National Typewriter Day Edition: Why Typing Beats Handwriting Every Time

Today is National Typewriter Day, a celebration of the once-revolutionary device that paved the way for modern typing as we know it. While few of us are cranking out essays on a Bother these days, the impact of the typewriter lives on—especially for bar takers.

So let’s take a moment to appreciate the evolution from typewriter to laptop—and why typing still reigns supreme when it comes to the bar exam.

Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

Occasionally, I receive inquiries from prospective examinees regarding whether to type or handwrite their responses on the bar exam.

My advice remains the same: TYPE!

Here’s why:

💻 Efficiency and Speed

Typing is almost always faster than handwriting. Most examinees can type more words per minute than they can write by hand. On an exam where every minute counts, the ability to type quickly allows for more complete and well-developed answers.

Not a fast typist yet? There’s still time to improve. Incorporate daily typing practice using free online tools like Keybr, Nitrotype, or TypingClub. Focus on touch typing techniques and build up your muscle memory now—before it’s game time.

🔍 Legibility Matters

No matter how brilliant your legal analysis is, it doesn’t help if your grader can’t read it. Under exam pressure, handwriting tends to get messy. And that can influence grading, even unintentionally. With typed responses, you eliminate this risk entirely—every word is crisp, clear, and easy to follow.

✂️ Editing and Organization

One of the biggest advantages of typing is the ability to revise. If you need to reframe an argument, add analysis, or move a paragraph, it’s easy to cut, copy, and paste. You don’t need to cross out half a page or squeeze margin notes into a tight space. Clean editing = better structure = better score.

👀 Grader Bias is Real

Most examinees now type their bar responses. If you handwrite yours, you’re automatically in the minority. And that can backfire. Graders reading hundreds of typed essays may find a handwritten booklet more cumbersome—both to read and to grade. Typing aligns you with the majority and avoids unnecessary scrutiny.

🧑‍💼 Professionalism and Practice Readiness

Let’s face it—lawyers don’t handwrite briefs. In practice, you’ll be typing everything from memos to motions. Typing your bar exam responses mirrors the professional communication expectations of legal practice. It looks cleaner, more polished, and more consistent with how legal work is done.

🤕 Health and Comfort

Typing puts less strain on your hands over extended periods. Writing for six hours over two days can lead to cramps, fatigue, and even illegibility by the end. If you want your brain to do the heavy lifting (not your fingers), typing is your best bet.

Today’s Takeaway: The Typewriter Legacy Lives On

On National Typewriter Day, we honor a machine that revolutionized writing and helped build the foundation for the way we communicate today. It’s a great reminder that tools matter.

Just like the typewriter gave lawyers a better way to draft documents, your laptop gives you a better way to write the bar exam. So whether you're an 80-WPM whiz or still learning to keep your fingers on the home row, embrace the keyboard.

Because when it comes to the bar exam, typing isn't just modern—it’s smarter.

This post was originally published on January 23, 2024, and updated on June 23, 2025, in honor of National Typewriter Day—a fitting occasion to reaffirm why typing remains the smartest choice for bar exam success.