."

Judge Robert M. Takasugi, the first Japanese American appointed to the federal bench, opened his home to students who needed help but couldn't afford traditional prep courses. He read their essays at the same table where his family ate dinner. Now, his son, continuing the program, begins each cycle with the same message: Show up, stay disciplined, respect the process.

"We're not fully responsible," he told this year's group of students. "But we've helped hundreds--maybe thousands--pass. Some of them are judges now."

The program doesn't cover every bar subject. It doesn't prepare students for multiple choice. It focuses on essays and pairs each student with a volunteer instructor who reviews their writing and provides feedback. All communication outside class happens by email. Attendance is mandatory. Deadlines are enforced.

"They're here because they believe in this," Takasugi said. "You owe them your time if you're asking for theirs."

In some cases, the program has covered bar registration fees for students who couldn't afford them.

"Before I was a judge, I could ask people for money," he said. "We made it happen."