The Akron Legal News

OSU Moritz College of Law tops bar passage

ALLISON SLONAKER
Special to the Legal News
Published: December 2, 2015

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law had the highest passage rate for its graduates among the nine Ohio law schools at the state bar exam in July.

Graduates of the Moritz College of Law scored well above the state average with a total passage rate of 90 percent and an even higher passage rate for its first-time takers with 91 percent passing.

For all applicants, the passage rate was 74.5 percent, 11 percent higher than the results for the February exam, with 779 of 1,045 bar exam applicants receiving passing scores. Eighty percent of the 931 first-time test takers passed the exam.

The bar exam is used to regulate the practice of law in the state, including the admission of new attorneys, registration of current attorneys, attorney discipline cases of misconduct and the administration of continuing legal education.

Moritz College of Law Dean and Edwin M. Cooperman Professor of Law Alan C. Michaels praised the results.

“We are very proud of our graduates’ performance on the Ohio Bar exam,” said Michaels.

Not far behind, the University of Cincinnati College of Law had a passage rate of 87 percent, with 88 percent of its first-time takers receiving passing scores.

UC’s Dean and Nippert Professor of Law Jennifer S. Bard was also pleased with his school’s performance.

“We’re excited about the results of the July bar exam and very proud of our students. Their hard work has paid off,” said Dean Bard. “They have represented our school, their families, themselves and the community with distinction. We look forward to celebrating with them during the swearing ceremony in Columbus and supporting them as they continue their careers.”

Though Capital University College of Law had lower scores than in recent years, interim Dean Rachel M. Janutis congratulated passing students and promises to help those who didn’t work towards passing, in a statement following the release of the results.

“Capital’s faculty, staff and alumni congratulate those alumni who were successful on the July exam,” said Dean Janutis. “The results reflect the hard work and dedication of our graduates.”

“Capital is committed to the success of all students and will continue to work with those graduates who were unsuccessful on the July 2015 administration to help them prepare for success on the next test,” Dean Janutis added.

Sixty-seven percent of Capital students who took the exam received passing scores. Seventy-two percent of the school’s first-time takers passed the exam.

Although the exam results were lower this time, Capital does have past of success with the exam.

From 2005 through 2014, Capital was at or above the state average for the first-time takers on the July exam. Also, for five years Capital was third among Ohio’s nine law school, according to school.

The University of Akron School of Law had an overall passage rate of 81 percent, with 84 percent of first-time takers passing.

Case Western Reserve College of Law had a 81 percent overall passage rate, with 83 percent of first time takers passing.

Eighty percent of graduates from Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law passed, with 83 percent of first-time takers passing.

The University of Dayton School of Law’s overall passage rate was 67 percent, with 70 of first-time takers recording passing scores.

Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law had an overall passage rate of 63 percent and 67 percent passage rate of first-time takers.

University of Toledo College of Law had a 60 percent overall passage rate, with 67 percent of first-time takers passing.

The oath of office will be administered during two public sessions of the Supreme Court of Ohio to the successful applicants on Nov. 16 at the Ohio Theatre.

The next bar exam will be held Feb. 23-25, 2016.

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