When bar exam results are released, the numbers tell the story. Behind every passing score is a graduate who spent months balancing long hours of study with financial pressures, family responsibilities, and the immense pressure of passing on the first attempt.
This year, our first-time Michigan bar passage rate jumped to 80%, a two-percentage-point increase from July 2025. That’s a meaningful increase and is due in large part to a new bar passage initiative the College of Law launched in fall 2025.
When I joined MSU Law at that time, I brought with me my research on trauma-informed and equity-centered approaches to bar preparation. Throughout my career, I have coached hundreds of law school graduates through their bar exam preparation.
The bar exam has traditionally been seen as a test of willpower, with success attributed solely to grit -- and failure viewed as a weakness or lack of effort. Neither is true. My research and experience show that performance on such a high-stakes licensing exam is influenced by many aspects of the student’s experience.
Knowledge of the law is, of course, important. And so are stress, anxiety, self-efficacy, financial pressures, and access to support. Law school graduates do not sit for the bar exam as brains detached from life circumstances. They bring their experiences, challenges, and strengths into the testing environment.
That understanding shaped our new approach to bar passage success last year. We did not search for a single solution. Rather, we designed a system to address both the academic and human dimensions of bar preparation.
The new system included the following:
- Increase faculty engagement. This summer our faculty served as coaches who checked-in regularly with students providing support, keeping them on task, and reminding them they were not alone.
- Bar Prep Course revisions. We revised the timeframe to complete the course. The new metrics gave students encouragement to remain engaged during the entire bar preparation timeframe.
Recognizing that wellness and performance are inseparable, we gave students access to Well-Law, a platform offering meditation resources, professional coaching, and support for managing stress and anxiety.
We also offered private tutoring that targeted specific skill gaps. Students took practice exams under conditions that closely mirrored the actual testing experience. These helped graduates build stamina, confidence, and familiarity with the demands of exam days.
The early exam results align with my research outcomes; i.e., when institutions address the academic, emotional, and practical realities of bar preparation, success follows.
These results will help guide our culture into one that takes a holistic approach to bar exam preparation.
I extend my gratitude to our faculty, staff, and administrators who created conditions that allowed hard work to translate into success.
Our work is far from finished. But we are on the right path to see continued improvement. #SpartansWill