Topic 1: What is the baby bar exam?
The baby bar is another name for the First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSE). It is administered by the State Bar of California in both June and October each year. Not everyone has to take the baby bar exam! It is primarily administered to those who study law at unaccredited law schools (including online law schools). Others who have to take it are those that work through the Law Office Study Program (i.e., those that hope to become lawyers not through law school but through working with a lawyer or judge), and those without two years of college and attending a Committee of Bar Examiners or an ABA-accredited law school. Students are allowed to take the exam after their first year of study.
What is the baby bar like? What subjects does it test?
The baby bar is similar to the actual bar exam in that it includes both essay and multiple-choice questions. However, instead of testing all areas of law, it tests three areas of law: Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. The test focuses on general principles of law (rather than California law). It is administered in California, but the examiners make it clear that a “detailed knowledge of California law is not required.”
How long is the baby bar?
It is a day-long, seven-hour test (four hour-long essays and three hours of 100 multiple-choice questions). Both the essay and multiple-choice sections are weighted equally. Each portion is converted to a 400-point scale. Examinees need a score of 560 or higher (70%) to pass.
Why is it important to pass the baby bar?
Applicants must pass the baby bar the first time they take it or within the first three administrations that they are eligible to take the exam to receive full law school credit for the courses they have taken. If an applicant instead passes the baby bar after the first three times they are eligible to take it, they will receive credit for their first year only.
Does the baby bar have a high passage rate?
Unfortunately, it does not. The baby bar pass rate is about 20%. For the October 2019 baby bar exam, the passage rate was 22.1% (with a 29.5% passage rate for first-time takers and a 14.9% passage rate for repeat takers). You can read updated baby bar statistics here.
Basically, this means that you have to study for the FYLSE if you are serious about passing it! You should develop a solid game plan, and make sure to put in a lot of time both learning the materialandapplying it to essay and multiple-choice fact patterns. This is discussed more later in this guide!
Do you tutor for the baby bar?
Yes. We offer tutoring services for the baby bar. Click here toread more about our baby bar tutoring services. Our tutors have helped students study for the baby bar. Our tutors have been successful in helping students both learn the law they need to know to pass the baby bar, and importantly, learn how to apply it to the types of fact patterns they will see on the baby bar exam (something that baby bar takers struggle with!). We also sellBaby Bar One-Sheets, which students rave about!
Go to the next topic, Topic 2: What is the baby bar exam pass rate?
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FAQs
The baby bar is similar to the actual bar exam in that it includes both essay and multiple-choice questions. However, instead of testing all areas of law, it tests three areas of law: Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. The test focuses on general principles of law (rather than California law).
What is the baby bar and what does it mean? ›
The baby bar exam is the nickname for California's First-Year Law Students Examination (FYLSX). Kim Kardashian catapulted this otherwise niche legal exam into the limelight when she celebrated her successful attempt in a post to her then 70.7 million followers.
Are you a real lawyer if you pass the baby bar? ›
According to the State Bar of California, the baby bar is required for those who study at a State Bar-unaccredited registered law school, those without two years of college work, or through a law office study program with lawyers or judges. Passing the baby bar does not mean you are a lawyer.
What is the baby bar used for? ›
Law school students take the baby bar exam for various reasons. In California, where the bar exam's notorious difficulty leads to low passage rates, the baby bar is a mandatory exam first-year students attending unaccredited schools must pass in order to continue their education.
Is baby bar harder than bar? ›
The baby bar has a much lower pass rate than most other bar exams. Around 27% of first-time test takers passed in 2020. But this doesn't mean the exam is harder than the actual bar exam in California or any other state.
What happens after you pass the baby bar? ›
1. Does Passing the Baby Bar Make You a Lawyer? No, it doesn't. Passing the baby bar allows first-year law students to receive credit for the education they have completed and allows them to continue completing their JD.
Did Kim Kardashian finish law school? ›
Kim Kardashian has not passed the California general bar exam yet. However, she did pass the baby bar exam in December 2021, which is a first-year law student's examination. The exam is a shorter and less difficult version of the California bar exam.
Can you take the baby bar without a degree? ›
California is one of the few states that allows aspiring lawyers to take the bar exam without going to law school. They can do this by instead completing a four-year law office study program to become a legal professional.
What is the highest score on the baby bar? ›
All 100 questions on the baby bar are scored. Thus, the perfect raw score is 100. Scores are scaled with a max of 800 points. To pass the baby bar, you need a scaled score of at least 560.
How many times can you fail the baby bar? ›
Applicants are given three opportunities to pass the baby bar to get credit for law studies (though it can be taken as many times as you need!). If you don't pass the first time, you are eligible to take the exam again. You can try to pass on either of the next two administrations of the baby bar.
(Along with Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, California is one of only four states that allows students to study law through an apprenticeship instead of attending law school.) California's bar exam is considered to be one of the hardest in the country, with one of the lowest pass rates.
What are first year law students called? ›
1L, 2L, 3L: In undergrad, your year in school is usually referred to as freshman, sophom*ore, etc. In law school, we use 1L to refer to first year, 2L to second year, 3L to third year. Your law school might have a part time division, and in that case, some students might be referred to as 4Ls as well.
What's the easiest bar to pass? ›
Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.
What score do you need to pass baby bar? ›
The multiple-choice portion of the exam is worth 400 points as well. A score of 560 out of 800 is needed to pass the baby bar exam, which equates to 70%.
What kind of questions are on the baby bar exam? ›
The First-Year Law Students' Examination (also known as the “baby bar”) is a half-day test given twice a year. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and covers three subjects: Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. More than 500 applicants take the exam each year.
Do all law students take the baby bar? ›
The First-Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSX), or "baby bar," is a one-day test given in June and October. Not all law students have to take the baby bar.
What score do you need on the baby bar? ›
A score of 560 out of 800 is needed to pass the baby bar exam. Note that there is not a minimum score required on the essay or multiple-choice portion.
What is a first year law student called? ›
1L, 2L, 3L: In undergrad, your year in school is usually referred to as freshman, sophom*ore, etc. In law school, we use 1L to refer to first year, 2L to second year, 3L to third year. Your law school might have a part time division, and in that case, some students might be referred to as 4Ls as well.
How many times did Kim take the bar? ›
The KKW Beauty founder announced she passed the “baby bar” on her fourth try. “I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years,” she revealed via Instagram. “But I got back up each time and studied harder and tried again until I did it!!!”
