News Releases

State Bar Launches California Attorney Practice Analysis to Continue Bar Exam Study

The first California-specific study of the knowledge and skills needed by entry-level attorneys gets underway December 19, 2018, with a public meeting at the State Bar offices in San Francisco. The California Attorney Practice Analysis will set the foundation for revisiting the California Bar Exam pass line and content, as well as exam format and other aspects of the test.

The State Bar’s California Attorney Practice Analysis Working Group will oversee the project. Members were appointed by the California Supreme Court from state and national stakeholder groups. The working group is chaired by Alan Steinbrecher, vice chair of the State Bar Board of Trustees. (Working Group Roster)

"As part of the State Bar’s commitment to integrity and fairness in the admissions process, we need to ensure that the California Bar Exam is relevant and tests what is needed by entry-level California attorneys,” said Leah T. Wilson, Executive Director of the State Bar of California. “Our recent Bar Exam studies—while groundbreaking—had to rely on national practice analysis data from several years ago. This project will give us more current and relevant data and help us better determine whether adjustments may be needed on the content or other aspects of the Bar Exam. We are grateful for the leadership, funding support, and team expertise that will help us move forward with this important goal.”

Funded by a grant from the AccessLex Institute, the California Attorney Practice Analysis will collect detailed, empirical data about how attorneys use their knowledge and skills to perform routine tasks in their legal practices. Key components of the study will include focus groups and surveys of California attorneys. Castle Worldwide was selected as the vendor to conduct the study.

During its first meeting, the working group will hear public comment, review the State Bar’s previous Bar Exam studies, and discuss the project’s scope, purpose, detailed plan, and schedule. (December 19 Meeting Agenda)

The December 19 public meeting will be webcast and an online archive will be available.

Fact Sheet: Attorney Practice Analysis for the California Bar Exam

Sign up to receive email notification when agendas and any available related materials about this project have been posted