I received my letter in the mail today and I passed the February 2009 D.C. Bar Exam. As of right now, the Feb 2009 results are not online, but they will be posted this week at the following url:
http://www.dcbar.org/for_lawyers/membership/current_members/examResults.cfm
UPDATE: The list has been posted with the following message:
“Notice is hereby given that the list published herewith contains the names of 116 successful applicants of the District of Columbia Bar Examination administered on February 24 and 25, to 262 applicants. This represents a 57% pass rate among first-time takers or an overall pass rate of 44%.”
I passed with a high MBE score, way above the national mean (135.67) and the minimum passing score (133)… Makes me wonder how I did on my essays and MPTs… Honestly, with my MBE score I could have failed nearly every essay and done well on the MPTs and passed… I am realizing that my strategy of focusing on the MBE definitely worked… Just wish I could get a hold of my essays to see how I did, lol…
Congratulations to all who passed! This exam was particularly brutal, with only a 57% pass rate for D.C.
For everyone who did not pass, don’t be discouraged. You will pass in July. Just redouble your efforts, focus on your weak areas (evidence, property, whatever) and know that you are going into the exam with experience from having taken it in February which will help you. Study hard and study smart!
Finally, as a result of having not cracked open a law book for a decade, then self studying and passing with a high score, I am planning on offering bar exam tutoring services… I plan to focus on working with people, who like me, have been out of law school for quite some time and can’t take 2 months off work to study… In fact, I didn’t take a single day off work to study, only 2 days off to take the actual exam, and passed on my first attempt, my first ever bar exam…
10 replies on “D.C. Bar Exam Results Posted”
I passed – 100% self study as well. I got a 144 on the MBE and I know I bombed every single essay and aced the MPTs. I just know it. But I’m glad I busted my ass on MBE practice questions. June 8 baby…
How do you know there was a 53% pass rate? I also passed, but I didn’t see this information in the packet. Thanks!
Congrats. FYI, if you take the essays too, the minimum required passing scaled score for MBE is not 133. Applicants can pass so long as the total combined minimum scaled score of 266 is met. See Rule 46(b)(10) available at http://www.dcappeals.gov/dccourts/docs/rule46b_admission_by_examination_rev.pdf
Nicely done! Enjoy the results of your hard work.
THANKS for your blog – I enjoyed reading it through this whole process! I did 100% self-study also, I only had to take the essays and MPTs, but that was a task in itself. For those of you who passed – great job – for those who did not, great job also. I have failed the CA bar 4 times and was lucky and passed DC on my 1st try with only taking the essays – it is VERY possible!!!! Keep your heads up and do it – I am going to start preparing for the CA exam next!
To May 6, 2009 7:28 AM Anonymous:
Congratulations! MBE is definitely key… And yes, June 8th for sure! :)
To May 6, 2009 11:55 AM Anonymous:
53% was reported as what was written outside the DC bar office, however, if you check the results online (per the link in my post), it says 57% pass rate, so I have updated my post to reflect that pass rate. 57% is still VERY low, and in fact, the pass rate for non-first time takers was a dismal 44% :( Not an easy exam to say the least…
To May 6, 2009 4:35 PM Anonymous:
Thanks… Yes, you bring an excellent point which is a stong essay or strong MBE can make up for the other section as it’s a combined 266 score.
To Midwesterner:
Thanks man… Your blog was helpful in my preparation!
To May 7, 2009 1:30 AM Anonymous:
Glad you enjoyed the blog, I will leave it up to help all future DC test takers and will continue to update it with new materials/advice as time goes on…
You misrepresent the pass-rate: it was a 44% overall pass-rate, 57% for first-time takers. Seems very low to me.
Since Feb. ’98, the overall pass rate for the Feb. DC exam has ranged between 49 and 58% (avg. of 52.7%), so 44% overall is the lowest, but still within reason.
Hey, where did you find information about the national mean on the MBE portion?
National MBE mean and other info are provided by the PA bar:
http://www.pabarexam.org/Bar_Examination/Statistics/pdfs/0209stats.pdf