Utah Supreme Court grants temporary emergency diploma privilege to some 2020 law graduates
ABA JOURNAL — Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the Utah Supreme Court approved temporary diploma privilege Tuesday for individuals who are scheduled to take the July bar exam and graduated from ABA-accredited law schools with first-time bar passage rates of at least 86%.
Read More about Utah Supreme Court grants temporary emergency diploma privilege to some 2020 law graduatesAverage February multistate bar exam score falls to new low
ABA JOURNAL — The average scaled score for the multistate bar exam dropped to a new low of 132.6 for February test-takers, raising concerns that bar pass rates will also drop.
Read More about Average February multistate bar exam score falls to new lowOpinion: Bar exam is not an accurate measure of lawyer competence
ABA JOURNAL –In his 60 years of law practice, Milwaukee attorney Franklyn M. Gimbel has known good and bad attorneys. And, according to him, whether they passed a bar exam, which in Wisconsin is not required for most in-state law school graduates, has no bearing on their lawyering abilities or character.
Read More about Opinion: Bar exam is not an accurate measure of lawyer competenceFlorida A&M Law co-hosts virtual Florida Bar swearing-in ceremony
FAMU COLLEGE OF LAW — Normally, oaths must be taken in-person and the College of Law usually holds a Bar Oath ceremony in the Moot Courtroom; however, given the social distancing orders, the Florida Supreme Court has lifted this requirement, which allows judges to perform the swearing-in ceremony remotely.
Read More about Florida A&M Law co-hosts virtual Florida Bar swearing-in ceremonyOpinion: Time to look at the value of the bar exam
LAW 360 — So I ask, why are law students required to take the bar exam? More importantly, what relevance does it have to whether a law student will be a competent lawyer? Law students go through three years of legal education (or not) and have to take exams in all the required courses (and…
Read More about Opinion: Time to look at the value of the bar examLaw schools adapt to changes caused by coronavirus pandemic
THE INDIANA LAWYER — Fallout from the public health crisis includes law schools now conducting classes entirely online, the cancelation of at least one LSAT and states questioning whether they will be able to give the bar exam in July.
Read More about Law schools adapt to changes caused by coronavirus pandemicFlorida law deans urge Florida Supreme Court to address concerns with upcoming bar exam
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF LAW — The deans of Florida’s 12 law schools asked the justices of the Florida Supreme Court today to address the issues surrounding the upcoming Florida Bar Exam in light of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to the licensing of new attorneys in the state.
Read More about Florida law deans urge Florida Supreme Court to address concerns with upcoming bar examSeveral states postpone July bar exam and consider alternative practice options
ABA JOURNAL — On Friday, the NCBE announced that it will have materials for more administrations in July and September. In addition to the July 28 to 29 exam, the fall test dates are scheduled for Sept. 9 to 10 and Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, according to an NCBE email.
Read More about Several states postpone July bar exam and consider alternative practice optionsABA Board of Governors pass resolution urging states to allow emergency practice for new law graduates amid bar exam delays
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The American Bar Association’s Board of Governors passed a policy resolution this week urging state licensing authorities to allow 2019 and 2020 law graduates who can’t take the July bar exam to practice law in a limited capacity. Some jurisdictions already have canceled the July administration of the test due to COVID-19.
Read More about ABA Board of Governors pass resolution urging states to allow emergency practice for new law graduates amid bar exam delaysLegal community reacts to ABA resolution on limited law practice for new graduates
ABA JOURNAL — Under the resolution, limited practice rules would apply to graduates of ABA-accredited law schools who graduated between 2019 and 2020 and have not yet taken the bar exam. Limited authorization would end if someone takes and fails a bar exam, and people who previously failed a bar exam would not be eligible under…
Read More about Legal community reacts to ABA resolution on limited law practice for new graduates