
In a recent research paper titled "The Secret Sauce: Examining Law Schools That Overperform on the Bar Exam," Professors Christopher J. Ryan Jr. of Louisville Law and Derek T. Muller of Iowa Law shed light on law schools that are surpassing expectations by achieving high bar exam pass rates. The study analyzes factors, including student composition and average bar passage rates in relevant jurisdictions, to identify the top-performing law schools.
Over six years, from 2014 to 2019, the authors meticulously examined law schools that either overperformed or underperformed on the bar exam. They collected valuable information to investigate the approaches employed by overperforming institutions to ensure student success. The study's findings emphasize the key strategies implemented by these law schools, explicitly focusing on first-time bar passage.
- Florida International University (#60 in U.S. News)
- Stanford University (#1)
- University of Southern California (USC) (#16)
- University of California, Berkeley (UC-Berkeley) (#10)
- University of North Carolina (#22)
- Belmont University (#105)
- University of Michigan (#10)
- Florida State University (#56)
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (#14)
- University of Virginia (#8)
- Campbell University (#125)
- Yale University (#1)
- Louisiana State University (LSU) (#99)
- University of Georgia (#20)
- Duke University (#5)
- Harvard University (#5)
- Wake Forest University (#22)
- Georgia State University (#69)
- University of Chicago (#3)
- University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (#4)
- University of Illinois (#43)
- Baylor University (#49)
- Washington & Lee University (#40)
- Liberty University (#135)
- Vanderbilt University (#16)
The study emphasizes that these overperforming law schools prioritize tailored bar support programs to ensure first-time bar passage. This focused approach enables students to cultivate the essential skills, knowledge, and confidence required to excel on the bar exam.
By analyzing the strategies employed by these law schools, aspiring legal professionals can gain valuable insights into the factors contributing to their success. Comprehensive bar review courses, personalized mentoring, mock exams, and specialized instruction in subjects tested on the bar exam are among the practices that have contributed to their student's achievements.
As the legal profession continues to evolve, success on the bar exam remains a significant milestone for law school graduates. Recognizing law schools that overperform on the bar exam underscores their commitment to student success. It equips prospective law students with vital information to make informed decisions regarding their legal education.
The study by Professors Ryan and Muller illuminates the law schools that have exceeded expectations regarding bar exam success. The top 25 law schools identified in their research have consistently demonstrated remarkable performance, indicating their commitment to prioritizing bar passage rates. By understanding the strategies employed by these law schools, aspiring legal professionals can gain valuable insights into the approaches that contribute to bar exam success.