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Have you failed the bar exam and are wondering what to do next? Explore what to do next and find solutions if you didn't pass the bar exam. Learn about the steps to take and possible ways to move forward after an unsuccessful attempt.
The bar exam evaluates if candidates are eligible and able to practice law in a particular jurisdiction. It is the final major step to becoming a practicing lawyer. While it varies from state to state, the majority of states have adopted the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) or Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).
No matter what variation of the exam you take, it is notoriously difficult and requires intensive studying as the exam covers a wide variety of legal topics.
If you didn’t pass the bar exam and are unsure about what to do next, don’t panic. Keep reading as this article discusses moving forward after failing the exam.
Failing anything is never a good feeling, and failing can often make us insecure and question our abilities.
However, don’t worry too much! Your journey to becoming a practicing lawyer is not over. Just like with the LSAT, retaking the bar exam is a possibility.
If you didn't pass the bar exam, there are several things you can do to regroup and move ahead in preparation for a bar exam retake. Explore different options to refocus and keep progressing.
Let’s face it: failing is a bad feeling, and failing an important exam can feel very overwhelming.
However, you are definitely not alone if you have failed the bar exam. According to the American Bar Association, 79.86% of people pass after taking the bar exam for the first time in recent years. That averages out to two out of every ten people failing the exam the first time they take it.
It is also key to remember that the bar exam is just an exam. It does not define your knowledge or capabilities. You may have had a bad day the day of the exam, felt unwell or distracted, or had an ineffective study plan. There are many factors that can impact your performance on the exam.
As you reflect and prepare to take the exam again, ask yourself some questions:
There are just a few questions you should think about as you create a plan moving forward.
Looking at your score report and seeing areas where you did well and areas where you didn’t is beneficial, especially if you plan on taking the bar exam again. Just like you did with your LSAT scores, analyze the breakdown of your performance. Identify the specific sections or topics where you struggled and those where you excelled.
While it may be tempting to ignore the score altogether if you didn’t do well, the only way to know where you went wrong and work on improving is to look at your score report.
Examine your scores and essays (if possible) on the bar exam and find areas where you performed poorly.
The bar exam usually consists of various exams, including the MEE and the MPRE. Familiarize yourself with the expectations of each exam, so you know what to expect and can strategize a more successful study plan.
You will need to decide how you would like to proceed. Remember, people have taken the bar exam again after failing and have passed. However, there are other factors to consider than simply just jumping back in to retake the exam.
You should develop a comprehensive plan to help you successfully pass the bar exam the next time you take it. The plan may include studying more, getting one-on-one exam support and consulting, or taking extra classes. It is advised to be strategic about your next steps to be as successful as you can be when you retake the bar exam.
You may still have doubts or worries about what to do next following a bar exam failure. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help you make a decision moving forward.
It is fairly common to fail the bar exam, especially for first-time test takers. In fact, the pass rate for first-time bar exam takers dropped 2% from 2021 to 2022. If you weren’t successful on the bar exam, you are not alone.
If it makes you feel better, Kim Kardashian failed the baby bar exam (a less extensive bar exam for first-year law students in California) three times and passed on her fourth!
Anyone can fail the bar exam, or any major exam for that matter. Moving on and moving forward is what matters most and will ultimately define your future success.
You can try to take the bar exam in another state. Sometimes a location change can make a huge difference in your performance. However, if you were unsuccessful on the bar exam in one state but passed the exam in another, you will only be able to practice law in the state you passed.
There are some states that do offer bar exam reciprocity with other states, which allows you to practice law in a state that you didn’t take the bar exam in. US Legal outlines which states have reciprocity agreements.
There is more good news. There are many states that have no limits on how many times you can take the bar exam. According to BarExam, these states are:
There are also states with absolute limits on how many times someone can take the bar exam. BarExam identifies these states as:
However, even states with absolute limits will still allow people to take the bar exam at least four times. So even if you haven’t passed the bar exam more than once in any of these states, you still have the chance to try again.
Firstly, wait until you get your results before jumping to conclusions. It is common to feel insecure and anxious after any major test or exam, especially an exam that is vital to your career.
You may come out of the bar exam feeling like you failed but actually performed well and passed.
You already have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to be a lawyer, even if you failed the bar exam. Law school, studying and prep work, and even actually taking the bar exam means you are capable of being successful in the field of law.
You have already done tremendous amounts of work to get where you are now, so don’t underestimate your skills and work and don’t give up. To get to where you are, you have already conquered major milestones of being accepted into law school and graduating from law school, which is no easy feat.
The journey to becoming a practicing lawyer is definitely not easy, and it’s totally normal to have some setbacks. Don’t let failing hold you back and stop you from achieving your dreams.
