State bar offers free July exam after February test chaos

California State Bar officials have approved a plan to offer free admission to the July 2025 Bar Exam for candidates who withdraw from or fail the troubled February 2025 test, allocating $3.1 million for fee waivers.

The decision comes amid widespread criticism over the rollout of the February exam, which has been plagued by testing location changes, scheduling problems and communication breakdowns.

"The State Bar Board of Trustees is committed to addressing the myriad issues that have arisen leading up to the February 2025 California Bar Exam," said Brandon Stallings, chair of the State Bar Board of Trustees. "This new exam has not rolled out the way it should have, and we, the Board, apologize along with State Bar leadership and staff."

A press release issued by the state bar Friday said it has already offered travel reimbursements, stipends and full refunds to some affected candidates. It committed the bar to working to improve coordination with its testing vendor, Meazure Learning.

To qualify for the July fee waiver, candidates must have made "good faith efforts" to take the February exam, according to parameters that Bar staff will develop.

The February 2025 Bar Exam is scheduled for this week.