http://abovethelaw.com/2017/06/california-bar-exam-results-by-law-school-february-2017/
Flush!: On June 1, 2017, Above the Law featured a Staci Zaretsky piece entitled “California Bar Exam Results By Law School (February 2017).” Look at this prelude:
“Shocking results from the February 2017 administration of the California bar exam were released on May 12, 2017. Given the disappointing overall pass rate, people have been wondering about the pass rates by law school ever since.
The only information we’ve had until now has been the frighteningly low overall, first-time taker, and repeat taker pass rates of 34.5 percent, 39 percent, and 33 percent, respectively. We also knew the overall pass rates for first-time takers who attended ABA-accredited law schools, both in-state (45 percent) and out-of-state (39 percent). Granted, February pass rates are generally lower than July pass rates due to the number of repeat takers, but here at Above the Law, we are focused on first-time takers, and these pass rates are very, very low.” [Emphasis mine]
Two paragraphs later, ATL gets down to assessing the performance for each ABA-accredited diploma mill:
“Which in-state law schools did the best on the test, and which schools did the worst? We now pass that information along to our readers, with the caveat that it only includes California law schools that had at least 11 first-time and repeat takers, or no first-time takers and at least 11 repeat takers. The Bar disseminates information in this manner to help shield the identities of graduates of law schools that had fewer test-takers during each administration of the bar exam.
Here’s a list we’ve created of pass rates for first-time takers on the February 2017 administration of the exam for all ABA-accredited California law schools that had 11 or more test-takers for the exam. Take a look:
• Santa Clara: 69 percent
• Loyola (LA): 67 percent
• Western State: 67 percent
• UCLA: 64 percent
• Pepperdine: 59 percent
• U. San Diego: 53 percent
• McGeorge: 50 percent
• STATEWIDE AVERAGE: 45 PERCENT
• California Western: 45 percent
• Golden Gate: 33 percent
• U. San Francisco: 31 percent
• UC Hastings: 27 percent
• Southwestern: 24 percent
• Thomas Jefferson: 24 percent” [Emphasis mine]
In a just world, anyone who attends the worst toilets on this list would not be eligible for federal student loans – and would instead need to come up with collateral and obtain private funding for their garbage “legal education.” Then again, “higher education” is a financial windfall – for the institutions.
http://www.jdjournal.com/2017/05/15/february-2017-california-bar-exam-results-almost-23-of-applicants-failed/
Other Coverage: On May 15, 2017, JD Journal published a Teresa Lo piece, under the headline “February 2017 California Bar Exam Results – Almost 2/3 of Applicants Failed.” Enjoy this opening:
“On Friday, the California State Bar released its official test results, and only an abysmal 34.5% of test takers were able to pass the notoriously difficult exam. The passage rate for first-timers was slightly better, but it was still an unimpressive 39%. These rates were a decline from last year where the overall passage rate was 35.7 percent, and the first-time takers’ passage rate was 45 percent. In California’s press release, Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, the Executive Director of the State Bar of California, acknowledged the decline and the Board stated it was conducting an investigation, which will begin May 15. “I’d like to congratulate the applicants who passed the Bar Exam,” Parker said. “Regrettably the pass rate shows a continuing decline, a trend happening nationally. The State Bar is committed to a better understanding of the problem to determine how to address it.” [Emphasis mine]
Still want to take the plunge, Dumbass?!?! You can already see that the law school pigs will make a major push to have the state bar exam simplified, for their cretinous students and graduates. Hell, why not make it as difficult as a Driver’s License test, right?!?! After all, California already has an incredible GLUT of attorneys. This has been well-documented for years.
Conclusion: Do you see what the weak performing trash pits have in common, genius?!?! Yes, they are rated in THE FOURTH TIER – by US “News” & World Report. Somehow, special snowflakes/waterheads will continue to ignore all the warning signs – and they will enroll in these foul piles of excrement. Remember, idiots have dreams too. However, seeing that you are essentially required to incur an additional $175K+ in NON-DISCHARGEABLE debt – for a chance to enter a ridiculously oversaturated lawyer job market – should at least make you reconsider.
The plain truth is that you are MUCH better off remaining in your current job, work your ass off, make real connections with those in your field, and try to separate yourself from the pack. That does not require you to piss away three years of your life, or to accumulate outrageous sums of student debt in the process. However, if you had such insight, then you would not even think of going to law school in the first place. Enjoy trying to repay those massive loans on a paltry $41K annual salary, Bitch.
