College of Law Keeps Streak Alive:
Class of 2000 Proves Best at the Bar Exam in Ohio

For the eighth year in a row, University of Cincinnati College of Law graduates posted the best percentages among all of Ohio's nine law schools on the Ohio Bar Exam. The results from the state's primary test for the year, given July 25-27, were released today by the Ohio Supreme Court.

UC's graduates matched their success rate from a year ago, with a 93 percent pass rate among the school's first-time test takers. That was seven percentage points higher than any other school in the state, and well above the state average of 76.4 percent passage. Among all those who took the test, the UC passage rate was a state-leading 90 percent, six percentage points higher than any other school in Ohio.

UC's raw numbers included 69 of 74 first-time applicants passing the bar. Results from first-time test takers are considered the standard for measuring performance on the exam.

"The quality of our students is exceptional," said College of Law Dean Joseph Tomain of the results. "Put that together with a first-rate faculty and a small school that allows students to strive for and achieve excellence, and you end up with terrific results."

"Our results were very strong again this year. We continue to attract high caliber students. We keep hearing that from employers, as well," said Hilary Ellison, program coordinator and Ohio Bar Registrar for the College of Law.

"One notable fact is that a number of our students are coming in with law as a second or third career," added Ellison. "They are interesting people, with backgrounds in areas like scientific research, writing or college administration - just really accomplished people."

This year's test was considered more complex with the inclusion for the first time of a section called the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). The MPT is designed as a practical measure of each candidate's abilities to handle realistic situations that might be encountered by a beginning lawyer. Other sections of the exam included the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) and two half-day sessions of Ohio Bar Exam essays.

The inherent difficulty of the test makes the day the results are released a particularly emotional experience. "Because of the size of our school, we know all of our graduates personally," Ellison said. "Fortunately, we have mostly good news to share with them today."