PASSING THE BAR

Western State University College of Law is Orange County’s only law school. It is a private institution with its central campus in Fullerton. Enrollment is 1,320. (A second campus exists in San Diego; a third is scheduled to open in Irvine in August.) The program takes three years full time, four years part time.

The California Bar Examination pass rate by first-timers from Western State increased dramatically between 1985 and 1989. Tougher entrance requirements and a larger full-time staff are at the heart of the improved pass rate according to Dean Joel Goodman, the school’s vice president for administration.

The pass percentage traditionally is higher among first-timers than among the total group of applicants, which includes people who repeatedly fail the exam.

Bar Exams 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 FIRST TIMERS First-time takers 270 291 286 304 235 First-time passing 96 105 112 139 132 Pass percentage 35 36 39 46 56 ALL TAKERS Total exam takers 858 946 915 910 756 Total passing 175 166 223 288 283 Pass percentage 20 17 24 32 37

Note: The Western State University College of Law is accredited by the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges and the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Graduates are not eligible to take the bar exam in any other state.

Source: State Bar of California