South Dakota Bar Exam Statistics


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South Dakota Bar Exam Statistics 2023: Facts about Bar Exam in South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota Bar Exam Statistics 2023

☰ Use “CTRL+F” to quickly find statistics. There are total 18 South Dakota Bar Exam Statistics on this page 🙂

South Dakota Bar Exam “Latest” Statistics

  • More than 90% in the previous class had passed the South Dakota bar exam, which determines whether a law school grad can practice law in the state.[1]
  • The overall pass rates for the South Dakota bar exam have ranged between 58% and 97% for all takers, 72% and 100% for first-time takers, and 17% and 78% for repeat takers.[2]
  • 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.[3]
  • USD Law ranks 183 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (51.7%), and it underperforms by -16.5% the state of South Dakota’s overall bar passage rate of 68.2%.[5]
  • 1151 out of 3098 people who took the California bar exam in February 2021 had a passing percentage of 37.2% while South Dakota had a 56% overall passing percentage.[3]
  • The unofficial passing percentage for first time test takers who took the bar in July is closer to 50% .[1]
  • 162 out of 378 Maryland bar exam test takers in February 2021 passed with a total percentage of 42.9% while South Dakota had a 56% overall passing percentage.[3]
  • In order to pass the South Dakota bar exam, an examinee should score a 135 out of 200-point scale.[3]
  • To pass the South Dakota bar exam, an examinee must have a minimum score of 135 on the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”) portion and an average score of 75% on the written portion, which is the combined 2 Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”) questions, 5 Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) questions, and 1 Indian Law question.[2]
  • In University of Dakota, the 2021 first-time bar passage rate was 72.6%.[2]
  • In February 2022, South Dakota bar exam had an overall passing percentage of 55% with first time pass rate of 81%, and 29% repeater pass rate.[2]
  • In order to pass the South Dakota bar exam, you must score 130 on the MBE’s 200-point scale.[7]
  • The scores of the exam sections are weighted as follows: the written component 50% and MBE 50%. South Dakota makes bar exam results available approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the exam.[7]

South Dakota Bar Exam “Exam” Statistics

  • The South Dakota Bar Exam weights different sections like the MBE, the MEE/Indian Essay, and the MPT require separate scores to pass. The MBE must be 135, the MEE/Indian Essay requires a 75%, and the MPRE requires an 85 to pass the South Dakota Bar exam.[6]
  • An examinee must score 85 or higher on the MPRE in order to pass in South Dakota.[7]
  • 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.[3]

South Dakota Bar Exam “Test” Statistics

  • To pass the test, the candidate must have a scaled score of at least 133 on the MBE and an average of at least 75% on the MEE/MPT/Indian law part.[8]

South Dakota Bar Exam “Other” Statistics

  • South Dakota had a passing percentage of 58.26% (67 out of 115). First time taker had a passing percentage of 68.18% (45 out of 66). The data shows a summary for the 2017 calendar year.[4]

Also Read

How Useful is South Dakota Bar Exam

Proponents of the South Dakota Bar Exam argue that it serves as a necessary measure of a candidate’s knowledge of the law and ability to apply legal concepts in practical situations. Passing the bar exam demonstrates that an individual has the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to effectively represent clients in a court of law. It also ensures that ethical standards are met, as candidates must show an understanding of legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Additionally, the bar exam provides a level playing field for all aspiring attorneys, regardless of their educational background or work experience. By testing candidates on a standardized set of legal principles and procedures, the exam ensures that all attorneys meet a minimum standard of competency before they are allowed to practice law. This helps to protect clients and uphold the integrity of the legal profession as a whole.

On the other hand, critics of the South Dakota Bar Exam argue that it is not always an accurate measure of an individual’s potential as a lawyer. They point out that the bar exam primarily tests memorization and recollection of legal concepts, rather than a candidate’s ability to think critically, analyze complex legal issues, or communicate effectively. In practice, these skills are just as crucial to success as a lawyer as knowing the law itself.

Furthermore, some argue that the bar exam can be a barrier to entry for capable candidates who may not perform well under the pressure of a timed exam. The stress and anxiety associated with the bar exam can adversely affect a candidate’s performance, leading to talented individuals being excluded from the profession based on a single test score. This can be particularly detrimental to candidates from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, who may face additional barriers to passing the exam.

As the legal profession continues to evolve, some have called for a reevaluation of the role of the bar exam in determining a candidate’s ability to practice law. Some have suggested alternative methods of assessing competency, such as practical skills assessments, writing samples, or even real-world internships or apprenticeships.

Ultimately, the usefulness of the South Dakota Bar Exam depends on one’s perspective. While it serves as a necessary rite of passage for many aspiring attorneys, it is not without its limitations. As the legal profession continues to evolve, it may be time to consider new approaches to assessing competency and ensuring that all lawyers are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing legal landscape.

Reference

  1. argusleader – https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2016/10/01/growing-number-law-school-grads-unable-pass-bar-exam/91271810/
  2. ibarexam – https://ibarexam.com/south-dakota-bar-exam/
  3. jdadvising – https://jdadvising.com/february-2022-bar-exam-results-release-dates-by-state/
  4. lawschooli – https://lawschooli.com/bar-exam-pass-rate-by-state/
  5. ilrg – https://www.ilrg.com/rankings/law/view/164
  6. testmaxprep – https://testmaxprep.com/bar-exam/courses/south-dakota-bar-review
  7. ameribar – https://ameribar.com/south-dakota-bar-exam/
  8. barexam – https://barexam.info/state-bar-info/south-dakota-bar-exam/
  9. adaptibar – https://blog.adaptibar.com/february-2020-bar-exam-results/
  10. ncbex – https://thebarexaminer.ncbex.org/article/summer-fall-2021/from-my-perspective/
  11. lawschooltransparency – https://www.lawschooltransparency.com/schools/southdakota/admissions
  12. ncbex – https://www.ncbex.org/statistics-and-research/bar-exam-results/
  13. ndcourts – https://www.ndcourts.gov/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-supreme-court/general-news/july-2021-bar-examination-results-released

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