Navigating the Colorado Bar Exam: A Comprehensive Insight

The Colorado bar examination is a significant milestone for aspiring lawyers, with the latest results revealing a mix of success and disappointment. As the state's legal community eagerly awaits the outcomes, the examination process itself has undergone various transformations, posing both challenges and opportunities for those seeking to join the legal profession.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Colorado Bar Exam

Passing the Bar: A Coveted Achievement

The Colorado bar examination is a rigorous test that separates those who will join the legal profession from those who must reconsider their career paths. Of the 744 individuals who took the July exam, 597 (80%) emerged victorious, while 147 (20%) faced the disappointment of failure. For those who fell short, the decision to try again in February or to pursue alternative options lies ahead.

Demystifying the Exam Structure

The bar exam is a dreaded rite of passage for law students, with the Colorado version being controlled by the state's Supreme Court through its Office of Attorney Admissions. Unlike law school, where the focus is on developing critical thinking skills, the bar exam tests the applicant's substantive legal knowledge. To prepare, most candidates enroll in bar exam preparation courses, where they delve into a vast array of legal rules and principles that may have eluded them during their law school studies.

Competing for Excellence: The Battle Between Colorado's Law Schools

Graduates of any accredited law school can take the Colorado bar exam, but the state's two accredited law schools, the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver (private) and the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder (public), hold a special significance. These institutions have a modestly greater emphasis on Colorado-specific law, and a majority of exam takers are their alumni. The competition between these schools to produce the best-performing graduates on the bar exam is fierce, with the University of Colorado consistently emerging as the victor, boasting a 93% pass rate for first-time takers in the latest exam. The University of Denver, on the other hand, had a slightly lower pass rate of 89% for its first-time test-takers.

Navigating the Exam's Evolving Landscape

The bar exam has undergone various changes over the years, and the current format is a two-day event consisting of three distinct parts. On the first day, examinees face the "multistate essay exam" in the morning, where they must answer six essay questions drawn from a menu of 13 subjects, ranging from familiar topics like contract law and criminal law to more esoteric subjects like conflict of laws and future interests. In the afternoon, they tackle the "multistate performance test," which assesses their practical legal skills, such as legal analysis, problem-solving, and fact analysis.

The Multistate Multiple-Choice Challenge

The second day of the exam is dedicated to a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice test, divided into two three-hour sessions. This portion of the exam carries the heaviest weight, accounting for 50% of the overall score. The multistate essay exam and the multistate performance test make up the remaining 30% and 20%, respectively, with the National Conference of Bar Examiners responsible for the final scoring system.

The Future of the Colorado Bar Exam

As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the Colorado bar exam is also set to undergo significant changes. Starting in 2028, the state will join at least 14 others in adopting the "NextGen" bar examination developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. This new exam will focus on nine "foundational concepts and principles," such as contract law and civil procedure, as well as seven "foundational skills," including legal research, client counseling, and dispute resolution.

Protecting the Public or Limiting Competition?

The purpose of the bar exam has long been a subject of debate. While it likely serves to enhance lawyer competence and protect the public, some argue that its primary function is to limit competition within the legal profession. As the examination process continues to evolve, the balance between these two perspectives will undoubtedly remain a topic of ongoing discussion and scrutiny.