Amid the diverse legal terrain of California, a recent State Bar report unveils a stark reality for students enrolled in non-American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools. The report, the State Bar’s inaugural Law School Profile, discloses a mere 21% pass rate on the July 2022 bar exam for graduates of these unaccredited institutions. In stark contrast, their ABA-accredited counterparts boast a significantly higher pass rate of 67%.
The findings raise thought-provoking questions about the trajectory of legal education regulation in California, prompting State Bar Executive Director Leah Wilson to ponder the genuine value of a legal education without a promising prospect of bar exam success. In response, the State Bar intends to delve deeper into the identified trends through additional research.
California’s accreditation system stands distinctively complex, featuring 18 ABA-accredited law schools where graduates can take the bar exam in any state. Simultaneously, the state bar provides its own tier of accreditation, allowing graduates of California-accredited schools to take the bar solely within the Golden State. Meanwhile, graduates of unaccredited law schools can also take the California Bar, but only after passing the state’s challenging First Year Law Students Exam, commonly known as the baby bar. (Worryingly, the 12 unaccredited schools showcased a mere 9% pass rate on the July 2022 bar exam.)
Beyond traditional academic routes, California’s legal landscape offers unconventional paths. Aspiring attorneys can sidestep formal law school education and instead apprentice under an experienced lawyer or judge—an unconventional journey currently undertaken by Kim Kardashian. However, even these non-traditional practitioners must conquer the formidable baby bar.
The report casts a revealing light on the contrasting outcomes across different types of law schools. First-year attrition rates tell a tale of 8% at ABA-accredited schools, a notable leap to 42% at California-accredited institutions, and an even more alarming 51% at unaccredited law schools.
Nevertheless, California-accredited and unaccredited law schools contribute significantly to the diversity and accessibility of the state’s legal workforce. The report highlights that students of color constitute 46% of enrollment in ABA-accredited law schools, 56% in California-accredited schools, and 50% in unaccredited institutions.
Adding to the allure, these alternative legal education paths boast considerably lower tuition fees. The report underscores a considerable financial contrast, with the average cost of a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school in California standing at $174,233—more than double the $75,348 for a J.D. at a California-accredited school and a mere fraction of the $33,115 at an unaccredited school.
As California contemplates the future of legal education, the report invites a reevaluation of accreditation standards, shedding light on the intricate interplay between pass rates, tuition costs, and diversity in the pursuit of legal expertise.
