Bar Exams, Law School Deans, Law Schools

Law School Dean Allegedly Begged Graduates Not To Take The Bar Exam -- On The Day Before The Test

Why on earth would a law school dean do such a thing?

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ARIZONA SUMMIT LAW SCHOOL — DEAN SHIRLEY MAYS — STATEMENT ON UNLOCK POTENTIAL PROGRAM

Thank you for your email and providing me the opportunity to respond. Your question refers to a voluntary and innovative program that benefits our graduates, reflects our commitment to their success, and furthers our efforts to diversify the legal profession. This program (Unlock Potential — UP) uses rigorous pre-testing to help identify graduates who may need more than the traditional two months to prepare for the bar examination and enables them to make the most informed judgment possible about their readiness to take and pass the bar examination. UP enables students to deepen their knowledge of bar tested subjects, identify and address barriers to success, and build confidence in taking the bar examination. Like programs offered by other law schools, it provides a stipend for living expenses. Participation in the program is not mandatory, but we encourage some graduates to do so. Those whose pre-test results compiled during the weeks prior to the bar exam week indicated that they would benefit from the program previously were contacted by their coaches and invited to participate in the program. Not sharing this information would have caused them to miss the opportunity for making an informed judgment. Some bar sitters felt they were not ready to take the bar exam, so they were contacted again to let them know they still could participate in UP if they desired to do so. Many of the students who were provided this information expressed their appreciation for our efforts and engagement with them.

Graduates participate in UP for many reasons, including extraordinary life circumstances, family or health issues, work conflicts, or desire to optimize readiness. Some key points for purposes of context and understanding are:

• Payment of the stipend is contingent upon participation and intent to sit for the bar examination, not to defer taking the exam;
• Graduates decide when they are ready to take the bar examination;
• Any perception that the program is designed to improve institutional bar pass rates is misplaced, insofar as participants eventually will take the bar examination and their scores will reflect in the school’s results;
• UP participants succeed on the bar examination at a significantly higher rate than their predictors would indicate;
• Our ultimate bar pass rate exceeds 80%, which is a tribute to the extraordinary investment we make in our student’s success.

With regard to the lawsuit, we would make the same case for informed judgment. Most persons reserve judgment until the truth comes out. Ultimately, that is the outcome that counts.

Arizona Summit Defends Encouraging Grads to Delay Bar Exam [National Law Journal]

Earlier: Which Law Schools Allegedly Paid Students Not To Take The Bar Exam?

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