DES MOINES – Law students hate it, but the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that the bar exam requirement for Iowa law school graduates will be kept.
The court heard from dozens of witnesses and public comments that were submitted prior to making its decision.
“The court … concludes that the current process for admission of lawyers by examination should be carefully studied, with the goal of achieving greater efficiency, expedition, economy and utility for the applicants for admission,” Chief Justice Mark Cady said.
The Iowa Board of Law Examiners is now tasked with researching possible changes to the bar exam and will report back in March with any new proposals it comes up with.
Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin said last week that people fresh into the legal field working for her were not excited about the bar exam.
“I asked my law clerks who are Drake students how they felt about the bar and their experiences as law students. They are understandably not enthusiastic about the bar exam, which does not test on Iowa law but rather the law of nowhere.”
[poll random]
I don’t know of any surgeons who operate on people without any medical school training. Would you want them cutting on you???? So, I sure wouldn’t want someone representing me who didn’t have any formal law school training. Can you imagine the idiots who think are already smart enough to pass the bar exam that have never attended law school? That’s the kind of people I’m worried about…..
See, and I think it should be the exact opposite: Law School should not be required. If you can demonstrate your proficiency on the Bar Exam Test, then you should be admitted to practice law. How you acquire your education is none of the State’s business. Knowledge is knowledge, and you shouldn’t be required to PAY someone exorbitant amounts of money to gain access to the practice of LAW. This is simply an upholding of class status and has nothing to do with good lawyering.
@Philly-President Lincoln would agree with you.