The Unacceptable and Disheartening Cold at the California Bar Exam
This week’s bar exam at the Cow Palace in northern California highlighted a deeply concerning issue. Aspiring attorneys, after dedicating years to their legal studies and investing thousands of dollars in preparation for the bar exam, faced an unexpected and unnecessary challenge—cold temperatures inside the testing facility.
Reports suggest temperatures inside the venue dropped to 54 degrees, a condition far from conducive for an exam that determines the future of many.
Cold temperatures can adversely affect test performance and cognitive abilities, as well-documented in scientific studies. Physical discomfort and reduced blood flow to the brain in cold conditions can distract students and impair memory recall. Let’s not forget, too, that cold environments can simply impact an examinee’s mood and stress levels during an already high-stress, high-stakes examination.
As a former lawyer and legal educator with nearly a quarter-century dedicated to helping students pass the bar exam, I've witnessed first-hand the immense dedication and effort law students invest in this career-defining moment. The situation at the Cow Palace, therefore, is not just a professional concern for me, but a personal one, reflecting on the values I’ve upheld in my decades of assisting future legal professionals.
The bar exam is not just another test. It’s a pivotal moment in the lives of future attorneys. It represents the culmination of years of rigorous law school education and months of dedicated, focused study.
Examinees can spend thousands just to take the bar exam (application fees, laptop software fee, transportation and hotel costs, food expenses, time off work, etc.), and an equal amount, if not much more, on preparatory courses and other study materials. To subject them to an environment where concentration is compromised, and physical discomfort is apparent, is not just inconsiderate. It's unfair.
Imagine trying to focus on complex legal principles while shivering, or writing extensive essays with stiff, cold fingers. According to news reports, some examinees reportedly had blue fingernails and resorted to sitting in their cars for warmth during breaks. This isn't just about physical discomfort; it's about the mental toll it takes, the added stress, and the potential impact on performance.
The State Bar of California's decision to shift the exam location from the Oakland Convention Center to the Cow Palace for cost-saving measures, while understandable from a financial standpoint, overlooked the fundamental need for a comfortable testing environment.
It's heartening to hear that the State Bar will return to the Oakland Convention Center for the July exam, but this decision doesn't undo the distress faced by hundreds of candidates this week. (Also, the weather is typically warmer in July, so the issue of cold temperatures may conveniently not be a concern then.)
As a community, we must advocate for better conditions, ensuring that future exams are held in environments where our future lawyers can perform at their best, unhindered by such basic environmental issues.
The legal profession is about upholding justice, fairness, and equity. Let's start by applying these principles to the licensing exam that ushers in our future legal professionals.
