North Carolina Bar Exam Criticized for Omitting State-Specific Law Testing
North Carolina's current bar examination is facing criticism for no longer specifically testing North Carolina law, a change that began with the adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in February 2019. Previously, the exam included twelve state-law essay questions. While a supplemental North Carolina course was initially retained, it was eliminated in 2022. This means applicants can now be licensed in North Carolina without passing any written examination on the state's substantive law or procedure. The concern is that lawyers admitted under this system may lack a demonstrated knowledge base in North Carolina statutes, appellate decisions, evidence, and procedure, which are crucial for competent representation. Although North Carolina law schools teach state-specific law, the current licensing process does not ensure a common, comprehensive assessment of this knowledge for all applicants. The article argues that this omission is a serious mistake that North Carolina should rectify, emphasizing that ...
