Raising the Bar

Mason law alumni are better than average. In fact, they are much better.

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners reported that Mason law alumni who sat for the bar in July passed at a rate of 83.2 percent, beating the state average by more than 11 points. Among first-time bar takers from Mason, the success rate was 85.4 percent; almost 10 points higher than the state average of 76.8 percent for first-time takers.

“We’re very encouraged by our students’ fine performance on the Virginia Bar Exam, which is one of the toughest in the country,” says School of Law dean Dan Polsby. “What we’re seeing is a reflection of stronger and stronger classes working their way through the law school’s unique and demanding curriculum.”

Mason law graduates who sat for the bar exam for the first time in February 2006 had a passage rate of 71.4 percent; the state average was 65.2 percent for first-time takers. Since 2003, Mason’s rate for passing the bar has consistently been higher than the state average.

Mason’s School of Law is currently ranked 37th nationally by U.S.News & World Report.