Key points:
- Bar candidates report issues with scheduling, online proctoring, and test registration.
- Limited in-person testing sites are forcing some examinees to travel long distances.
- Communication from the State Bar and Meazure Learning has been inconsistent.
- The new exam format is expected to save costs, but early implementation has been problematic.
California’s newly redesigned bar exam is set to launch on February 25, but test takers are already encountering technical and logistical challenges, according to a Reuters report.
Issues include difficulties scheduling exams, technical malfunctions during mock tests, and disruptions caused by online proctors.
The high-stakes exam, which over 5,300 candidates must pass to become licensed attorneys, marks California’s break from the national Uniform Bar Exam. The shift was intended to reduce costs but has led to early frustrations.
Cost Savings vs. Candidate Frustration
The California Bar fast-tracked its new exam last August, expecting to save up to $3.8 million annually by eliminating the need for large event venues.
The test allows candidates to choose between remote or in-person testing, with 67% opting for the remote format. However, the early rollout has exposed potential pitfalls.
Candidates have taken to Reddit and other online forums to share complaints and find workarounds, highlighting the lack of clear communication from administrators. With less than a month to go before the exam, test takers remain concerned about the reliability of the system on exam day.
Scheduling Challenges and System Glitches
Many candidates have struggled to book their exam slots through Meazure Learning, the company contracted to administer the test.
- Some reported that the online system crashed during scheduling.
- Others found fewer in-person testing locations than expected.
- There are only four large in-person sites—San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento—forcing some test takers to travel long distances.
For those opting to take the test remotely, technical problems have added another layer of concern. Santa Clara law graduate Gino Mazzoni described the process as “absurd,” citing distractions from proctors talking during mock exams. He eventually abandoned the remote option after repeated issues.
Bar Officials Acknowledge Issues
The State Bar of California and Meazure Learning have acknowledged technical difficulties but claim they have resolved them. A spokesperson for the Bar said that registration problems were fixed within a day, but candidates remain wary.
Harshita Ganesh, a Georgetown law graduate, said the process has been much more difficult than her experience with the Uniform Bar Exam in another state. She still doesn’t know where she will be taking the test, as scheduling issues persist.
“This entire process has been horrible,” Ganesh said.
