The Bar Association has published the results of the December 2024 law certification exam, revealing a significant drop in the pass rate compared to previous sessions. Out of 2,270 interns who took the exam, only 736 passed, resulting in an overall pass rate of just 32%. The passing rate for first-time examinees was notably higher at 49%.
This marks a sharp decline from the February 2024 session, where 55% of interns passed the exam. Among first-time examinees in that session, 75% were successful. The stark contrast in passing rates has raised questions about the difficulty of the recent exam.
Pass Rates Vary by Educational Institution
The passing rates for graduates of different universities also showed significant variations. Of the 116 Hebrew University graduates who took the exam, 78% passed, followed by 73% of Tel Aviv University graduates, and 72% of Bar Ilan University graduates. Graduates from Reichman University had a passing rate of 70%, while Haifa University and College of Management graduates achieved pass rates of 68% and 53%, respectively.
However, the results for some institutions were far less favorable. Among the 800 Ono Academic College graduates who sat for the exam, only 21% passed, with many of these examinees retaking the exam for a second or more attempt.
Complaints About Exam Difficulty
Interns who took the exam have expressed widespread dissatisfaction with its difficulty. Many claimed that the exam was unusually challenging compared to previous years. In response to these concerns, Amit Bachar, the head of the Bar Association, acknowledged the complaints and suggested that there may be merit to the claims.
"The certification exams at the last minute led to a wave of inquiries to the Bar from interns who complained about the unreasonable difficulty of the exam," Bachar said. "As is known, the content of the exam is determined exclusively by the examining committee independently, without any involvement from the Bar. However, after reviewing the passing data, it is clear that there is a basis for the claims about the exam's difficulty, which warrants further consideration for the benefit of the examinees."
Bachar assured that the Bar Association, including himself personally, would be working to address the concerns raised by the interns. The Bar’s involvement aims to ensure fairness and support for those seeking legal certification in Israel.
The drop in the pass rate has already sparked discussions about potential reforms in the certification process, particularly with regard to the exam's content and structure.
