LOS ANGELES – The California Supreme Court announced it will permanently lower the passing score for the state’s bar exam by 50 points and administer the test online in October as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The changing circumstances surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in California, and throughout the country, have had an unprecedented impact on professional licensure testing for graduates seeking admission to many professions,” the California Supreme Court’s executive officer, Jorge E. Navarrete, wrote in a letter on behalf of the court to the chairman of the State Bar’s Board of Trustees.
“Many law school graduates are being substantially affected by the resulting disruption.”
The letter noted that the court sought the “safest most humane and practical options for licensing law graduates by encouraging and working with the State Bar to pursue the option of administering the California Bar Examination online as a remote test, to avoid the need for, and dangers posed by, mass in-person testing.”
The California Bar Exam — which will now have a passing score of 1390 instead of 1440 — will be administered online Oct. 5 and 6, with registration expected to be extended through July 24.
The state’s highest court also directed the State Bar to expedite the creation of a provisional licensure program that would allow 2020 law school graduates who may not be in a position to study and prepare for a bar exam in the fall to get a limited license to practice specified areas of law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
The court noted that it is encouraging law schools to assist graduates who lack internet access at home or have home environments not amenable to two days of uninterrupted testing.
The announcement comes after the California Supreme Court justices met via videoconference to hear from California law school deans, then held a three-hour virtual hearing to receive input from law school graduates registered to take the exam.
California is one of 16 states to move their bar exam online, officials said.
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John Evans says
So graduates from law school with a Juris Doctor, the equivalent of a PhD in humanities can’t find a way to do a 2 day test online? So let’s ask the obvious,…..How the hell did they pass law school?
Hughly says
… the only cohort more democrat than the African-American community is, the gay community. California democrats believe indoctrinating more ghetto Africans into its state judicial system will make California an even bluer state. And, they are quite right –
Keep California Blue says
So you want California to go the way of the red districts with Devin Nunes, a complete maroon, Kevin McCarthy, I mean The Lying Kevin McCarty and Duncan Hunter, oh wait, isn’t he in prison?
Look what is happening to red states like Texas and Florida that listened to Trump and are running out of ICU beds.
Even though we are in Los Angeles County, the Antelope Valley is not doing too bad re: the pandemic.
So_true says
Blacks are 5.5% of California’s population and dropping, as more and more leave California and move to Las Vegas, Phoenix and the Deep South every year.
Laughing says
Hahahahaha They lowered the bar Bwah!HAHAHAHA!
DentalMisorder says
So which group of peoples needs to be offended enough to get this cancelled? Asking for a friend.
Trumpist#1 says
Typical of progressive systems: Lower standards, dumb everything down to third world standards, and give out participation awards.
I’m surprised that they don’t give illegals and affirmative action recipients extra points to hasten our downfall to third world status.
I’m so sorry for our great country.
Speak for yourself says
You talking about white trash in 3rd world red states. The ones with only a couple teeth. Yeah, your relatives.
Flunk says
“I’m surprised that they don’t give illegals and affirmative action recipients extra points…”
Don’t give Newsom and the state legislature any ideas.
Reply To The Idiot says
Your comments are ignorant and stupid! You’re the one everyone should feel sorry for.