New York Bar Exam Results

Not only did this group achieve a historically high passing rate, they also surpassed the passing rate of their counterparts from American Bar Association-approved law schools outside of New York. The passing rate for graduates of such law schools who took the bar examination for the first time in New York this July was 85.7%.

The Board examined a record 10,907 candidates during two days of testing conducted on July 24-25, 2007. The passing rate for all candidates, including U.S. domestic-educated and foreign-educated candidates, first time and repeat takers, was 70.6%. Foreign-educated candidates accounted for 24% of the total group and those foreign candidates taking the New York bar examination for the first time had a passage rate of 45.6%.

Passing rates for all groups of candidates taking the July 2007 bar examination generally increased over the passing rates for July 2006, with the passing rate for graduates of New York law schools, including first-time and repeat takers, showing the largest increase. The passing rate for that group increased to 82.0%, from 78.5% one year ago. Passing rates for various groups of candidates, as compared to the results on the July 2006 bar examination, are demonstrated on the chart below.

Over 5,000 candidates chose to take the essay portion of the July 2007 New York State bar examination on a laptop computer. Some of these candidates experienced technical problems with the software provided by a vendor but almost all of the candidates' essay answers were eventually retrieved for grading. However, one or more of the essay answers for 47 candidates could not be recovered. Fifteen of these candidates passed the examination based on their performance on the balance of the examination, with no credit being given for any missing essay. Seventeen candidates failed the examination even when attributed a perfect score on any missing essays. The remaining 15 candidates were given estimated scores based upon their performance on the balance of the examination, and their probability of passing was computed. The Board worked with researchers at the National Conference of Bar Examiners to develop and apply this methodology, which resulted in nine of the remaining 15 candidates passing and six failing the examination. Candidates with missing essays who were unsuccessful on the examination have been notified by the Board as to how their results were determined.

A complete list of candidates passing the July 2007 bar examination will be available on the Board's website, at www.nybarexam.org on November 16, 2007. Successful candidates are certified for admission to the Appellate Division and must appear before the Committee on Character and Fitness appointed by the appropriate Appellate Division to be examined as to their character and fitness before being admitted to the bar. Candidates are not certified for admission until the Board receives proof that they have successfully completed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination as required by the Rules of the New York State Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law. - New York Bar Exam NYBarExam.org