First-Time Bar Exam Pass Rate Rises in 2024, ABA Reports.
The percentage of https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2025/02/chaos-strikes-california-bar-exam-refunds-offered-to-5600-amid-disarray/first-time bar exam takers who passed in 2024 has increased by more than 3 percentage points compared to last year, according to data released Wednesday by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.
Bar Exam Pass Rates Show Improvement
According to a March 12 news release by the ABA Journal, the aggregate pass rate for first-time test takers in 2024 was 82.79%. When including alternative pathways to bar admission, the pass rate slightly increased to 83.02%. This marks a notable rise from the 79.44% pass rate in 2023.
The reported figures reflect the growing use of alternative licensure pathways, which provide additional routes to becoming a licensed attorney beyond the traditional bar exam.
Two-Year Bar Passage Rates for Law Graduates
The data also revealed bar passage rates for law school graduates within two years of graduation:
- 90.41% of 2022 law graduates passed a bar exam within two years (90.52% when including alternative pathways).
- This is a slight decline from the 90.53% two-year passage rate for 2021 graduates.
- 95.85% of all 2022 graduates who took the bar exam or an alternative pathway successfully passed within two years.
ABA Compliance and Law School Performance
Under ABA Standard 316, law schools must maintain a minimum two-year bar passage rate of 75% to remain in compliance. Based on the latest data, most law schools appear to be meeting or exceeding this benchmark.
Jennifer L. Rosato Perea, Managing Director for ABA Accreditation and Legal Education, emphasized the importance of bar passage rates in evaluating how well law schools prepare students for the legal profession.
“Admission to the bar, as defined by the state supreme courts, is one measure that reflects how well law schools prepare their students for the legal profession—and this measure will continue to be shaped by changes in the bar exam, diverse pathways to licensure, and other assessments of competency.”
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Law Schools and Bar Candidates
The increase in first-time pass rates suggests improvements in bar preparation and legal education, while the slight decline in two-year pass rates indicates that some challenges remain.
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As the bar exam evolves and alternative pathways gain traction, law schools and state bar associations will continue to adapt to new licensing standards and competency assessments.
For future bar takers, the 2024 results provide a positive outlook, reinforcing the importance of strong preparation, legal education reforms, and alternative licensing options in shaping the next generation of attorneys.
