Demystifying the Bar Exam
Dean Barbieri, director of examinations for the State Bar of California, will speak to UC Davis law students on October 25, 2006, on passing the bar exam. He will talk about how the exam is graded, give advice on completing the moral character application, and answer questions.
Throughout the year, the UC Davis School of Law hosts programs such as Demystifying the Bar Exam, to help students identify and develop skills and strategies for passing the bar. In an article in the Los Angeles Times, Dean Barbieri noted that the California bar requires six essays that can be drawn from among 13 subjects, including contracts, trusts, community property, and corporate and constitutional law, in addition to a 200-question multiple-choice test. According to the article, the California bar is one of the most difficult in the nation. The three-day test is longer than other states' exams. The score needed to pass also is one of the highest, a factor which may explain why applicants are significantly more successful in other states.
The following states had the greatest and smallest percentage of people passing the bar in 2004:
Top 5
2. Mississippi: 86%
3. Minnesota: 83%
4. Missouri: 81%
5. Iowa: 80%
Bottom 5
48. Nevada: 56%
48. New Hampshire: 56%
49. District of Columbia: 51%
50. California: 44%
A High Bar for Lawyers/Los Angeles Time