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Paul L. Caron
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Saturday, June 6, 2020

July Bar Exam Update: Louisiana, New York

CoronavirusThe Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee, Bar Admissions Announce Online Bar Examination Option:

The Louisiana Supreme Court (the “Court”) and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions (the “LASCBA”) jointly announce the addition of an option to take the July, 2020 and October, 2020 bar examination online. All other details regarding the administration of the July, 2020 and October, 2020 examinations remain unchanged.

In addition to the in-person cities announced on May 8, 2020, the bar examination can now also be taken online from any location within the United States, in an effort to provide an additional option for  applicants who, due to health or other concerns, prefer to sit for the examination in a remote location.

The application deadline for both the July, 2020 and October, 2020 examinations closed on May 30 and will not be reopened to new applicants at this time. Within the next few days, staff of the LASCBA will be contacting existing applicants to inquire as to whether they wish to change their selection from an in-person location to the remote option.

Because the administration of the remote examination requires the hiring and training of more proctors than the in-person administration, there may be a need to limit the number of remote takers. The previously-announced priority schedule will apply to the selection of the remote option: (1) first-time test-takers, prioritized by the date application and fees were received by LASCBA, and (2) repeat takers, prioritized by the date application and fees were received by LASCBA.

New York State Board of Law Examiners, Second Application Period for the September 2020 Bar Examination:

While the global pandemic has affected prospective bar candidates in jurisdictions across the country, the impact in New York has been especially severe. As a result, seating capacity for the September 9-10, 2020 bar exam will be sharply limited, and the Board will not be able to seat all candidates who wish to take the exam in New York.

As previously announced, the application process for the September bar exam is proceeding on a rolling basis as space permits. The initial application period, which ran from May 5 through May 15, is now closed. A second application period will be open from June 2 through June 12. Beginning on Tuesday, June 2 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time, applications will be accepted from any candidate who graduated with a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school located outside of New York, and who has not previously sat for a bar exam in any U.S. jurisdiction. The application period will close on Friday, June 12 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time. Please note that, at this time, seating cannot be guaranteed to candidates who register during this application period. After the application period closes, the Board will assess available seating in light of existing health and safety guidance, and candidates will be notified whether or not they will be seated for the exam.

While our efforts to maximize seating remain ongoing, the health and safety of all participants must remain our top priority. Given the constraints caused by the public health crisis, candidates are strongly urged to consider sitting for the UBE at a later date or in other jurisdictions that may be better positioned to accommodate test-takers. Candidates are also reminded that public health concerns may ultimately preclude the administration of the September bar exam in New York. Please continue to monitor this website for updates.

Above the Law, New York BOLE Reaffirms Its Commitment To Screw Repeat Bar Exam Candidates

TaxProf Blog coverage of the July 2020 bar exam:

For complete TaxProf Blog coverage of the coronavirus, see here.

https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2020/06/july-bar-exam-update-louisiana.html

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