Bigger Questions About the Bar’s Relevance
All of this feeds into a growing existential question:
Is the State Bar of California losing its legitimacy?
Once revered as the ultimate arbiter of legal readiness, the Bar now faces a perception crisis. Many in the legal community, particularly younger lawyers and law students, see the Bar less as a symbol of competence and more as a “glorified gatekeeping club”, one that selectively admits only those who align with its ideological and political preferences.
Moreover, A.I.’s growing role in the legal industry is blurring old lines. If lawyers must now master the responsible use of artificial intelligence to compete in the modern market, how can the Bar simultaneously punish and rely on the very same tools?
As one legal commentator put it bluntly:
“When the licensing exam is written by A.I. and judged by activists, you no longer have a meritocracy—you have a rigged system.”
What’s Next?
The next bar exam is scheduled for July 29-30, 2025, at San Diego’s Sheraton Mission Valley and Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.
But confidence in the process has never been lower.
Many applicants are asking:
