Law school graduates well prepared for bar exam

Graduates of SIUC's law school are exceeding state averages when successfully taking the Illinois State Bar Exam.

Seventy-eight percent of the 32 SIUC law school graduates taking the test in February passed the examination, compared with the statewide average of 71 percent, where 848 of 1,195 passed. All 19 of SIUC's law school graduates taking the test for the first time passed, compared with 83 percent of first-time takers statewide.

"Our alumni continue to perform well on the Illinois bar exam, and we are very proud of them," Dean Peter C. Alexander said. "The success of our first-time takers is particularly impressive."

Graduates taking the test in February took advantage of workshops and other assistance the law school offers to its graduates during every bar review period, said assistant professor Suzanne J. Schmitz.