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 believe that it serves as a crucial measure of an individual’s knowledge of the law and their ability to apply legal principles in a practical setting. By testing candidates on a wide range of legal topics, the exam aims to ensure that only those who have a strong understanding of the law are allowed to practice in South Dakota. This, in turn, helps to maintain high standards within the legal profession and protect the interests of clients who rely on competent and knowledgeable legal counsel.

Furthermore, supporters of the bar exam argue that it helps to establish a level playing field for all aspiring lawyers. By requiring all candidates to pass the same exam, regardless of their background or educational history, the exam helps to promote fairness and equality within the legal profession. This is particularly important in a profession that is often criticized for its lack of diversity and inclusivity.

On the other hand, critics of the South Dakota Bar Exam question its usefulness in today’s legal landscape. They argue that the exam places unnecessary and burdensome requirements on aspiring lawyers, leading to high levels of stress and anxiety among candidates. In addition, they suggest that the exam may not accurately measure an individual’s ability to practice law effectively, as it is based on a standardized testing format that may not reflect real-world legal practice.

Critics also point out that the bar exam can be an expensive and time-consuming process, with candidates often needing to dedicate months of study and significant financial resources to prepare for the exam. This can be particularly challenging for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds or with limited financial resources, potentially excluding them from entering the legal profession.

As the legal profession continues to evolve and adapt to changing societal needs, it may be worth reconsidering the role and usefulness of the South Dakota Bar Exam. While maintaining high standards within the legal profession is important, there may be other, more effective ways to ensure that lawyers are competent and qualified to practice law in the state. This could include implementing alternative assessment methods, such as practical skills assessments or mentorship programs, to supplement or replace the traditional bar exam.

Ultimately, the question of how useful the South Dakota Bar Exam is remains a complex and nuanced issue. While it undoubtedly serves important purposes in upholding standards and promoting fairness within the legal profession, there may also be valid concerns about its effectiveness and relevance in today’s legal landscape. As the legal profession continues to evolve, it will be important for stakeholders to engage in an open and constructive dialogue about the role of the bar exam and how it can best serve the needs of both aspiring lawyers and the wider community.

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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