North Carolina Bar Exam Statistics


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

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LLCBuddy editorial team did hours of research, collected all important statistics on North Carolina Bar Exam, and shared those on this page. Our editorial team proofread these to make the data as accurate as possible. We believe you don’t need to check any other resources on the web for the same. You should get everything here only 🙂

Are you planning to start a North Carolina LLC business in 2023? Maybe for educational purposes, business research, or personal curiosity, whatever it is – it’s always a good idea to gather more information.

How much of an impact will North Carolina Bar Exam Statistics have on your day-to-day? or the day-to-day of your LLC Business? How much does it matter directly or indirectly? You should get answers to all your questions here.

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Top North Carolina Bar Exam Statistics 2023

☰ Use “CTRL+F” to quickly find statistics. There are total 19 North Carolina Bar Exam Statistics on this page 🙂

North Carolina Bar Exam “Latest” Statistics

  • First time test takers performed extremely well with a 97% passage rate for the 110 Carolina Law graduates who took the North Carolina bar exam for the first time.[1]
  • Ninety-six percent (96%) of the 111 Carolina law graduates who took the bar exam in July passed according to results released by the States Board of Law examiners.[1]
  • According to Superior Court Rule 304(f), each candidate must pass the written bar examination with a minimum combined score of 70% or higher on the MBE and essay sections, and a minimum scaled score of 75 on the MPRE in order to pass.[2]
  • In order to pass the North Carolina bar exam, you must score at least 270 out of 400. This equates to 135, based on the MBE’s 200-point scale.[4]
  • North Carolina mandates bar exam applicants to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”). An examinee should score 80 or higher on the MPRE to pass in North Carolina.[4]
  • Campbell Law school saw its highest overall pass rate 93.1% on the July 2020 North Carolina bar exam. Campbell Law had 116 test takers this year, and 108 of them passed, including all of the repeaters.[3]
  • In the North Carolina bar exam pass rates, the overall pass rate was 50% with first time pass rate of 62% and repeat pass rate of 33%.[2]

North Carolina Bar Exam “Exam” Statistics

  • 162 out of 378 Maryland test takers passed in the Maryland Bar exam last February 2021 with a total pass percentage of 42.9% while North Dakota had an overall pass rate of 55%.[2]
  • Overall, 89.6% of first time test takers from the seven law schools in North Carolina passed the exam.[3]
  • First time applicants from North Carolina law schools passed the exam 73.80% of the time in July 2017, compared to 66.82% in July 2016.[4]

North Carolina Bar Exam “Test” Statistics

  • The state’s overall passing percentage for all test takers was 13% lower than the passing rate for all institutions.[1]
  • The test was given on July 28–29 in 24 jurisdictions countrywide, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners.[5]
  • As a result of state authorities decreasing the passing mark by two points this year in response to technological issues some test takers experienced, North Carolina’s total pass percentage fell to 75% from 83% in July 2020.[6]
  • The school’s passage rate for first time test takers exceeded the overall state passage rate of 88% by 9%.[1]
  • The Board of Bar Examiners automatically analyzes and regrades the top 15% of the failed applicants’ essay responses after the tests have been assessed but before the dissemination of the grading results.[2]

North Carolina Bar Exam “Other” Statistics

  • The Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”) is weighted 20%, the Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) is weighted 30%, and the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”) is weighted 50%.[4]
  • Nationally, at least a dozen other states saw their February 2022 pass rates drop from the previous year, including North Carolina (50% compared to 60% in 2021).[7]
  • When the Uniform Bar Exam in February 2019 was administered, the pass percentage has significantly increased. In comparison to previous year, when the July pass rate was 72%, 83% was a respectable result.[5]
  • In the Bar Exam results by jurisdiction, North Carolina has a passing percentage of 68% with first time pass rate of 76% and repeater pass rate of 32%. The results were released on September 1, 2022.[5]

Also Read

How Useful is North Carolina Bar Exam

Proponents of the North Carolina Bar Exam argue that it serves as a necessary checkpoint to ensure that new lawyers have the knowledge and skills needed to practice law effectively. Passing the bar exam demonstrates to the public and legal community that a lawyer has a solid foundation in legal principles and can competently represent clients in a court of law.

Moreover, the bar exam is often seen as a rite of passage, a test of endurance and commitment that separates those who are truly dedicated to the practice of law from those who are not. Successfully passing the bar exam is a source of pride and accomplishment for many lawyers, a milestone that marks the culmination of years of hard work and study.

Detractors, on the other hand, question the true utility of the North Carolina Bar Exam in today’s legal environment. They argue that the exam’s focus on memorization and rote learning may not necessarily correlate with a lawyer’s ability to effectively represent clients. In a world where legal research tools are readily available online and the practice of law is increasingly specialized, some argue that the emphasis on passing a one-size-fits-all exam may be outdated.

Furthermore, critics point to the high cost associated with preparing for and taking the bar exam. The bar exam is not only a time-consuming endeavor but also a significant financial burden for many aspiring lawyers. From expensive bar review courses to the cost of actually sitting for the exam, the financial strain of the bar exam can be a barrier for many prospective lawyers, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds.

Additionally, some argue that the bar exam may not adequately test the skills that are most valued in the legal profession today. While the ability to recall legal rules and concepts is certainly important, the practical skills of legal analysis, critical thinking, and client communication are equally vital for success as a lawyer. The current format of the bar exam may not fully capture these essential skills, leading some to question its overall usefulness.

In conclusion, the debate over the usefulness of the North Carolina Bar Exam is multifaceted and complex. While the exam plays a crucial role in setting a standard for entry into the legal profession, questions remain about whether it truly reflects the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful legal career. As the legal profession continues to evolve, it may be worth considering whether the traditional bar exam format is still the best method for assessing the competence of new lawyers in North Carolina.

Reference


  1. unc – https://law.unc.edu/news/2020/09/unc-ranks-no-1-with-96-july-n-c-bar-exam-passage-rate/
  2. jdadvising – https://jdadvising.com/february-2022-bar-exam-results-release-dates-by-state/
  3. campbell – https://news.campbell.edu/articles/campbell-law-graduates-earn-highest-n-c-bar-passage-rate-since-2012/
  4. abovethelaw – https://abovethelaw.com/2017/09/bar-exam-passage-rates-soar-thanks-to-law-schools-closure/
  5. ncbar – https://www.ncbar.org/nc-lawyer/2020-11/ncble-herrick-historic-bar-exam/
  6. reuters – https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/ominous-early-signs-emerge-july-2021-bar-exam-pass-rates-2021-09-15/
  7. ca – https://www.calbar.ca.gov/About-Us/News/News-Releases/state-bar-of-california-releases-results-of-february-2022-bar-exam
  8. ameribar – https://ameribar.com/north-carolina-bar-exam/
  9. crushendo – https://crushendo.com/north-carolina-bar-exam-prep/
  10. ibarexam – https://ibarexam.com/north-carolina-bar-exam/
  11. ncbex – https://www.ncbex.org/statistics-and-research/bar-exam-results/

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