Baylor Law Again Takes Top Spot In Bar Exam Pass Rate

by Alan Hunt

Baylor University law students have again led the state of Texas in the passing percentage of the Texas Bar Examination.
Baylor School of Law had a 95.33 percent passing rate, topping the other eight law schools in the state for the bar exam taken in July of this year. The overall statewide pass rate on the July exam was 84.36 percent. The bar exam is given twice each year and Baylor has an unsurpassed record of success on the exam.
Law Dean Brad Toben described the first-place result as "still another testament to our reputation as a school that really gets the job done for our students, including their future clients, and for the profession."
He added, "This yet again demonstrates what we can do with a combination of truly dedicated faculty and staff members, who have our students' professional preparation as their top priority, and the vigorous support of our University leadership. Also, our alumni, who are so supportive of what we do -- in cheering us on and financially undergirding us -- deserve our kudos for their critical part in our consistent success and high profile."
Baylor Law School received high marks in U.S.News & World Report's "2004 Best Graduate School" rankings, released April 4 this year. The school's trial advocacy program was ranked 11th in the nation, and overall, Baylor Law School was ranked 51st by U.S. News in its "Top 100 Schools" category. The magazine evaluated accredited law schools nationwide, using 12 "measures of quality." Baylor Law School's bar exam success rate was listed as 96.1 percent in the rankings criteria - the highest figure among the eight Texas law schools ranked. Baylor also had the second highest percentage (97.1 percent) among Texas law schools of graduates employed nine months after graduation.
In another nationwide assessment of America's law schools, The Princeton Review recently described Baylor Law School as "the Marine Corps of law schools." The publication termed Baylor's Practice Court Program as "arguably the best training ground in the nation for practical lawyering."