Bar Exam

Afternoon Briefs: Trump faces suit over rape denial; Biden opposes SCOTUS term limits

Trump can be personally sued over rape denial A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday refused to substitute the federal government as the defendant in a defamation suit filed against President Donald Trump by a woman who accused him of rape. The plaintiff, journalist E. Jean Carroll, had alleged that…

Oct 27, 2020 3:58 PM CDT

Amid claims that online bar exam went well, some test-takers have a different view

ExamSoft, the company that provided the software for the two-day online bar exam offered earlier this month, maintains that only a small percentage of test-takers experienced problems with their product. But for those who did, many say there should have been no issues and some suspect the hitches were expected by the company.

Oct 20, 2020 9:28 AM CDT

Law school dean ‘devastated’ about flubbed email with bar exam grades

William C. Hubbard, the new dean of the University of South Carolina School of Law and a former ABA president, accidentally emailed students a file with recent graduates’ confidential bar exam grades and information about whether they passed or failed the test.

Oct 14, 2020 11:22 AM CDT

Woman goes into labor during bar exam and finishes the test

A recent graduate of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law was determined to finish the bar exam, despite going into labor during the remote test.

Oct 9, 2020 11:51 AM CDT

Would-be lawyer, 87, wants to try to pass the bar again, but obstacles remain

An 87-year-old would-be lawyer wants to take another crack at the California bar exam after failing four times in the 1960s.

Oct 6, 2020 11:31 AM CDT

Divided DC appeals court announces bar exam waiver as 1 option for licensing

A divided District of Columbia Court of Appeals granted Thursday what it describes as an "emergency examination waiver" admission to practice law with various restrictions.

Sep 25, 2020 3:07 PM CDT

Bar exam in hotel rooms offered test-takers social distancing and private bathrooms

Among the many worries for people taking recent in-person bar exams during the COVID-19 pandemic, some were logistical: How could they maintain social distancing during the test? Would public restrooms be germ magnets? Could they safely eat with others? Hotel rooms could be the answer to those concerns.

Sep 22, 2020 1:56 PM CDT

California Supreme Court lawyer shares supervised practice idea for unsuccessful bar applicants

In August, the California Supreme Court announced that a lowered bar exam cut score will not retroactively apply to candidates who previously failed the test.

Sep 21, 2020 10:38 AM CDT

October online bar is less than a month away, and test-takers report significant software problems

State board of law examiners are requiring that people who wish to sit for the October online bar exam take and submit mock exams. However, these mock exams are causing computer problems for some, and software provider ExamSoft is providing little if any assistance, according to people planning to take the exam.

Sep 17, 2020 2:02 PM CDT

No bathroom break allowed? Suit says rules for remote bar exam discriminate against disabled grads

A lawsuit by law graduates who have disabilities says they will be forced to take the California bar exam in person because of a failure to provide accommodations for a remote test.

Sep 16, 2020 9:39 AM CDT

Recent bar admittees offer study strategies to stay focused in stressful times—including the pandemic

From staying organized with small poster boards and using multiple Sharpie pens to finding a compatible study buddy or just getting outside for some fresh air, two bar exam admittees offer tips to study for and pass a bar exam and steer clear of the stress that comes with it.

Sep 15, 2020 12:35 PM CDT

California law deans ask for open-book bar exam, citing fires, racism and tech issues

A group of deans from ABA-accredited law schools in California have asked the California Supreme Court to change its online October bar exam to an open-book format with no remote proctoring.

Sep 14, 2020 2:45 PM CDT

Why did the average scaled score for the July multistate bar exam improve?

Despite many concerns about taking a bar exam during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the crisis might have actually led to people doing better on the test.

Sep 2, 2020 3:51 PM CDT

How are things working out for 3 Utah law grads seeking diploma privilege?

Prior to this summer, Chase Wilde didn’t know how to file a court appearance. Thanks to the supervised practice requirement in the Utah Supreme Court’s temporary order for diploma privilege, he does now.

Sep 1, 2020 9:08 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 4th Circuit rules for transgender youth; tribe objects to execution

4th Circuit rules for transgender youth on bathroom policy The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia, has ruled for former high school student Gavin Grimm, a transgender youth who wanted to use a school restroom that matched his gender identity. The 4th Circuit said the Gloucester County,…

Aug 27, 2020 4:30 PM CDT