Bahadur: High 1L Attrition And 2L Transfer Rates Contribute To Florida International's Over Performance On The Bar Exam

Following up on my previous posts about Florida International Law School's over performance on the bar exam (links below):  Rory D. Bahadur (Washburn), Blinded by Science? A Reexamination of the Bar Ninja and Silver Bullet Bar Program Cryptids, 49 J.L. & Educ. ___ (2020):

Claims being made by Florida International University (FIU) Law School’s academic support program that the school’s radically improved bar exam passage rates are due solely to the implementation of a “Scientific Academic Support Program” are gaining ground. Such assertions however fail to account for several confounding variables that could have contributed to the improved scores.

A detailed review of the oft-overlooked but publicly available data provided by FIU in its annual ABA Standard Information Reports reveals two such variables: (1) significantly higher than average 1L attrition rates and (2) extensive incoming high GPA 2L transfer rates accounting for a substantial percentage of the class cohort. FIU’s geographic proximity to more expensive private law schools in combination with the State of Florida’s mere 1-year residency requirement for in-state tuition make transferring to FIU as a 2L uniquely appealing.

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• July 2019 Florida Bar Exam Results: Florida International Is #1 For 5th Year In A Row (Sept. 16, 2019)
• How Does FIU Law School Do It? (Oct. 24, 2019)
• Louis Schulze (Florida International), The Science of Learning Law: Academic Support Measures at Florida International University College of Law (Oct. 24, 2019)
• Five Law Schools With Top Bar Pass Rates Share Their Secrets (Nov. 8, 2019)
• Florida International Law School: An Unexpected Bar Passage Leader (Jan. 31, 2020)
• Law School Rankings By Bar Exam Overperformance (Feb. 19, 2020)
• Law School Rankings By Ultimate Bar Passage Rates (Feb. 20, 2020)