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Pepperdine Shows Strong on California Bar Exam

In the past three years, Pepperdine University School of Law has achieved high marks on the February and July California Bar Exams. The recent February 2009 results were no exception. The passage rate for all takers was 33.5 percent, and the passage rate for all first-time takers from California ABA-Approved Schools was 53.2 percent. Pepperdine achieved an 82 percent passage rate—the highest of all California law schools—with 9 out of 11 students passing.

Just behind Pepperdine was UCLA with 75 percent and Stanford and UC Davis with 70 percent. The top four schools each had 10 to 12 test takers. The recent success comes on the heels of a top July 2008 rate.

The July 2008 California Bar Exam had an overall passage rate of 61.7 percent, and the pass rate for ABA-accredited schools in California (first-time takers) was 83 percent. Pepperdine had 89 percent pass, which placed Pepperdine in the top five law schools in California.

Pepperdine achieved 78 percent on the July 2007 exam and 83 percent on the July 2006 exam

"We are gratified with our February bar passage rate and extremely proud of our students who worked so hard for the success they earned," says Jim Gash, associate dean for student life. "We are optimistic that our recent graduates will do even better on the July 2009 exam."