bar exam – NWSidebar

Washington Prepares for First-Ever Remote Bar Exam

For the first time in its history, the WSBA will administer the bar exam remotely. On Dec. 3, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order authorizing the WSBA “to conduct the February 2021 administration of legal licensing examinations for admission using remote testing software,” citing the “extraordinary barriers” created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.On Dec. 3, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order authorizing the WSBA “to conduct the February 2021 administration of legal licensing examinations for admission using remote testing software,” citing the “extraordinary barriers” created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Regarding the Bar Exam and Competency

When the Washington Supreme Court modified the Admission to Practice Rules to grant admission under diploma privilege criteria, it spurred a great deal of discussion about the bar exam. Some of this discussion appears to assume the Supreme Court order is permanent. This does not appear to be the intent of the order. Many attorneys have complained about granting admission to practice law to individuals who have not taken the bar exam, essentially arguing the exam is a “rite of passage.” While I understand the sentiment, I reject its validity.

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Why Choosing Not to Take the Bar Exam Proves You Are Qualified to Practice Law

Let me be abundantly clear: In my hiring decisions I will never ever care whether someone took the bar exam. The best data available, through comparative tests, malpractice suits, and ethics complaints, indicates that passing the bar exam has zero correlation with being a good lawyer. But that doesn’t mean I won’t ask if interviewees took the exam.

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Where’s the Hurt? Part 3: The Coronavirus Impact on Law Students and What That Means for the Future of the Profession

For countless law students, the ongoing Coronavirus crisis has halted their young careers before they’ve even begun.

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WSBA License Renewal: Top Tips for Licensed Legal Professionals in Washington

Get a few essential tips to improve your license renewal experience and to help you avoid any last-minute issues.

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Lawyer Feedback Used to Gauge Relevance of National Bar Exam, Make Updates

Are you a lawyer and want to help update and improve the bar exam? Then take about 20 minutes to respond to the Practice Analysis Survey.

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Bar Exam Essentials Part 2: What’s Prohibited, What to Expect, and Post-Exam Tips

Cheating attempts during the bar exam in Washington are rare, but still mean that everyone has to abide by a strict list of prohibited items and rules. Here’s what you need to know.

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Bar Exam Essentials Part 1: Practical Preparations

It’s one of the most notorious trials in academia: the bar exam. A two-day marathon of three tests in one—six questions for the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), two Multistate Performance Tests (MPT), and 200 multiple choice questions on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)—it is the quintessential assessment of legal knowledge necessary to practice law in […]

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So You Didn’t Pass the Bar: 3 Tips for Reassuring Someone Who Didn’t Make the Cut

There are few moments in life as pivotal as taking the bar exam. Being a lawyer is a dream, a life’s journey that has been incubating for years. But first you have to know the password to get in. So much hinges on this exam: mountains of debt; the expectations of friends and family; and, of […]

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Of Character and Fitness: Who Should Be Allowed to Take the Bar Exam?

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Washington Supreme Court issued an opinion on the character and fitness test for admission under the Admission and Practice Rules (APR). In re Simmons was an appeal from the WSBA Character and Fitness Board’s denial of Tarra Simmons’ application to sit for the bar exam. […]

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7 Tips for Studying for the Bar Exam

It’s June, which means that bar exam prep time has officially begun for tens of thousands of law school graduates. This year, the Washington State Bar Exam will be held on July 24–25. Examinees will cram into the Tacoma Convention Center for six hours each day while they summarize all the law and facts they’ve […]