New York Bar Exam Statistics 2023
– Everything You Need to Know

New York Bar Exam Statistics 2023: Facts about Bar Exam in New York reflect the current socio-economic condition of the state.

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Top New York Bar Exam Statistics 2023

New York Bar Exam “Latest” Statistics

• The total pass percentage for first time bar test participants was 61% (with ABA graduates having a pass rate of 72% and first time candidates with foreign education having a pass rate of 47%) .^[1]
• From 2006 to 2015, for first-time takers the New York bar exam pass rates range between 68-81% in each year and 68-77% in nine of those years, and peaked in 2008 at 81%.^[2]
• There were 5,150 applicants that took the New York bar exam in October 2020, and the total pass percentage was 84% .^[3]
• The New York State Board of Law examiners stated on October 28 that 63% of people passed the July bar test in New York.^[3]
• The total February 2020 New York bar exam pass rate remained low at 40% due to the fact that there were considerably more repeat test takers than first timer test takers.^[1]
• The pass rate for the first timer who took the bar exam in July was 78%. New York also breaks out pass rates for people who received their legal education outside the United States, and the July pass rate for first-time test-takers in that group was 46%.^[3]
• According to the bar exam results by jurisdiction, New York’s overall pass rate was 66% with first time pass rate of 75%, and repeater pass rate of 23%. The results were shown last October 20, 2022.^[3]
• The February 2022 General bar exam was completed by 3,113 applicants with the number of first timer of 1,090 applicants (35.0% of total).^[10]

New York Bar Exam “Exam” Statistics

• The pass percentage for first time exam takers also decreased, falling to 78% in July from 85% in late 2016.^[4]
• The greater number of repeat test takers in this year’s pool of candidates—25% as opposed to the July 2019 exam’s 21% —is primarily responsible for the lower overall passing rate.^[6]
• When compared to the exam last year, which was originally postponed and then provided close to the peak of the pandemic, the 63% pass percentage in October 2020 was down from 84% .^[4]
• The topics examined on the MEE the most commonly at this time were civil procedure (71% ), contracts (59% ), real property (59% ), constitutional law (53% ), and secured transactions (53% ).^[7]
• Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the attorney licensure test was given online for the second time, and the total pass percentage was 49%. That is the greatest February pass percentage since 2013 and is an increase over the 40% recorded when the exam was given in person a year earlier.^[8]
• A much higher number of LLM grads took the exam in 2021, she noted in a written statement, yet they passed at a relatively low rate “compared to a smaller, particularly dedicated group in 2020″ that passed at a much higher rate of 70%.^[4]
• According to Sean Silverman of Silverman Bar exam tutoring, a 21% drop is not anything to overlook.^[4]

New York Bar Exam “Test” Statistics

• In 1997, the year before the new rules were enacted, New York tested 1,701 foreign-educated candidates, 15% of our candidate pool of 11,205.^[5]
• With a combined 94.26% , or 115/122 first time test takers passing, Seton Hall University School of Law proudly claims the third highest pass percentage among New York Law schools and the greatest pass rate among New Jersey Law schools for the July 2019 Uniform Bar Exam.^[9]
• Between 1997 and 2013, the number of graduates of ABA-approved law schools we tested increased by 18%; the number of our foreign-educated candidates grew in that period by 170%.^[5]
• Of those candidates, 5,791 passed with a passing percentage overall of 63%, which is 2% lower than the overall passing rate in the test in July 2019.^[6]

New York Bar Exam “Other” Statistics

• From 2006 to 2015, the overall New York State Bar Exam Pass rates range from 56-69% in each year and 56-65% in nine of those years, and peaked in 2008 at 69%.^[2]
• Approximately 75% of foreign-educated candidates qualify to take the New York Bar Exam based upon having completed an LL.M. degree, with approximately 25% qualifying based on their foreign education alone.^[5]
• Repeat candidates passed with a 24.0% total pass rate with 2,023 applicants.^[10]
• Since February 2014, Civil Procedure has been assessed as a component or as a whole essay more than 71% of the time.^[7]
• This year’s 33.9% success rate on the General Bar Exam was lower than the 37.2% pass rate in February 2021 but better than the 26.8% pass rate in February 2020.^[10]

