Bar Exam Update: AZ, CA & FL

It was a busy week for bar exam updates over the past couple of days. Here’s what happened in Arizona, California, and Florida.

Arizona

On July 17, the Arizona Supreme Court announced the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP) to increase lawyer numbers in rural and public law offices, addressing a severe shortage in the state. ALAP offers a licensure pathway for those scoring between 260 and 269 on the Uniform Bar Exam (below Arizona’s passing score of 270), allowing them to practice under the supervision of an experienced lawyer in rural or public law offices while meeting character and fitness requirements. Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer highlighted Arizona's low ranking (49th) in lawyers per capita and emphasized the need for more legal services, especially in rural areas. The program aims to retain lawyers who might otherwise move to neighboring states with lower UBE passing scores, like New Mexico and Utah (both 260). Eligible individuals for ALAP are those who scored between 260 and 269 on the UBE from July 2023 onwards.

For more information: https://bit.ly/4d6HrDh

California

At its July 18 meeting, the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees authorized negotiations with Kaplan North America, LLC, for a five-year bar exam agreement worth up to $8.25 million. If finalized, Kaplan will create California-specific bar exam questions, replacing the Multistate Bar Examination by February 2025. This move aims to facilitate remote and test center-based exams, addressing test takers' preferences and helping to close a projected 2026 insolvency gap in the Admissions Fund.

For more information: https://bit.ly/3Lv6EeO

Florida

Also, on July 18, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners announced that it will be adopting the NextGen Bar Exam and will also be incorporating a state-specific component to that exam, beginning with the July 2028 exam. It’s unclear from the public materials whether the adoption of the NextGen Bar Exam will also mean Florida has adopted portability of scores for the NextGen Bar Exam. Currently, Florida is a non-UBE jurisdiction and does not embrace reciprocity or portability of exam scores from other jurisdictions. Florida is the 21st and largest jurisdiction to have adopted the new bar exam.

For more information: https://bit.ly/3Ww1HJb