Petition to completely waive October bar exam is denied

The State Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a petition that would waive the October bar exam entirely and instead grant full diploma privilege for anyone who has applied to take it.

The court has already ordered the State Bar to implement a temporary licensure program for graduates who can't take the online bar exam on Oct. 5-6. That program expires in 2022, and graduates practicing under the program would have to eventually take the exam to remain in the profession.

The petition, submitted by Pilar Margarita Escontrias and Donna Saadati-Soto, founders of the student advocacy group United for Diploma Privilege, argued in a 280-page document that the court should grant an emergency order waiving the bar exam requirement because of hardships caused by the COVID-19 and ongoing civil unrest, and instead implement diploma privilege for applicants who have graduated from law school with either a juris doctor or master of laws degree.

"Although disappointing, the court's decision today does not come as a surprise," Escontrias said. "We have again and again advocated on behalf of those in the legal profession who are left most vulnerable in light of COVID-19, California wildfires, and the digital divide. At a minimum, we hope the court seriously considers other pathways toward licensure such as provisional licensing for all or an open-book exam."

-- Henrik Nilsson