Connecticut

Connecticut has continued to see a downtrend that has lasted the last 11 years. This year just 354 individuals took the exam, with 247 passing resulting in a 70% pass rate (the lowest in recent memory). Hopefully the trend will reverse at some point and the state will see a higher number of participants. You can see the overall trend below.

Connecticut Bar Exam Trends

The following are the year-over-year results:

  • Number of People Taking the Exam: -78
  • Number of People Passing the Exam: –76
  • Change to the Overall Pass Rate: Links to  Coverage: -5%
Mississippi

After last year’s performance, Mississippi saw a huge increase to the overall passing rate between exams. This year 180 students took the exam (staying fairly consistent for the last 3-years), while the number of people passing jumped to 127. The pass rate jumped back up to what it was in previous years (71%). The trends will be below.

Mississippi Bar Exam Trends

The following are the year-over-year results:

  • Number of People Taking the Exam: -8
  • Number of People Passing the Exam: +31
  • Change to the Overall Pass Rate: Links to  Coverage: +20%
Washington

Washington DC

Wisconsin

Connecticut has continued to see a downtrend that has lasted the last 11 years. This year just 354 individuals took the exam, with 247 passing resulting in a 70% pass rate (the lowest in recent memory). Hopefully the trend will reverse at some point and the state will see a higher number of participants. You can see the overall trend below.

Connecticut Bar Exam Trends

The following are the year-over-year results:

  • Number of People Taking the Exam: -78
  • Number of People Passing the Exam: –76
  • Change to the Overall Pass Rate: Links to  Coverage: -5%

California Bar Exam Trends

Breakdown of School Category

breakdown-of-school-passing

This year, the California ABA Accredited schools had the first time pass rate drop by 6%. This is the single-largest category of test takers, and likely a cause to the decline. In the coming weeks California will release a breakdown by school, so we will get a much better picture of whether the pass rate declined across all schools, or just a specific few.

With the trend of people taking the bar, and passing the ar continuing to decline, it may be time for California to begin thinking about adopting hte Uniform Bar Exam, following other states such as New York and D.C.  The following are the year-over-year results:

  • Number of People Taking the Exam: -586
  • Number of People Passing the Exam: -550
  • Change to the Overall Pass Rate: Links to  Coverage: -4%

While some states that have adopted the UBE, such as New York, and Washington D.C. have seen an increased interest in the overall number of applicants flocking to the state, New Jersey has had the opposite effect. This year, just 1,091 applicants took the exam (a record low), and 713 passed, resulting in a 65% pass rate. Check out below for the year-over-year results.

New Jersey Bar Exam Trends

What is curious, is that New York didn’t see a massive increase in the overall number of applicants, just marginal. It may be that some applicants have chosen other UBE states, with the decision to transfer in. The following are the year-over-year results:

  • Number of People Taking the Exam: -1,801
  • Number of People Passing the Exam: –1,323
  • Change to the Overall Pass Rate: Links to  Coverage: -5%

Georgia saw an increase in the number of people taking and passing the exam this last year. This year 1,353 people took the exam, with 890 people passing. This resulted in a slight increase over last year’s 65% increase to 66%. Check out below to see the year over year results.

Georgia Bar Exam Trends

As seen above, Georgia is seeing a good rebound to previous levels. Hopefully, the state will continue this trend. The following are the year-over-year results:

  • Number of People Taking the Exam: +80
  • Number of People Passing the Exam: +68
  • Change to the Overall Pass Rate: Links to  Coverage: +1%