FAMU Law’s first try bar passage rate #4 in state, tops UF’s

Former FAMU Law Dean LeRoy Pernell stands with Alicia Jackson, director of the Bar Exam Success Training (B.E.S.T.) Program, as they announce the Feb., 2013 bar passage rate to current law students, faculty and staff.

The Florida A&M University College of Law is continuing to benefit from the work of the past administration led by former Dean LeRoy Pernell.

FAMU Law achieved a 56.5 percent first-try passage rate on the February 2016 Florida Bar Exam. That was the fourth best in the state.

FAMU topped the University of Florida (56.3), Stetson (53.3), the University of Miami (53.1), Ava Maria (52.9), St. Thomas (42.3), Barry (35.9), and Florida Coastal (32.7).

Florida International was number one in the state with 84.6 percent.

This isn’t the first time FAMU has finished higher than UF. FAMU also bested UF on February 2013 bar exam with 82.6 percent to UF’s 80.2 percent.

FAMU’s strong first-try passage rate is a result of the restructured Academic Success & Bar Preparation Program that the Pernell administration introduced in 2009. It is currently directed by Professor Alicia Jackson.

The Bar Exam Success Training (BEST) Program is a centerpiece of this initiative. BEST complements commercial programs by incorporating essay writing and multiple-choice exam workshops as well as individual training and structured study plans. The program provides support to both first-time and repeat bar exam takers, and for bar preparation in any state.