Law school graduates attempting the July 2014 South Carolina Bar Examination fared significantly worse as a group than graduates who sat for the 2013 exam. In total, 484 lawyer hopefuls attempted the July 2014 exam and 344 passed, resulting in a pass rate of 71.07 percent. That’s more than 5 percent lower than the pass rate for July 2013, which was 76.38 percent.
The pass rates for each of the two South Carolina law schools decreased from 2013 as well. Of the 148 graduates of the University of South Carolina School of Law who attempted the July 2014 exam, 118 passed, for a pass rate of 79.73 percent. The pass rate for the July 2013 exam for University of South Carolina School of Law graduates was 82.46 percent.
Of the 150 Charleston School of Law graduates who took the July 2014 exam, 98 passed, for a pass rate 65.33 percent. In July 2013, 73.56 percent of Charleston School of Law graduates passed the exam.
The pass rate of graduates from all other law schools combined also dropped from 2013. In 2013, 76.38 percent of these graduates passed the exam compared to 71.07 percent in 2014.
A swearing-in ceremony for successful applicants who have completed all requirements for admission will be held at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Koger Center, 1051 Greene Street in Columbia.