FINAL AALS Survey of Law Schools On Programs and Courses Designed to Enhance Bar Examination Performance Committee on Bar Admissions and Lawyer Performance And Richard A. White, AALS Research Associate I. Introduction
In the Spring of 1999, the AALS Committee on Bar Admissions and Lawyer Performance became aware of a trend in the states to raise the scores required to pass the bar examination. In the past decade, at least 10 states have raised their passing scores and others are evaluating proposed increases.1 As a result of those changes, the percentages of test takers passing the bar has also dropped.2 It is unclear why this trend exists. In some cases, the review of the passing rate took place as part of the regular review process that occurs in the state. In others, no rationale was provided at all.3 While complete statistical evidence is not available, a review of that which exists, in combination with anecdotal evidence gleaned from law professors and deans at various AALS meetings, suggest that several categories of students face a higher possibility of failing a bar examination than others. Reports from state bar examiners indicate that passage rates of minority students are often lower than those of white students.4 The LSAC National Longitudinal Bar Study, The Committee on Bar Admissions is to be commended for its achievement in producing this report. Susan L. Brody (John Marshall) chaired the committee through the design and conduct of the survey and Jane M. Spinak (Columbia) succeeded as chair and guided the report to completion. Other committee members who contributed to the production of report included Linda L. Ammons (Cleveland State), Michael J. Churgin (Texas), Roberto Corrada (Denver), Phoebe A. Haddon (Temple), Wallace J. Mlyniec (Georgetown), Patricia O'Hara (Notre Dame), Sharon L. Reich (Minnesota), Dennis Shields (Duke), Christopher Slobogin (Florida), and Luis Villaronga (Puerto Rico). The Committee, and especially its two Chairs, would like to extend its thanks and gratitude for the exceptional and untiring assistance of H.G. Prince (Hastings), former Deputy Director of the AALS, who shepherded the Report to completion. H.G.'s commitment to this project was a key component in its finalization. Merritt, et al., Raising the Bar: A Social Science Critique of Recent Increases to Passing Scores on the Bar Exam, 69 U. Cin. L. Rev. 929 (2001) (forthcoming).

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