Kimberly O'Dea on LinkedIn: #ustlawmn (2024)

This link is to the information on the upcoming meeting of the California Bar Committee of Bar Examiners:https://lnkd.in/eJKyKQ3sHere is one portion of that meeting:I will be at this meeting, and Submitting Public Comment in advance, as well as at the beginning of this meeting. There is a LOT of important information in the presentation on the above link, under the section on "Remarks from the Chair," section "C," Committee of Examiners Workplan.The first item shown here is not being voted on, but the second is a priority. So is the portion about the Blue Ribbon Commission on creating the new California Bar Exam, and discussion on the Portfolio Bar Exam!I am unsure, at this point, based on what is available, but very important topics are on that presentation - I will be at this meeting via Zoom.#rayhayden #californiabarexam #barexam #lawstudy #lawschool

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Breaking News: Five States are changing their Bar Exam! Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon will switch in July 2026, Wyoming in July 2027, and Connecticut's date is yet to be finalized. Stay tuned for updates, and be prepared for the changes! #BarExam #NewChanges #LawStudents #StayTuned #LegalNews #barexam

WEEKLY UPDATE: The NCBE posted detailed bar passage statistics for five more jurisdictions during the Week of Oct. 1 (Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Tennessee, and Wisconsin).All five saw an increase in first-time passage rates.Here's how the most recently posted jurisdictions performed on the July 2023 exam compared to the July 2023 exam:Colorado, +5 percentage pointsDelaware, +4 percentage pointsIllinois, +2 percentage pointsTennessee, +6 percentage pointsWisconsin, +3 percentage pointsSo far, the NCBC has posted detailed bar passage statistics for 29 jurisdictions. A total of 13,485 examinees took the bar exam in these 29 jurisdictions, representing nearly 30 percent of the 45,968 examinees who took the July 2023 MBE. (NCBE results page: https://lnkd.in/gKvKdZXR)#barexam #lawstudents #lawschool #uniformbarexam #UBE #barresults #legaleducation

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CalBar updated the Agenda for the 18 / 19 Jul 2024 Board of Trustees Meeting in regard to the Feb 2025 California General Bar Exam. I am going to try and paste information here:This is not the entire three pages, yet I continue to predict that the Feb 2025 California General Bar Exam is going to be completely CalBar, and will have their own MCQ's.The serious problem to remove from the exam is the Written Section, which is subjectively graded, and pretty much worthless.On the Multiple Choice Questions? I really have no problem working on those, but they MUST be HONESTLY Objective, and FAIR... nothing less is acceptable.The other issue is HOW remote can the exam be? It must be wide based remote to have any value, specifically, if I cannot take the California Bar Exam from Florida? It is a failure. It needs wide based remote capability, which is simplistic to do.The NCBE uses stupid tricks and traps in a high pressure scenario of the exam which prevents too many people from entering the profession of law... it is about 100 years beyond the time to eradicate the mess the NCBE began in 1931 (the height of The Great Depression!).#rayhayden #barexam #californiabarexam #lawschool #lawstudy

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While my law school alma mater, the University of Minnesota, is kicking off its college 🏈 season tonight against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the bar exam results season is well underway.According to the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ data (https://lnkd.in/gKvKdZXR), some jurisdictions have released their results so far, and the numbers are encouraging 👍. Granted, the data set is small at this point, as the NCBE has only released jurisdiction-specific information for just 2️⃣ jurisdictions. I’ll be keeping an eye on the updated statistics. Both jurisdictions for which the NCBE has released data show an improvement in first-time bar passage rates compared to July 2022 numbers.North Carolina, whose results were released August 29, had a first-time bar passage rate of 78%. This is a two-percentage point increase 📈 when compared to the July 2022 bar exam. A total of 785 examinees took the North Carolina bar exam in July 2023.West Virginia, whose results were released August 28, had a more pronounced improvement from a year ago. West Virginia saw a 76% first-time bar passage rate this administration, compared to a first-time bar passage rate of 63% on the July 2022 bar exam. A total of 119 examinees took the West Virginia bar exam last July.Both North Carolina and West Virginia are Uniform Bar Examination jurisdictions.#barexamresults#NCbarexam #WVbarexam #July2023barexam #barexam #barresults #deantommytips #UBE

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Great news that the State Bar Board of Trustees voted 6-2 to pass the proposal of the Portfolio Bar Exam. The Portfolio Bar Exam still needs final approval from the California Supreme Court. The traditional bar examination, with its rigid focus on memorization and high-stakes testing, has often been a formidable barrier to entry for aspiring lawyers, especially women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Many promising individuals - especially those aspiring to public interest and public service work - are unable to bear the crushing financial costs associated with forgoing employment for three months, coupled with the examination-related expenses.The current system deprives these individuals of a fair chance, while depriving our California communities of the talents and diverse perspective these aspiring lawyers would contribute.WLAC has been dedicated to promoting gender equality and diversity within the legal profession for over forty years.Each year, we see dozens of applications for our stipend program detail firsthand the immense hardships imposed by the current bar exam structure. The portfolio-based bar examination, with its emphasis on a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate's practical legal skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, represents a beacon of hope. It recognizes that legal excellence transcends rote memorization and offers a more inclusive and equitable pathway for candidates to demonstrate their capabilities. Moreover, it allows candidates to earn a living while preparing, thus alleviating financial stress and making it more accessible to a diverse group of individuals.We are very hopeful that the portfolio-based bar examination will not only level the playing field for aspiring lawyers but also contribute to a more vibrant, representative, and equitable legal profession in California.

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I'm thrilled to announce that the State Bar Board of Trustees just voted 6-2 to pass on our Working Group's proposal for a pilot alternative to the written bar exam, the Portfolio Bar Exam (summary attached). This will allow candidates to demonstrate their competence to practice law in a supervised practice setting and to have independent examiners assess real-world work product. This alternative will be more valid and more equitable. (77.5% of white candidates passed the July 2022 exam, while 40.5% of Black candidates passed. Something is wrong with the current exam.) If the PBE is ultimately adopted, we can expect GREATER public protection, MORE competent attorneys, and a MORE DIVERSE profession. Hoping the CSC will advance equity and excellence in the law by adopting the PBE.

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We're just a few short weeks away from the July bar exam here in Tennessee. Here are some tips to help with any last minute study sessions you may be getting in before exam time!

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If you've received your bar exam results and didn't pass, don't lose hope! You're not alone, and there's a way forward. We're offering a free five-day JD Advising mastery class tailored to those who didn't pass the bar. It starts next Monday, and it's packed with information to help you on your journey.In this class, we break down score reports, show you how to maximize points, and create a personalized bar exam study schedule. We understand that many of our attendees have full-time jobs or other commitments, so we'll guide you on how to study efficiently with the time you have available.Ready to get back on track or know someone who is? Sign up for our free five-day mastery class here! #barexam #barresults #lawyer

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