How many people pass the bar exam first try?

Asked by: Enos Hirthe  |  Last update: September 3, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (12 votes)

March 11 (Reuters) - More than 79% of U.S. law school graduates who took the bar exam for the first time in 2023 passed, according to new data released on Monday by the American Bar Association.

What are the odds of passing the bar exam?

According to the most recent data released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®), in 2021, of the 64,833 total persons taking the bar exam, 39,873 passed, which is an overall pass rate of 60% (down 1%from the previous year).

Is it normal to fail the bar the first time?

According to the American Bar Association, 75.79% of people pass after taking the bar exam for the first time in recent years. That averages out to two out of every ten people failing the exam the first time they take it.

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.

Where did Joe Biden pass the bar exam?

His grades were relatively poor, and he graduated 76th in a class of 85. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969. Biden clerked at a Wilmington law firm headed by prominent local Republican William Prickett in 1968 and, he later said, "thought of myself as a Republican".

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What happens if you fail the bar exam 3 times?

There is no limit to the number of times you can take the bar exam in the state of California. While it may come as a relief to many students who are planning to take the bar exam in California that there are no limits, California's bar exam is known for being one of the hardest exams in the U.S.

How hard is it to pass the bar on the first try?

Despite its difficulty, many law school graduates who take the bar exam pass the first time, with pass rates often ranging from about 50% to nearly 90%, depending on the jurisdiction.

Are you a lawyer if you fail the bar?

Attorneys, lawyers, and counsel have all been educated and trained in law. As explained above, attorneys must pass the bar exam and practice law in court. Lawyers have also taken the bar exam, and may or may not practice law. Counsels provide legal advice, and often work for an organization or corporation.

Is the bar exam getting harder?

Recently, California has had some terrifying pass rates. This includes a February 2020 overall pass rate of only 26.8 percent. In years prior, the pass rates were slightly better, but not by much. For example, the February 2018 overall pass rate was 27.3 percent.

What is the hardest state to become a lawyer?

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 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.

What 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.

What law school has the lowest bar pass rate?

Law Schools with the Lowest Bar-Exam Pass Rate
  • Thomas Jefferson School of Law: 25 percent.
  • University of San Francisco: 33 percent.
  • University of La Verne: 34 percent.
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law: 39 percent.
  • Inter-American: 43 percent.
  • Appalachian School of Law: 44 percent.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar?

No, Kim Kardashian has not passed not the California General Bar exam but successfully passed the baby bar in 2021. She cleared it in her fourth attempt. Her journey illustrates the many challenges and frustrations that she has gone through in order to achieve this career in the legal field.

How hard is it to pass the bar without law school?

Pass Rate. The bar exam pass rate of an apprentice is about ⅓ of that of a student who attends an ABA approved law school, according to a study by Priceconomics. With a passing rate of approximately 27% for apprentices, it is clear there are topics that can be missed, that a traditional law school is sure to cover.

What states do not require a bar exam?

In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.

Why is it called the bar exam?

The exam's name actually derives from this very idea of division by referencing the physical “bar” railing that would divide courtrooms. The outer side of the bar would be for public observation, while the inner side would contain the judge's bench where the actual court proceedings would occur.

Who makes more, an attorney or a lawyer?

The national average salary for an attorney is $97,879 per year , while a lawyer has an average salary of $96,557 per year . Although the average earnings have a slight difference, you may earn more or less depending on your years of experience, employer, location and skills.

What is the hardest part of the bar exam?

Most people regard the MBE as the hardest portion of the bar exam. The questions are rarely easy or straightforward. They can be tricky and sometimes worded in a way that guides you to the wrong answer.

How many times can I take the bar exam?

In California, there is no strict limit to the number of times a candidate can take the bar exam. In other words, if you don't succeed on your first try, you can retake the exam in the subsequent session, and so on.

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.

What are the odds I passed the bar exam?

The bar exam pass rate is typically between 60-80% depending on your bar exam state. That means that 20-40% of people who sit for that bar exam do not pass.

How long is passing the bar good for?

State Bar rules set a five-year expiration date on a passing bar exam score by requiring that, within “five years from the last day of administration of the California Bar Examination the applicant passes,” the applicant must meet all requirements for certification to the California Supreme Court for admission and must ...

What is the baby bar?

The First-Year Law Students' Examination, or "baby bar," is administered in June and October. The exam is comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions and no longer includes any essay questions. Two exam sessions are available each day, allowing applicants to choose between a morning or afternoon session.