by David Ball
Staff Writer
The results of the July 2007 General Bar Examination are in, and first-time test-takers across Florida passed the rigorous exam at the highest rate since 1993, according to data from the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.
The 80.4 percent statewide passing rate was also the highest since the minimum passing score was raised in 2003 and in 2004 from 131 to 136 out of 200 points.
In the midst of this record year, students from the Florida Coastal School of Law earned an 84.4 percent passing rate, which was the highest ever for the Jacksonville school and the sixth highest among the 10 Florida law schools this year.
Florida Coastal Director of Academic Success Odessa Alm said she polled students after the exam, and there was no indication that scores would be so high this year.
“Students said the same thing they always do — that it’s hard,” said Alm. “It was a big surprise that the state average was so high based on the reactions of our students.”
Non-Florida law school graduates made up 855 of the 2,450 total first-time test-takers. Of the state schools, Florida State University had the highest passing rate at 89 percent, followed by Stetson at 87.6, University of Florida at 86.8, Florida International at 85.9 and University of Miami at 85.8.
Those five schools continually jockey for the top passing rate after each test, including the February exam that usually sees less first-timers and more repeat test-takers. This past February, Florida International had the top passing rate at 94.4 percent, while Florida Coastal sat in the seventh spot at 70.1 percent.
Florida Coastal’s passing rate started near the bottom of the pack during the first years from 1999 to 2001. Since then, the school’s rate has ranked right around the middle of pack — many points above schools like Barry University, Florida A&M, St. Thomas and Nova Southeastern, but only few points below the historical leaders.
In the July 2005 exam, Florida Coastal graduates had the top passing rate at 81.9 percent and were more than 11 percentage points above the state average.
“We’re proud of our position and our percentage given our status as a law school,” said Alm. “The top five or six schools are all very close, and we stay very competitive with each other.”
Alm said preliminary scores show that Florida Coastal students had much more success with the essay portion of the exam compared to the multiple choice section. She said students’ GPAs and other success indicators are improving with each class, so any fluctuations with the Bar passing rates is likely due to the makeup of the exam itself.
“Our preparation for the Bar starts at orientation, and I think that is the key to our continued success,” said Alm. “If FSU can do 89 percent, there’s no reason why Florida Coastal can’t be there or above. We will evaluate our results, survey students and find ways to provide even more services and programs to help them succeed.”