Law school sees high bar passage rate

The Sturm College of Law has seen a significant increase in the pass-rate on the bar exam over the past few years. It achieved a 90 percent pass-rate on the bar examination last July.

All law students must take the bar exam to obtain a license to practice law.

DU students' success rate reflects how well the Sturm College of Law has prepared graduates for the test.

This year's pass rate is 5 percent above the state average, which is only part of a trend of increasing test scores. In February 2007, the pass-rate was at 58 percent, which is 13 percent below the statewide average.

However, it has increased significantly in recent years. In July 2008, the pass-rate for the bar examination was 91 percent. In July 2010, the pass rate was 88 percent, which was 3 percent above the state average.

The Sturm College of Law plans to keep up the trend of scoring a 90 percent pass-rate, according to Dean Martin Katz.

After the 58 percent pass rate in 2007, the faculty began to work with alumni and members of the Board of Trustees in order to analyze the problem and to come up with possible solutions.

They created a set of initiatives designed with the goal of increasing test scores. As a result, the four-part Bar Pass Initiative was born.

The school established a new admission policy, designed to admit students most likely to succeed on the bar examination.

It heightened law school performance standards and created an enhanced focus on bar passage for the students while they are in school, including an Academic Achievement Program. The school also added a first-rate Bar Success Program, which is free to the graduates.

"We are doing what we need to do to ensure the success of our graduates on the bar exam," said Katz. "It means that our faculty, students and alumni can hold our heads high. We are now building on that foundation and increasing our opportunities for both specialization and experiential learning to ensure that we graduate excellent lawyers who are practice-ready and ready to hit the ground running."