Bar passage rate continues to rise

UB law school graduates know how to rally, and results from July’s New York State Bar Exam confirm it: 87.41% of first-time UB Law test-takers passed the rigorous exam — an increase of 1.93% from July of 2023.

For the second year in a row, that rate outshines the overall rate for all first-time New York Bar Exam takers from ABA-approved law schools in New York, home to several highly regarded private law schools. Additionally, for the fourth consecutive year, 100% of UB Law’s Pro Bono Scholars who took the bar in February — one semester earlier than the rest of their classmates — passed the exam.

“We are extremely proud of these results,” says Dean S. Todd Brown. “They reflect the hard work and determination of our students, as well as the commitment of our faculty and staff who are focused on our students’ success. This year we launched our new Rally the Pass initiative, a full community effort to provide encouragement and support throughout the bar prep period.

“We are very grateful to the university, the UB Law Alumni Association and the many alumni donors who provided critical funding for the pilot program.”

Over the past several years, the law school has built a robust program of bar prep support that includes providing dedicated law library space for students to study as a group; establishing an emergency fund to help students facing financial crises; enlisting faculty and other guests to present review classes on critical areas of law; and a mini-bar exam administered at the end of the 1L year that replicates the style of the New York State bar exam. Fun incentives, informal coaching and motivational tips reminded bar-takers that they were surrounded by a team of supporters who believed they would succeed.

The Rally the Pass concept is the brainchild of Christine Bartholomew, professor of law and vice dean for academic affairs; Patrick Long, assistant dean for professional development; and William MacDonald, assistant dean for academic and bar success.

“Academic success during law school certainly helps students succeed on the bar,” Bartholomew says. “But that foundation alone is insufficient. Pat, Bill and I wanted to design a program that aids students as they translate their hard-earned academic knowledge acquired during law school to the bar’s particular assessment modalities. This included ensuring the law school shared consistent, repeated messaging about the value of bar preparation.”

Another key element of the Rally the Pass initiative is helping students who need financial assistance with paying for a commercial bar prep course, which can cost up to $3,000. That often means a student won’t have to work during bar prep to offset costs, freeing them for more comprehensive study. 

“Some of our students, through necessity, take on the extra load of working many hours each week on top of their law school studies, and they assume that’s what their summer bar study is going to be like,” says MacDonald. “It is so valuable for the law school to be able to tell them that they simply can’t do that during bar preparation — and that they don’t need to.  When they receive a bar course scholarship, they can devote their full time and attention to preparation and pass the bar on their first attempt.”

Of course, it all culminates in that first legal job post-bar. Beyond bar prep, preparing students for success means helping them find opportunities, prepare for interviews and secure an offer that launches their legal career.  UB’s results have been equally impressive. Building on last year’s strong job placement rate, the Class of 2024 is already well-positioned to contribute to the legal profession, with more than 90% of graduates reporting full-time legal employment five months after graduation.