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Wyoming State Bar confronts steep drop in bar‑exam pass rates; board discusses remedies
Summary
Board members were told the February 2025 bar exam produced the lowest pass rate on record, with University of Wyoming graduates particularly affected; the Bar discussed causes, conditional admission options for indebted applicants and supports for exam readiness.
President James T. Whiting convened the Wyoming State Bar Board of Officers & Commissioners on April 11, 2025, as members confronted troubling bar‑exam results and possible next steps.
Mark W. Gifford, Bar Counsel and Admissions Director, told the Board that 19 applicants sat for the February exam and that the overall pass rate was the poorest the Bar has seen, with University of Wyoming College of Law graduates faring particularly poorly. Gifford said scores began to decline in 2022 and noted that remote teaching during the COVID pandemic coincided with the downtrend.
The Board discussed options to support candidate readiness. Gifford and staff described the conditional‑admission pathway, which requires an applicant to show a sustained, effective remediation plan before being considered for conditional admission. Gifford said one applicant who passed but disclosed more than $100,000 in credit‑card debt was referred to the Character & Fitness Committee; counsel recommended withdrawal to pursue debt remediation but the applicant requested the application be advanced.
Commissioner Dona Playton said the law school offers a bar‑prep class but that different faculty have taught it in recent years; she noted Professor Danielle Cover oversees student success and bar preparation efforts. Several commissioners urged better coordination between the Bar and the law school on preparation resources as the NextGen exam approaches.
Why this matters: bar pass rates affect the supply of licensed lawyers in Wyoming and have downstream effects on courts, public defense and rural legal services. The Board asked staff to continue monitoring outcomes and to consider practical supports and communications with the law school.
The Board did not adopt a new policy at the meeting; members indicated further discussion and data‑gathering are planned as part of strategic planning and admissions oversight.
