University of New Mexico School of Law Bar Passage Rates Soar
Contact: UNM Law
Phone: 505.277.2146
Email: communications@law.unm.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Albuquerque, NM – The New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners (NMBBE) has released the results of the July 2017 New Mexico bar exam. The passage rate for the exam was 83%. This pass rate is higher than the pass rates from recent administrations of the Uniform Bar Exam and consistent with bar exam pass rates pre-2014.
The first-time pass rate in New Mexico was 88%. Of the 197 examinees in July 2017, 163 achieved a passing score. “Our school’s first-time passage rate on the July 2017 exam was 91%, which greatly exceeds our stated goal of getting up to 80 percent by 2018. We are very pleased with the hard work of our faculty, staff, and students,” says University of New Mexico School of Law Co-Dean, Sergio Pareja.
New Mexico’s overall pass rate increased by 19 percentage points. The first-time takers pass rate increased by 18 percentage points. University of New Mexico School of Co-Deans Alfred Mathewson and Sergio Pareja had formerly announced that through the combined efforts of many at the School, including the formation of a Bar Passage Taskforce, the School would strive to raise the first-time pass rate to 80 percent or higher by 2018.
The School’s Bar Passage Taskforce was chaired by former Law School Dean and Professor Emeritus, Leo Romero. The taskforce was given the charge of making recommendations to the faculty and coordinating efforts and recommendations with the School’s Curriculum Committee with respect to teaching and requirements related to bar passage and preparedness for the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
In addition, the University of New Mexico School of Law undertook immediate steps to support the needs of their students related to their preparedness for the Exam. These included, offering two 1-credit, pass/fail bar strategies courses, providing a free commercial bar strategies supplement, increasing private support and offering funds for students who needed help covering the cost of a commercial bar course, increasing discussions with students regarding testable subjects and related course planning, providing opportunities for students to hear from bar exam graders, providing opportunities for the Executive Director of the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners (NMBBE) to speak with students, presenting lectures and discussions regarding testable subjects provided by practice area experts, and collaborating with the State Bar of New Mexico’s Committee on Diversity in the Profession to offer a mentorship program to examinees.
###
About the University of New Mexico School of Law
The University of New Mexico School of Law offers the Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Studies in Law (MSL) programs and Certificate Programs in Natural Resources & Environmental Law and in Indian Law. Known for its 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and excellent employment rates for graduates, the UNM Law School consistently ranks high in educational value. The UNM Law School is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
