Massachusetts Bar Exam Statistics


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Massachusetts Bar Exam Statistics 2023: Facts about Bar Exam in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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.

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Top Massachusetts Bar Exam Statistics 2023

☰ Use “CTRL+F” to quickly find statistics. There are total 16 Massachusetts Bar Exam Statistics on this page 🙂

Massachusetts Bar Exam “Latest” Statistics

  • Statistics released by the Massachusetts Board of Bar examiners on Monday show that just 69.2% of test takers passed the bar exam in July.[1]
  • The passing percentage for the New York bar test, which serves as a decent middle ground standard, is 61% while Massachusetts has a passing percentage of 63.94%.[2]
  • Typically, the pass rates for the Massachusetts bar exam vary from 54% to 86% for all test takers, 69% to 94% for first timers, and 24% to 52% for repeat test takers.[3]
  • A total of 396 examinees sat for the February 2022 Massachusetts bar examination, of whom 43.9% passed. There were 171 first time takers, of whom 62% passed the exam.[3]
  • 162 out of 378 Maryland bar exam test takers in February 2021 has a total passing percentage of 42.9% while the Massachusetts bar exam has an overall passing percentage of 43.4% (204/277).[6]
  • 45 out of 79 Vermont test takers in February 2021 has a total passing percentage of 57% while the Massachusetts bar exam has an overall passing percentage of 43.4% (204/277)[6]
  • In order to pass the Massachusetts bar exam, an examinee needs to score a 270/400 (135 out of 200-point scale).[4]

Massachusetts Bar Exam “Examination” Statistics

  • The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is administered twice each year in Massachusetts (in February, and July). The examination is administered over two days, in four, three-hour sessions. The UBE has three parts: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT).[1]
  • A total of 1,377 examinees sat for the July 2019 Massachusetts Bar examination, of whom 985 (71.5%) passed. There were 1151 first time takers, of whom 939 (81.6%) passed the exam.[4]

Massachusetts Bar Exam “Exam” Statistics

  • In February 2022, Massachusetts Bar exam overall pass rate was 44%, 62% first-timers, and 30% repeaters.[1]
  • While 79.8% of test takers succeeded on their first attempt this past summer, the total success percentage for the July 2016 Massachusetts exam administration was 70.8% .[4]
  • 71.5% of test takers who took the exam in July passed, according to information released on Monday by the Massachusetts Bar of Board examiners.[5]
  • 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.[6]
  • In February 2022 Massachusetts Bar exam, the overall passing rate was 44% with first timer percentage of 62%, and repeater percentage of 30%. The results were posted last April 28, 2022.[4]

Massachusetts Bar Exam “Test” Statistics

  • The passing percentage for first-time test takers in the state has also been steadily declining since 2010, with the exception of what seems to be an outlier in July 2013, when 91.0% of test.[4]

Massachusetts Bar Exam “Other” Statistics

  • The Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”) counts for 50%. The Multistate Essay Exam (“MEE”) questions count for 30% and the Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”) questions count for 20%.[3]

Also Read

How Useful is Massachusetts Bar Exam

Proponents of the bar exam argue that it is a necessary step to ensure that only qualified individuals are admitted to the legal profession. They claim that passing the exam demonstrates a candidate’s ability to apply legal principles to real-world situations and shows that they have the necessary skills to practice law effectively. In this sense, the bar exam serves as a quality control mechanism to protect the public and maintain the integrity of the legal profession.

On the other hand, critics of the bar exam question its efficacy and relevance in today’s legal landscape. They argue that the test is overly focused on memorization and regurgitation of information, rather than on practical legal skills that are actually required in the practice of law. They also point out that the bar exam is a one-size-fits-all assessment that does not take into account the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths of candidates. As a result, some qualified individuals may be unfairly excluded from the legal profession simply because they struggle with standardized testing.

Another criticism of the bar exam is that it does not accurately measure an individual’s competence as a future lawyer. Passing the bar exam does not guarantee success in the legal profession, and some lawyers who excel in their careers may have struggled with the exam. Conversely, some individuals who excel at test-taking may not possess the practical skills and ethical judgment required to be effective lawyers. In this sense, the bar exam may not be an accurate predictor of a candidate’s future success or ability to serve their clients well.

In light of these criticisms, it is worth considering whether the Massachusetts Bar Exam could be revised or supplemented to better reflect the realities of contemporary legal practice. For example, some have suggested that the exam could be redesigned to include more practical and skills-based questions that test a candidate’s ability to analyze legal problems, formulate solutions, and communicate effectively. Others have proposed alternative assessments, such as simulations, oral examinations, or portfolios of legal work, that may provide a more nuanced and comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s abilities.

Ultimately, the usefulness of the Massachusetts Bar Exam depends on how well it aligns with the goals and values of the legal profession. While passing the bar exam is a significant milestone for aspiring lawyers, it should not be the sole determinant of their fitness to practice law. As the legal landscape continues to evolve and demand new skills and competencies from lawyers, it is important to periodically evaluate and adjust the bar exam to ensure that it remains a relevant and effective tool for assessing candidates’ readiness to enter the legal profession.

Reference

  1. typepad – https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2018/10/july-2018-massachusetts-bar-exam-results-are-the-worst-this-century.html
  2. lawschooli – https://lawschooli.com/bar-exam-pass-rate-by-state/
  3. ibarexam – https://ibarexam.com/massachusetts-bar-exam/
  4. abovethelaw – https://abovethelaw.com/2016/10/massachusetts-bar-exam-results-reveal-worst-passage-rates-in-almost-25-years/
  5. bizjournals – https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2019/10/28/law-students-scores-improve-on-mass-bar-exam-after.html
  6. jdadvising – https://jdadvising.com/february-2022-bar-exam-results-release-dates-by-state/
  7. adaptibar – https://blog.adaptibar.com/february-2020-bar-exam-results/
  8. crushendo – https://crushendo.com/massachusetts-bar-exam-prep/
  9. typepad – https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2019/11/july-2019-massachusetts-bar-exam-results.html
  10. mass – https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-bar-exam-results
  11. ncbex – https://www.ncbex.org/statistics-and-research/bar-exam-results/
  12. reuters – https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/ominous-early-signs-emerge-july-2021-bar-exam-pass-rates-2021-09-15/

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