Bar Exam

Newer law school in Florida gets provisional accreditation from the ABA

A law school that opened in Jacksonville, Florida, in August 2022 has obtained provisional accreditation from the ABA, paving the way for its graduates to take the bar exam.

Mar 5, 2024 11:12 AM CST

Some taking California bar exam say Cow Palace venue was so cold it may have affected their test results

The State Bar of California’s decision to consolidate some bar exam locations at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, didn’t work out well for test-takers who say the place was so cold Tuesday that it affected their ability to function.

Feb 29, 2024 10:02 AM CST

As ABA gathers more information on JD-Next, law schools still have to obtain variances to use test

Law schools that want to use the JD-Next exam in admissions will have to continue to seek a variance, the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar determined at its Feb. 22 meeting.

Feb 26, 2024 11:43 AM CST

ABA law school accreditation not necessarily needed to take Indiana bar exam, top state court decides

The Indiana Supreme Court has broadened the pool of would-be lawyers eligible to take the bar exam.

Feb 21, 2024 9:10 AM CST

Revised bar exam won’t use software that caused tech problems for some test-takers

The revised NextGen bar exam rolling out in some states in July 2026 won’t be using the ExamSoft software that led to complaints of crashes, frozen screens and faulty facial recognition by some test-takers.

Feb 1, 2024 3:13 PM CST

Legal Ed council calls for comments regarding fully online law schools

Two proposals regarding the accreditation of fully online law schools were posted for comment by the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar this week.

Jan 25, 2024 2:25 PM CST

LSAC president shifts to lead Association of American Law Schools

Kellye Testy will become the executive director and CEO of the Association of American Law Schools on July 1.

Jan 11, 2024 12:38 PM CST

New NextGen bar exam option is gaining steam

The first reimagining of the bar exam in 25 years moved closer to becoming a reality this year, as nine jurisdictions have committed to using the NextGen bar exam.

Dec 20, 2023 2:10 PM CST

California bar examiners committee withdraws Peoples College of Law registration, ends degree-granting program

Updated: After 15 years of noncompliance issues, the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners made “a first-of-its kind move” by withdrawing the Peoples College of Law’s registration and terminating its degree-granting authority, according to a Dec. 14 release.

Dec 15, 2023 12:28 PM CST

Meet Peter Park, possibly youngest person to pass California bar

At 18 years old, Peter Park is already working as an assistant district attorney in Tulare County, California. Park was only 17 years old when he passed the California bar exam on his first try.

Dec 12, 2023 9:21 AM CST

Judicial task force will take deep look at legal ed, bar admissions

A new group comprised of nine state supreme court chief justices and three state court administrators will make recommendations to state supreme courts regarding legal education, the bar admissions process and the declining numbers of attorneys dedicated to public-interest law.

Nov 28, 2023 1:00 PM CST

Indiana Supreme Court releases proposal allowing grads of nonaccredited law schools to take the bar

The Indiana Supreme Court is now seeking comment on a proposed amendment allowing graduates of non-American Bar Association-accredited law schools to sit for the Indiana bar exam.

Nov 16, 2023 3:53 PM CST

Bar applicant denied damages for test mishaps and proctor distractions

Three software crashes and annoying habits of proctors didn’t entitle a law grad taking the bar exam to damages for reduced accommodations, the Delaware Supreme Court has ruled.

Nov 13, 2023 2:23 PM CST

National mean MBE score rises slightly, along with number of test-takers

The national mean scaled score for the Multistate Bar Exam for July 2023 is 140.5, up 0.2 points from a year earlier, according to the National Conference of Board Examiners. In addition, more people took the exam: There were 45,968 test-takers nationally, up 2.8% from July 2022, according to a news release.

Nov 10, 2023 4:03 PM CST

Oregon approves alternative to bar exam

Starting in 2024, law graduates aiming to practice in Oregon can skip the bar exam and instead follow an alternative pathway to licensure.

Nov 8, 2023 3:35 PM CST