Also Read

How Useful is New York Bar Exam

Critics of the New York Bar Exam argue that passing this exam does not necessarily correlate with one’s competence as a lawyer. They contend that the exam focuses too heavily on an individual’s memorization skills rather than assessing their understanding of legal concepts, critical thinking abilities, or practical problem-solving skills. As a result, some proponents posit that successful candidates may merely excel in memorizing vast amounts of information, rendering the exam a mere exercise in memorization rather than a true measure of legal acumen.

Furthermore, critics question the applicability of the exam to modern legal practice. They argue that the New York Bar Exam’s emphasis on testing knowledge of old case precedents and sometimes archaic laws fails to adequately prioritize important aspects of legal practice such as legal writing, effective communication, and client counseling. With rapid advancements in technology and a constantly evolving legal landscape, some contend that the exam does not adequately prepare lawyers for real-world scenarios they are likely to encounter in their careers.

On the other hand, supporters of the New York Bar Exam contend that passing this exam demonstrates a baseline level of legal knowledge and commitment to the profession. They assert that the comprehensive preparation required for the exam, encompassing numerous subjects and areas of law, provides a solid foundation that lawyers can build upon throughout their careers. Moreover, they argue that the exam motivates aspiring lawyers to push themselves academically and develop the crucial skills necessary for success in legal practice.

In addition, advocates of the New York Bar Exam argue that the demanding nature of the exam reflects the complexity of legal practice and ensures that only the most dedicated and competent candidates become licensed attorneys. By meticulously testing the legal knowledge and analytical abilities of individuals, the exam helps to protect the public from unqualified legal professionals.

However, it is important to recognize that no exam can comprehensively assess an individual’s ability to practice law effectively. Legal practice is a dynamic and multi-faceted field that demands a diverse skill set encompassing not only legal knowledge but also critical thinking, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and the ability to adapt to constantly changing circumstances.

In conclusion, the New York Bar Exam, like any standardized exam, has its drawbacks and merits. While passing the exam indicates a minimum level of legal knowledge and dedication, its heavy reliance on memorization and focus on outdated legal precedents can limit its effectiveness in evaluating the true potential of aspiring lawyers. Therefore, it is imperative for legal authorities and educators to critically examine and potentially reform the exam to encompass a more comprehensive assessment of the skills necessary for today’s legal professionals to excel in their practice.

Reference

1. jdadvising – https://jdadvising.com/february-2020-new-york-bar-exam-pass-rate-is-40/
2. newyorkbarexam – https://www.newyorkbarexam.com/new-york-bar-exam-pass-rates/
3. abajournal – https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/new-york-sees-pass-rate-decrease-for-july-2021-bar-exam
4. bloomberglaw – https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/new-york-bar-exam-pass-rate-falls-after-return-to-lengthier-test
5. ncbex – https://thebarexaminer.ncbex.org/article/december-2014/testing-foreign-trained-applicants-in-a-new-york-state-of-mind/
6. abovethelaw – https://abovethelaw.com/2021/11/new-york-sees-bar-exam-passage-rate-slump-as-one-famous-test-taker-finds-out/
7. uworld – https://legal.uworld.com/resources/bar-exam/states/ny-bar-exam/
8. law – https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2021/04/21/new-yorks-february-2021-bar-exam-pass-rate-is-the-highest-since-2013/
9. shu – https://law.shu.edu/news/seton-hall-law-july-2019-bar-pass-rates-rank-among-elite-new-york-law-schools.cfm
10. ca – https://www.calbar.ca.gov/About-Us/News/News-Releases/state-bar-of-california-releases-results-of-february-2022-bar-exam
11. ncbex – https://www.ncbex.org/statistics-and-research/bar-exam-results/