Julianne Hill reports for the ABA Journal that July 2026 bar pass rates fell in 37 states, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. California passed just 48.3% of takers, New York slipped from 70% to 67%, and West Virginia and Wisconsin each dropped 15 points. Only nine states improved.
One bar tutor wonders whether the NCBE overcorrected after dropping five subjects, from wills to secured transactions. Why should in-house lawyers care? Fewer new admits means a thinner junior bench at the firms you hire and, a few years out, fewer candidates for your own entry-level roles. We also covered the Arkansas bar exam scandal. Newly licensed and eyeing the long game? Our guide on how to get an in-house counsel job covers the early moves, and openings post daily on our in-house counsel jobs page.
“The national mean score for the Multistate Bar Exam fell 1.7 points to 140.7 from 142.4 last year, marking the first decrease since 2022, according to data released in September by the NCBE.”