The State Bar of California is offering a retake of its February bar exam due to significant technical issues that prevented many examinees from completing the test on Tuesday. The two-day hybrid exam, which was the state’s first in-house licensing exam without national components, faced problems with the testing platform and internet connectivity.
State Bar Executive Director Leah Wilson said that the exam did not go smoothly for an unacceptable number of test takers, but those who completed the Tuesday portion will still receive credit. The Wednesday test is proceeding as scheduled for them.
Examinees have expressed frustration and despair over the experience, with one test-taker reporting that he tried to start the exam multiple times before it crashed each time a proctor logged on. Another test-taker said that he invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into becoming a lawyer but feels “so far out of reach” due to the technical issues.
The State Bar initially projected cost savings by switching to an in-person and remote testing model, but the test has faced delays and logistical problems. The bar had previously announced measures to address concerns, including allowing withdrawals with full refunds and offering free retakes for July exam failures.
A March 3-4 retake has been scheduled for those who faced technical issues on Tuesday, with the state bar acknowledging problems with the testing software’s copy and paste function and some people being disconnected.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/california-bar-exam-meltdown-tuesday-prompts-offer-march-retakes-2025-02-26