California State Bar considers raising bar exam fees
REUTERS — Becoming a lawyer in California may soon get more expensive. The State Bar of California has proposed a slate of fee increases for law graduates and attorneys seeking to become licensed in the Golden State—part of a larger plan to boost revenue amid a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.
Read More about California State Bar considers raising bar exam feesAdmitting Law Grads By Bar Exam Versus By A Diploma Privilege: A Comparison Of Consumer Protection
(TaxProf Blog) by Paul Caron — Dean Caron (Pepperdine Law) shares a Journal of the Legal Profession article by William Wesley Patton (USC Gould Law) that explains how alternative licensure methods compare to the bar exam with regard to consumer protection.
Read More about Admitting Law Grads By Bar Exam Versus By A Diploma Privilege: A Comparison Of Consumer ProtectionAdvice for candidates studying for the NextGen Bar Exam
ABAJournal — When the National Conference of Bar Examiners launches a revamped version of the bar exam in 2026, called the NextGen bar exam, it is expected that there will be new assessments on skills including legal research, investigation and client counseling. And that could mean less focus on memorization for candidates. Or not, says…
Read More about Advice for candidates studying for the NextGen Bar ExamResearchers discuss the results of ChatGPT taking the bar exam
Reuters — When Open AI rolled out the latest version of ChatGPT in March, one particular statistic put the legal profession on its heels: The artificial intelligence technology outperformed nine out of 10 human test-takers.
Read More about Researchers discuss the results of ChatGPT taking the bar examNational Conference of Bar Examiners releases structure of practice skills for new version of bar exam
ABA JOURNAL — In-depth questions aimed at allowing candidates to demonstrate knowledge and skill of attorney functions, in addition to multiple-choice questions and essays, are expected to be part of the NextGen bar exam, according to a May 24 news release from the National Conference of Bar Examiners. If jurisdictions want to continue using the…
Read More about National Conference of Bar Examiners releases structure of practice skills for new version of bar examA look at the outline for the next generation bar exam
REUTERS — With a new bar exam set to debut in July 2026, the National Conference of Bar Examiners on Thursday unveiled what the overhauled test will cover.
Read More about A look at the outline for the next generation bar examCalifornia State Bar endorses initiative to develop bar exam exclusive to California
REUTERS — JDJOURNAL — In a significant move that could reshape the legal landscape, California is considering the development of its own bar exam, replacing the national lawyer licensing test that has been in use for years. The Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California recently endorsed a plan to create an independent…
Read More about California State Bar endorses initiative to develop bar exam exclusive to CaliforniaBar exam test-takers file complaint against California State Bar over disability accommodations
COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE — A group of four disabled California law school graduates appealed to the U.S. Justice Department to step in and force the State Bar of California to provide them with appropriate accommodations when taking the bar exam. In a complaint filed with the Justice Department on Thursday, the four grads accused the state bar…
Read More about Bar exam test-takers file complaint against California State Bar over disability accommodationsNY Bar Exam Release Glitch Causes Sleepless Night for Test Takers
MARINO LEGAL ACADEMY — For New York bar exam test takers waiting to receive their results, the situation became even more stressful than usual when an apparent glitch caused them to have to wait hours after they were told that their results were in. The February 2023 New York Bar Exam results were supposed to…
Read More about NY Bar Exam Release Glitch Causes Sleepless Night for Test TakersABA releases report on bar passage rates by race, ethnicity, and gender
ABA — The Managing Director’s Office of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar released today a new set of bar pass data for American Bar Association-approved law schools that provides national “ultimate” and first-time percentage pass rates based on race, ethnicity and gender.
Read More about ABA releases report on bar passage rates by race, ethnicity, and gender