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703 Lawyer Hopefuls Took PA Bar Exam

News Article

March 05, 2013

Hundreds of aspiring lawyers took the February 2013 Pennsylvania Bar Exam.

Prospective attorneys took the exam over a two-day period on Feb. 26 and 27 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia site hosted 526 test takers, while Pittsburgh had 177.

Test results are announced in mid April.

This year’s number of applicants was slightly larger than last February’s 664 attendees. The first day of examination consists of one Performance Test question and six essay questions that are approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners. The second day is the Multistate Bar Examination, whose 200 multiple-choice questions are prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Nearly 80% of the applicants participated in computer-based testing — meaning they typed their answers on laptops that are secured by software from an outside vendor.

A second bar examination will be held in July at three locations — Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Fewer attorney hopefuls take the February exam than the exam in July.

The Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners is authorized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to oversee rules pertaining to the admission of new attorneys to the practice of law.

For more information: http://www.pabarexam.org