Pennsylvania Bar Exam Statistics


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

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Top Pennsylvania Bar Exam Statistics 2023

☰ Use “CTRL+F” to quickly find statistics. There are total 20 Pennsylvania Bar Exam Statistics on this page 🙂

Pennsylvania Bar Exam “Latest” Statistics

  • Of the 1,092 first-time applicants this 2018, 79% passed. Last year, 81.2% passed, up from 75.4% in July 2016, which was the lowest pass rate for any July exam for which the state Board of Law Examiners has made data about bar exam pass rates available.[3]
  • 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.[5]
  • The passing percentage for the New York bar test, which serves as a decent middle ground standard is 61% while Pennsylvania has a passing percentage of 67.72%.[6]
  • Although it varies from year to year, the general Pennsylvania bar exam pass percentage is slightly around 80% .[8]
  • Penn Law ranks 3 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (98.5%), and it outperforms by +18.9% the state of New York’s overall bar passage rate of 79.6%.[9]
  • In order to pass the Pennsylvania bar exam, you should score at least 272. This is equal to 136, based on the MBE’s 200-point scale.[10]
  • Pennsylvania mandates bar exam examinees to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”). An examinee must score 75 or higher on the MPRE in order to pass in Pennsylvania.[10]

Pennsylvania Bar Exam “Examination” Statistics

  • Although Pennsylvania Bar Exam pass rates may vary per administration for various examinations, overall pass rates for the exam range from 56% to 83%, first time taker pass rates from 72% to 89% , and repeat taker pass rates from 24% to 55% .[2]

Pennsylvania Bar Exam “Exam” Statistics

  • Pennsylvania’s overall pass rate plummeted to 37% from 51% in February 2021, while just half of North Carolina’s February examinees passed, down from 60% a year ago.[1]
  • According to Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners, the 1,243 Pennsylvania Bar Exam July 2021 test-takers, 863 passed and 380 failed, imputing an overall pass rate of 69.43%. The overall pass rates for the October 2020 and July 2019 exams were higher and stood at 75.80% and 73.07% respectively.[7]
  • 162 out of 378 Maryland test takers in February 2021 has a total pass percentage of 42.9% while Pennsylvania had an overall pass rate of 51.1% (248 out of 485 examinees, passed).[5]
  • The highest number of candidates were from Temple University- James E. Beasley School of Law and among the 171 graduates of the law school who appeared for the exam, 129 passed, imputing an overall pass rate of 75.44%.[7]
  • In the July 2022 Bar exam by jurisdiction, Pennsylvania had an overall passing percentage of 68% with first time pass rate of 75% and repeater pass rate of 27%. The results were shown last October 7, 2022.[5]

Pennsylvania Bar Exam “Test” Statistics

  • Coming in fifth among the first-time pass rates after Dickinson Law was the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, with about 83.5% of 97 first-time test takers passing.[3]
  • The February test is taken by fewer individuals than the July test, and 68% of those who took it in February were repeating it—a larger proportion than the year before.[1]
  • Instead, Duquesne University School of Law had the third best first time and overall pass rates this year, with an 86.7% success rate among its 98 first timers and a rate of almost 81% among its 105 total test takers.[3]
  • 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.[5]

Pennsylvania Bar Exam “Other” Statistics

  • The UBE score of Pennsylvania is broken down into three components: (1) the MPT counts for 20%; (2) the MEE counts for 30%; and (3) the MBE counts for 50%.[2]
  • As previously reported, Pennsylvania announced the results of the State Bar Exam’s July 2016 administration late last week, with an overall passing percentage of 69.31%.[4]
  • The University of Pennsylvania Law School recorded the highest overall pass rate with a 90.32%.[7]

Also Read

How Useful is Pennsylvania Bar Exam

It is no secret that the Pennsylvania Bar Exam is a rigorous and demanding test. It covers a wide range of legal topics, from contracts to civil procedure to criminal law. Candidates must demonstrate their knowledge of these areas through a series of essays and multiple-choice questions. They must also show their ability to think critically and apply legal principles to hypothetical scenarios. However, critics argue that the exam may not truly measure a candidate’s ability to practice law effectively.

One of the main criticisms of the Pennsylvania Bar Exam is its reliance on rote memorization of legal rules and concepts. Some argue that the exam places too much emphasis on memorizing black-letter law, rather than testing a candidate’s ability to think creatively and critically. In the real world, lawyers must be able to analyze complex legal issues, think on their feet, and advocate effectively for their clients. Simply regurgitating legal rules may not be enough to make a successful lawyer.

Another concern is the lack of practical skills assessments in the Pennsylvania Bar Exam. While the exam does test candidates on their knowledge of legal principles, it does not assess their ability to conduct legal research, write court briefs, negotiate settlements, or interact with clients. These are all essential skills for a practicing lawyer, yet they are not explicitly tested in the bar exam. As a result, some argue that the exam may not accurately evaluate a candidate’s readiness to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of a lawyer.

Furthermore, the Pennsylvania Bar Exam is a high-stakes test that can have significant implications for a candidate’s future. Failing the exam can delay or even derail a candidate’s career aspirations, leading to financial and emotional stress. Some argue that the exam may place unnecessary pressure on candidates, leading to a focus on passing the test rather than developing the skills needed to succeed as a lawyer.

Despite these criticisms, supporters of the Pennsylvania Bar Exam argue that it is a necessary step to ensure the competency of lawyers in the state. They contend that the exam tests a candidate’s ability to understand and apply fundamental legal principles, which is essential for practicing law ethically and effectively. They also believe that passing the bar exam is a sign of a candidate’s dedication and commitment to the legal profession.

In conclusion, the usefulness of the Pennsylvania Bar Exam is a complex and controversial issue. While the exam tests candidates on their knowledge of legal principles, critics argue that it may not accurately measure their ability to practice law effectively. As the legal profession continues to evolve, it may be time to reevaluate the role of the bar exam in assessing the competency of aspiring lawyers.

Reference

  1. reuters – https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/bar-exam-pass-rates-slump-new-york-florida-2022-04-14/
  2. ibarexam – https://ibarexam.com/pennsylvania-bar-exam/
  3. yahoo – https://www.yahoo.com/news/pa-july-bar-pass-rates-080106603.html
  4. abovethelaw – https://abovethelaw.com/2016/10/pennsylvania-bar-exam-results-reveal-worst-passage-rates-in-more-than-a-decade/
  5. jdadvising – https://jdadvising.com/february-2022-bar-exam-results-release-dates-by-state/
  6. lawschooli – https://lawschooli.com/bar-exam-pass-rate-by-state/
  7. jdjournal – https://www.jdjournal.com/2021/10/22/texas-and-pennsylvania-bar-exam-pass-rates-stand-below-70/
  8. zavodnicklaw – https://www.zavodnicklaw.com/blog/how-hard-is-it-to-pass-the-pennsylvania-bar-exam/
  9. ilrg – https://www.ilrg.com/rankings/law/view/158
  10. ameribar – https://ameribar.com/pennsylvania-bar-exam/
  11. ncbex – https://www.ncbex.org/statistics-and-research/bar-exam-results/

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