California’s state bar has approached the state Supreme Court, seeking authorization for an alternative law licensing program, despite uncertainties surrounding its funding and operational specifics. With the help of the Legal Services Funders Network, the agency claimed to have secured complete funding for the initial costs of the new-so-termed ‘portfolio bar exam’ initiative.
The executive director of the bar, Leah Wilson, outlined the plans for this pilot in a letter to the court in mid-December. This proposed alternative examination would facilitate a selected group of law school graduates to bypass the traditional bar exam and obtain their law licenses via supervised employment and evaluated work displays.
Despite the assurance of full cover for the project’s startup costs, lingering questions persist about the future financial obligations, who may be held responsible for those costs, and what additional efforts the bar might have to undertake to secure any necessary funding. Detailed information about the ongoing discussions and prospective steps forward can be found here.