As several states have now completed administration of an online Bar exam, the future of the exam is being questioned. Concerns raised and studied, even pre-pandemic, include that the exam is too focused on memorization instead of critical thinking and that the exam is biased towards upper-middle class and wealthier applicants. The National Conference of Bar Examiners has a Testing Task Force to consider what reforms are needed. Legal groups and experts have suggested that alternatives to the exam could be considered, such as diploma privilege, remote proctored online tests, open book exams, and provisional licensing.
October 07, 2020
