California Supreme Court Mandates Return to Multistate Bar Examination
May 6, 2025, 1:45 pm CDT
The California Supreme Court’s recent orders require a return to the Multistate Bar Examination amidst ongoing concerns regarding the quality of the state bar’s recent testing methods.
The California Supreme Court has directed the State Bar of California to revert to the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) for the upcoming July 2025 administration. This decision comes after the troubled rollout of a new exam format developed in partnership with Kaplan, which experienced significant technical difficulties during its February launch.
Recent Exam Results and Legislative Changes
In February 2025, the passage rate for the bar exam reached 55.9%, a notable improvement from just 34% in February 2024. This marks the highest spring pass rate since 1965, although the increased success can largely be attributed to the lowering of passing scores due to the previous exam’s logistical issues.
The California Supreme Court assessed the February exam’s reliability, particularly in light of revelations that certain questions were drafted by non-lawyers with assistance from artificial intelligence. The court’s concerns prompted the directive to reinstate the nationally recognized MBE format.
Adjustments to Passing Scores
The court also approved the State Bar’s request to lower the raw passing score for February examinees to 534, significantly below the 560 suggested by testing experts. This adjustment acknowledges the extensive challenges encountered by candidates during the exam.
Future Directions for the Bar Exam
Looking ahead, the Uniform Bar Exam (including the MBE) is set to change, with plans for its replacement by the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination following the February 2028 session. The California Supreme Court has clearly communicated its intention to conduct the July 2025 examination in a traditional in-person format, distancing itself from the remote and hybrid models previously adopted due to financial constraints.
Context of Recent Changes
During the February exam period, over 5,600 candidates registered, although about 1,300 withdrew due to pre-examination uncertainties. Responding to the fallout from the previous administration, the State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners proposed options like provisional licensure and special admissions for out-of-state attorneys as alternative pathways to practice law in California.
Amid these developments, Leah Wilson, the executive director of the State Bar, announced her resignation, with her last day scheduled for July 7, 2025. As California navigates this tumultuous period in legal education, the Supreme Court’s intervention aims to restore confidence in the bar examination process.
