Does California have a bar exam?
Asked by: Randy Blick | Last update: August 3, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (17 votes)
The California Bar Examination is administered twice each year, once in February and once in July. Most law school graduates take the exam in July. The exam is taken between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. over a two-day period.
Does California require a bar exam?
About 16,000 take the California Bar Examination, one of the State Bar's primary requirements to become a licensed attorney.
Is California the hardest bar exam?
Which State Bar Is Most Difficult? California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.
Is California getting rid of the bar exam?
25 and 26 — making California the first jurisdiction to fully break away from the bar exam created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which is set to launch its own overhauled exam in July 2026. California is the nation's second-largest bar exam jurisdiction behind only New York.
How many bar exams are there in California?
The California bar examination is given twice each year.
California Bar Exam: Everything You Need to Know (Subjects, Structure, and More)
Which state has the easiest bar exam?
Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.
Why does California have its own bar exam?
The cash-strapped State Bar of California, the No. 2 jurisdiction in number of candidates tested each year, aims to save money by shunning exams produced by the NCBE, which prohibits remote administrations. The state's admissions fund faces insolvency by 2026.
How easy is the California bar exam?
California's bar exam is generally considered the most difficult. It covers a wide range of subjects and takes two days. However, the pass/fail stats vary greatly among schools. Top schools such as Stanford, Berkeley, USC, UCLA have very high pass rates.
How many times can you fail the bar exam in California?
Most states allow 2-4 attempts of the bar exam, but about 35 states, including California, New York, and Florida, don't have any limits on the number of times you can take the bar.
Which state is getting rid of the bar exam?
Washington joins Oregon, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire as the fourth state that no longer requires the bar exam to become a licensed attorney. Supreme courts in California, Minnesota, and Utah are considering similar moves.
What is the easiest state to become a lawyer in?
Going by the 2021 bar exam passing rates, Wyoming has the easiest bar exam to pass. However, we don't really get the full picture by just looking at the passing rates. Each state's bar exam can differ in difficulty and content.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian learned very quickly how hard bar exams can be. The California state bar is one of the most difficult states to pass, with a 40-50% pass rate. The first attempt rate, the second attempt, and after the third time, she finally passed!
How is the California bar different?
Key Changes to the California Bar Exam
Transition Away from the MBE: Starting in 2025, California will no longer use the National Conference of Bar Examiners' (NCBE) Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) for its multiple-choice component. Instead, Kaplan will develop new multiple-choice questions specific to California.
Can you be a lawyer in California without going to law school?
Some schools offer flexibility and opportunities for those who need it, including programs that are fully online, part-time or at night, with leeway to spread out your study over four or more years. California is one of only a few states where you can become a lawyer without going to law school, by studying under a ...
How long is law school in California?
Law school typically takes three years to complete, and students receive a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree when they graduate. This degree qualifies you to take the state bar exam, which allows you to practice law in California.
Is 295 a good bar score?
In order to pass the Uniform Bar Exam, examinees must earn a score of at least 260 on the MBE and MEE. However, a score of 280 is generally considered to be a good score, and a score of 300 to 330 (highest score on bar exam) is considered to be excellent.
How many times did JFK Jr. fail the bar exam?
Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He then failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third try in July 1990. After failing the exam for a second time Kennedy vowed that he would continue to take it until he was ninety-five years old or passed.
What state has the hardest bar exam?
For several reasons, the California bar exam is often considered to be the hardest in the country. California's legal system is known for its complexity. The state has its own set of laws, regulations, and precedents that often differ significantly from federal laws and those of other states.
Do you need a degree to take the bar exam in California?
You also must have graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California or completed four years of law study at an unaccredited or correspondence law school registered with the committee or studied law in a law office or ...
What is the point of the bar exam?
The bar exam is the final hurdle toward becoming a licensed attorney in the United States. Before you can practice law in any U.S. state or jurisdiction, you must go through that state's admissions process and pass that state's bar exam.
Is the series 7 harder than the bar exam?
Is the Series 7 exam harder than the bar exam? The Series 7 and the bar exam are both known for their difficulty. You can't really compare the two because of the differences in content and purpose. Both exams require dedicated study and preparation.
What states are no longer requiring the bar exam?
In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.
Can I take the California bar exam remotely?
The General Bar Exam will be administered remotely and/or in-person at vendor-run or State Bar-run test centers beginning the last Tuesday in February and July of each calendar year.
Can you waive into California bar?
California doesn't offer reciprocity but offers a shorter bar exam for attorneys who are admitted in other states and who have been in good standing as an attorney in those states for at least four years prior to their application.