Why Do These People STILL Not Have Bar Exam Results?
February test-takers are left in limbo in these states.
The exam was in February. Now that’s admittedly a short month, but it’s May already. So why don’t we have bar results from the February bar exam in some of these jurisdictions?
Administering a bar examination is a relatively straightforward procedure. All they have to do is grade the thing and report results. And, yeah, no one likes grading papers, but it’s just something one has to suck up and do when running a professional licensing exam.
But there are still some jurisdictions out there waiting on results, even as the deadlines to file for the July examination are passing.
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At least most states have a plan, even if it’s one that takes its toll on the examinees. Arizona, for example, releases its results on May 12, which falls after the filing deadline for the July exam, but notes that unsuccessful applicants will receive an alternate deadline for filing for July. California also releases on May 12 and likewise has a procedure for dealing with this, opening its registration for those retaking the exam in July at 6 p.m. Rhode Island on May 19! Rhode Island gives those who fail 14 days to apply to take the July exam.
Nevada is putting out its results on May 17, but notes on its website of the July exam:
No Applications Accepted After 5/01/17. No Exceptions!
Coupled with explaining that “ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE” this is kind of a dick move. That said, there is a broken link for “Returning Applicants” so one hopes that’s where they write, “Just kidding, obviously we’ll let you take the exam again.” When it comes to applying for the February exam after failing the July exam, Nevada waives late fees so one assumes there’s some method for accommodating those who find out they didn’t pass after the July deadline.
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Still, having a plan to accommodate these folks after the fact doesn’t help the nerve-wracking experience of watching everyone they know in other jurisdictions go on with their lives while they remain in limbo. It’s just grading, folks! Get it done in a timely manner.
Georgia and Michigan haven’t even released dates for their results (UPDATE: Georgia will release results May 19). They have no clue when they’ll get their act together. At least Georgia’s July filing deadline is in June so there’s no crisis there, and Michigan’s deadline is May 15.
And then there’s the District of Columbia. Their results are still outstanding and they have no expected date yet for release, which is crazy because they use the f**king UBE!
The deadline for filing for the July examination has already passed, but the late filing date is in a couple of weeks. Still, it sounds like February examinees are being told to sign up now. From the Top Law Schools boards:
The admissions office just told me over the phone that the results will be posted by the end of the month. The office indicated that they might have a better projected timeframe by the middle of next week, and recommended calling back next week for a better update. They also recommended that we apply for the July exam even if we haven’t received results yet.
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“Recommended that we apply for the July exam even if we haven’t received results yet.” No, that’s not how this works. They take the test in February and you tell them if they pass before they have to register for another exam. United Airlines doesn’t get away with customer service this bad.
UPDATE (5/8/17 1:07 p.m.): Regardless of what posters may be told on the phone, D.C.’s official position is that their waiver of the late fee absolves students of needing to register now. A statement from Leah Gurowitz of the D.C. Courts states:
The Court of Appeals issued an order waiving the late fee for the July 2017 exam for those who were unsuccessful in February, because the February exam results were not available before the regular deadline on May 3. The court emailed this order to all February 2017 examinees so they would not feel they needed to apply for the July exam before learning the February results. We expect to release the February results well before the late registration deadline, May 18.
So they expect results in the next 10 days. We’ll see.
End UPDATE
This is certainly not the fault of the people fielding phone calls at the Committee, but that said, it’s the Committee’s fault that their staff is having to field questions about test results and unable to give a straight answer. And it sounds like nerves are starting to fray over there. Earlier today, a TLS poster wrote:
I just called. The lady was pretty rude. I asked for an update on when the grades will be out. She said to call back next Friday and hung up. This is garbage.
I called the Committee on Admissions myself to see if this sort of curt response was normal or not. There was no answer. I’ve left an email and will update when we hear word. Still, if they get results in by next Friday and waive the late fee, D.C. applicants can still get into the July exam.
Still, even for the states that allow students to get in on the July exam, there are other considerations. Bar prep courses have to be secured and summer work schedules may need adjusting. Letting someone register in June doesn’t account for the upheaval of having to take an unexpected exam causes.
This is a professional licensing exam. Timely results should be a professional courtesy.
Joe Patrice is an editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.
