What US state bar exam is the hardest?

Asked by: Sonia Huels  |  Last update: August 20, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (20 votes)

Is The California Bar Exam Hard? Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.

Which state has the hardest bar exam?

Which bar exam is hardest? California is considered by many to be the most difficult bar exam. It has a relatively low pass rate and a relatively high minimum passing score and covers a lot of state law.

Is California bar harder than other states?

California's bar exam is known for its rigorous content and low pass rates compared to other states. In fact, even though California recently lowered its passing score from 1,440 to 1,390, that is still higher than the 1,350 score required for a passing grade in many other states.

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 is the hardest bar exam in the world?

California Bar Exam (USA)

The California Bar Exam is among the state bar tests that any individual, who wants to practice law in California state, must take. The exam is familiar to all by now, especially its high level of difficulty in which only 50% of the candidates would pass.

The Bar Exam, Is It Really That Hard?

35 related questions found

Is Canadian bar exam easy?

The bar exam is a comprehensive and highly challenging exam that will require you to study extensively. This article is all about preparing for the bar exam. We will explore the different pathways students may take before writing the bar, and what you can do to be ready to succeed when it is your time to write.

What is the top 3 toughest exam in the world?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World
  • Gaokao Exam in China.
  • IIT JEE Advanced.
  • Civil Services Exam (CSE)/UPSC.
  • All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam.
  • USMLE.
  • Master Sommelier Diploma Exam.
  • ICAI CA/ ICMAI Exams.
  • CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)

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.

What is the highest paying state for lawyers?

Highest paid states for lawyers
  • California ($201,530)
  • Massachusetts ($196,230)
  • New York ($188,900)
  • Connecticut ($174,520)
  • Colorado ($168,680)
  • Nevada ($166,740)
  • Texas ($166,620)
  • Georgia ($165,560)

What is a 144 LSAT score?

A 144-145 is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable score to attend law school. The median LSAT score is around 151-152, so 144-145 is significantly lower than this. As such, the majority of law schools will not accept scores below this.

What is harder, CPA or bar?

The CPA Exam. You've heard the horror stories: It's derailed the careers of promising professionals. It's definitely harder than the BAR exam and maybe even some medical board exams. And it's nearly impossible to pass once you're a working professional.

Can you pass the California bar without going to law school?

In California, qualified applicants can take the bar exam without going to law school. Most law schools require a college degree, but some may only ask for equivalent course work, and some law schools focus on your legal interest and life experiences and not on your grades or LSAT scores.

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!

Is the NCLEX harder than the bar exam?

The Bar Exam is typically seen as harder than the NCLEX. This is because the Bar Exam covers many intricate legal topics and has a lower pass rate, around 60% on average. In contrast, the NCLEX focuses on nursing concepts and has a higher pass rate, around 80% on average.

Why is California's bar exam the hardest?

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.

How many times can you take the bar exam?

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.

What state are lawyers most needed?

Top 10 U.S. States with the Highest Interest in Lawyers in 2024
  • North Carolina. North Carolina stands strong at number 1 with 252.87 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. ...
  • Colorado. ...
  • Nevada. ...
  • Connecticut. ...
  • Florida. ...
  • South Carolina. ...
  • Georgia. ...
  • Oregon.

Can lawyers make 300k a year?

Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

Who is the lowest paid lawyer?

We find that within the legal industry, certain segments are known to offer lower compensation. Typically, public defenders, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers working for nonprofit organizations are among the lowest paid.

Which state has 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.

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 is the bar exam in Canada?

The Barrister Examination assesses knowledge of the law in the following practice areas: public law, criminal procedure, family law and civil litigation. The Solicitor Examination assesses knowledge of the law in real estate, business law, wills, trusts and estate administration and planning.

What is America's toughest exam?

1. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) takes the top spot as the most challenging exam in the US, with an average preparation time ranging from 200 to 400 hours for each of its three steps.

Which is the 1 toughest exam?

Top 10 India's Toughest Exam List (2025)
  • UPSC Civil Services Examination (UPSC CSE)
  • Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)
  • Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
  • Common Admission Test (CAT)
  • National Defence Academy (NDA)
  • Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
  • Chartered Accountant (CA)
  • National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)

What is the hardest test of all time?

1 toughest exam in the world? The Mensa IQ Test, designed to identify individuals with exceptionally high intelligence, is considered one of the world's toughest exams. Others include the UPSC Civil Services Examination (India), California Bar Exam (USA), and Gaokao (China).