FORWARD-FOCUSED

As the State Bar looks to the future of the California Bar Exam, we believe that remote testing and test-center options must be considered. These solutions are overwhelmingly supported by applicants, help reduce costs for both applicants and the State Bar, and address longstanding concerns about exam relevance, fairness, equity, and accessibility.

Our immediate priority, however, is to ensure a smooth and reliable experience for the July 2025 exam. This exam will be administered in-person in the traditional manner—no remote option available—and in locations across the state with multiple-choice questions provided by NCBE, as directed by the Supreme Court.

Looking ahead, we must take advantage of the following opportunities:

• Learn and incorporate the lessons from February into our bar exam administration going forward.
• Engage and collaborate with key constituents—law school deans, faculty, and practicing attorneys—in strengthening the bar exam with a focus on the core principles of accessibility, affordability, reliability and fairness.
• Develop a clear, achievable plan for the future, with appropriate performance validation and feedback loops along the way, to consider an exam that allows for California-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to be tested and allows for innovation in exam delivery and frequency.

Find more detailed information in our FAQs.