Bar Admissions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Options for the class of 2020
The class of 2020 faces unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as does the American public. These challenges are especially being felt by low income and vulnerable populations. Decisions about how to meet the anticipated increased need for legal services, while ensuring public protection through the licensure process, are vested with each court. Tied up in such decisions, however, is the issue of how to minimize the financial impact on law school graduates resulting from potential delays in licensure. NCBE offers this paper to provide courts and admissions boards with information to assist them as they weigh options for allowing the class of 2020 to become licensed in the event the traditional bar exam cannot safely be administered.