Above the Law may have been one of the first to talk about the New York bar exam’s atrocious response to a medical emergency of a test taker mid-exam — but we’re far from the last. Last week, New York lawmaker Assembly Judiciary Chairman Charles Lavine wrote to the New York Board of Law Examiners about his “deep concern” about the way proctors dealt with a test taker’s cardiac episode at the Hofstra location of the July administration of the bar exam.
Specifically, Lavine called out that “the response to the situation appeared disorganized, delayed, and lacking in clear protocol. It is troubling that no consistent or codified procedures were in place to ensure an immediate coordinated response.”
“While we all recognize the logistical challenges inherent in administering the bar exam across multiple sites and jurisdictions, this incident underscores the urgent need for the Board to establish and implement a uniform emergency response policy across all testing locations. Protocols should include clearly designated responsibilities for proctors and staff, immediate access to medical personnel or emergency services and procedures for pausing or addressing disruptions in a way that protects both the individual in crisis and the integrity of the examination process.”
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NYBOLE acts as a gatekeeper for the profession, ensuring that there is a minimum competency for all New York lawyers. But that role in ensuring the integrity of the legal profession encompasses more than acting like a bouncer at a nightclub and “includes safeguarding the well-being of those entering it. Our future attorneys, many of whom have spent years preparing for this moment, deserve to sit for the bar exam in an environment that prioritizes their health and safety. No candidate should fear that a medical emergency will be met with hesitation or confusion.”
It’s a powerful statement, let’s hope the bar examiners actually do something in response.
Read the full letter below.
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].