California’s New Bar Exam Faces Early Challenges, Say Examinees

The new bar exam in California was intended to improve things, but the reality shows a very different picture. While some changes were made, new issues seem to reduce the effectiveness of the solution. Is this a step toward improvement or a blunder that is adding to the mess? The answer may surprise you. Let’s dig deeper into what is actually happening.

The California bar exam is set to begin on February 25, 2023, but there have already been several issues. Computer crashes, forgetful proctors during practice tests, and problems scheduling have created several hitches in pre-examination. According to the Reuters.

Over 5,300 individuals are preparing for the California bar exam in February, which marks the last step in qualifying as a lawyer. The stakes are high, not only for examinees but also for the State Bar of California, which recently became the first to replace the national bar exam and create its own test to save money.

For the first time since the online testing of 2020 and 2021, the February exam will be the first bar test to allow remote attendance. Information technology emerged problems at that time

With just three weeks left, many test takers are struggling to book their in-person exams and are surprised by the limited number of available locations. Many have voiced concerns about the lack of communication from the State Bar and Meazure Learning, the company responsible for administering the exam because the information given was vague and sometimes contradictory.

This exam is supposed to be tough, but this is just getting ridiculous, said Gino Mazzoni, a law graduate from Santa Clara. After being irritated with online distractions while trying to take the practice test, he chose not to take it remotely. On Thursday, he spent an entire day trying to find a test site and was not able to study as a result.

A representative of State Bar and Meazure Learning said that they were aware of some technical issues that blocked some registrations for tests on Thursday.

In August, the State Bar approved a new examination by Kaplan Exam Services, allowing examinees to take the test in person or online under remote supervision. The decision aimed to cut costs by eliminating the need to rent large event venues, saving an estimated $3.8 million annually.

However, this decision raises concerns about whether examinees receive the required value during the process.

Bar officials said on Friday that 67% of February test takers will attempt the examination remotely while only 33% will show up in person. In attendance, however, are only four major in-person sites, which are San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, resulting in many needing to travel far distances for the bar exam.

Harshita Ganesh , a 2024 Georgetown law graduate currently working at a small legal practice in Massachusetts, said this has been far more problematic than the Unified Bar Exam she took last year. California’s bar exam policy is well-known—and often criticized—for its strict rules. California does not acknowledge licenses from other states, which means even newly licensed lawyers have to reinstate the state’s full bar exam.

The new bar exam in California was supposed to be an advancement, but early challenges are raising serious concerns. Testers show their frustration with the challenges brought by miscommunication and lack of technological resources. Resolving these issues may be challenging. Only time will tell whether it will be positively impactful.

What do you think about California's new bar exam and the issues examinees are facing? Comment below to share your thoughts about these challenges faced by California Bar.?

#CaliforniaBarExam #BarExam #LawStudent #BarExamPrep #LegalEducation