Texas Board of Law Examiners offers make-up bar exam in March for those affected by storm

March 2, 2021

ABA JOURNAL — Following Texas’ freezing February weather, which led to power outages, disrupted water service and more than 20 deaths, according to CNN, the Texas Board of Law Examiners announced Friday that it would offer a makeup bar exam in March in addition to the test that starts Tuesday. The makeup exam is remote.

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UC Davis Law graduates sworn into California Bar during virtual ceremony

February 18, 2021

UC DAVIS SCHOOL OF LAW — UC Davis Law’s annual swearing-in ceremony, drew more than 150 people, including recent King Hall graduates who passed the California Bar Exam and the friends and family members who came online to cheer them on. Dean Kevin R. Johnson noted the exceptional accomplishments of the class of 2020.

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Report: Among states offering both online and in-person bar exams, in-person test-takers had higher pass rates

February 18, 2021

ABA JOURNAL — Most jurisdictions saw bar exam pass rates increase in 2020, regardless of whether they had in-person or online exams. However, in three states that offered both types of exams, online test-takers didn’t do as well. Many candidates were slower with practice essays on the online platform.

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Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law seeks to stop California’s use of facial recognition technology for its online bar exam

February 18, 2021

ABA JOURNAL — The use of facial recognition technology with the remote bar exam could have an unlawful disparate impact on test-takers who are women or people of color, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law wrote in a Feb. 10 demand letter, which was sent to the State Bar of California.

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District of Columbia sets remote format for July 2021 bar exam

February 18, 2021

BLOOMBERG LAW — Washington D.C. will hold its July bar exam remotely, the third time in a row it has taken such a step, which other states are likely to follow. The decision is “in light of continued pandemic conditions, to protect the health and safety of examinees, proctors, and court staff.”

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Opinion: Should Oregon keep diploma privilege for law graduates after the pandemic?

February 18, 2021

THE BULLETIN — The Oregon Supreme Court granted what’s called “diploma privilege” in June 2020. People who had graduated from law school could become lawyers without taking the bar exam for a limited time. Should Oregon keep that in place? Legislators recently discussed the issue with representatives from the Oregon Bar Association.

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National Conference of Bar Examiners to offer remote bar exam in July

February 12, 2021

NCBE — NCBE today announced that it will again offer jurisdictions the option to administer the bar exam remotely in July 2021 to help address health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and provide support for future legal professionals. NCBE recognizes that restrictions may still be in place this summer.

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Tips for taking a remote bar exam

February 12, 2021

THE NATIONAL JURIST — With many states administering the bar exam remotely in 2020 — and now into 2021 — what was already a very difficult and stressful time has become even more challenging as examinees are forced to navigate this new territory. Here are a few tips for taking a remote bar exam.

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February remote bar exams make minor adjustments from July administration

February 12, 2021

BLOOMBERG LAW — Despite thousands of students being initially flagged for possible cheating and then exonerated, bar authorities in California and New York say they don’t plan any major fixes this go around. “Given the volume of applicants that applied for this exam, 3,000-plus flags was not alarming,” said California State Bar Director.

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Bar exam takers with learning disabilities face new challenges in transition to remote format

February 12, 2021

LAW360 — The COVID-19 pandemic has raised new questions for disabled individuals taking standardized tests such as the bar exam, and their advocates. The need to change test formats has unearthed and magnified challenges related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act[1] and, for some, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

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