A Better Bar: How and Why the Existing Bar Exam Should Change

Publication Title

Nebraska Law Review

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Abstract

This Essay focuses on the bar exam, the final process of deciding who may practice law. Currently, the exam is over0inculsive, allowing those with a very narrow range of skills to obtain a law license. It is also under-inclusive. Y testing a very narrow range of skills in a way that is unrelated to the practice of law and via a methodology that is weighted in favor of those from middle- and high-socioeconomic backgrounds, the existing bar exam delays or excludes people from the practice who may be competent lawyers and who may be the lawyers most likely to do pro bono work and serve under-represented communities. This Essay explores ways to modify existing bar examination requirements to account for the wide variety of skills, knowledge, and qualities competent lawyers should possess, keeping in mind that all lawyers need not possess exactly the same proficiencies. This Essay suggests that the concept of a competent lawyer should be defined broadly in order to account for a wide variety of qualities and skills, perhaps even including an applicant's commitment to perform public service and serve underrepresented legal communities

Comments

External Links
Westlaw
Lexis Advance
HeinOnline

Recommended Citation

Andrea A. Curcio, A Better Bar: How and Why the Existing Bar Exam Should Change, 81 Neb. L. Rev. 363 (2002).

Volume

81

Issue

1

First Page

363

Last Page

423

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