THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015
PAGE 3
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Kansas one of 15 states to adopt Uniform Bar Exam
ALLSION CRIST
@allisoncristudk
Kansas will become one of 15 states to adopt the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) beginning in February 2016.
The UBE is similar to the regular bar exam, a test that assesses whether a student is qualified to practice law, in the given jurisdiction.
However, if students take the UBE in Kansas, their score can be transferred to any of the other jurisdictions that have adopted the test, rather than having to take another bar exam in a different area.
Because only one test is required, the UBE is the same in all jurisdictions, whereas the essay portion for
the regular bar exam varies depending on the area.
"Our graduates are now going to be able to practice in up to 15 states by sitting for this exam only once," said Stephen Mazza, dean of the School of Law.
"Missouri adopted the UBE years ago," Mazza said. "Many who practice in Kansas City have clients on both sides of the state line, so that requires them to be licensed in both states."
Mazza said this adoption will especially benefit students in Kansas and Missouri.
In the past, students have been required to take two different exams, all the while waiting six months in between.
This in itself is extraordinary, because it brings these recent graduates into the job market rather than keeping them out of it."
This is especially true for graduates who have already taken the UBE in Missouri.
ARTURO THOMPSON
Assistant dean of career services
"Now, they. can get started with their careers much sooner." Mazza said.
"This in itself is extraordinary, because it brings these recent graduates into the job market rather than keeping them out of it," Thompson said.
Arturo Thompson, assistant dean of career services, said these students can transfer
their scores to Kansas now, rather than having to wait until February of 2016.
Mazza said the UBE will not only save students an immense amount of time, but give them more leverage with employers.
"Graduates will have insurance that they've passed the exam. They don't have to wait to see if they pass it in a different jurisdiction," Mazza said.
Jacqueline Patton from Wichita will be graduating from the School of Law in
May of 2016, and she said she is excited that she will be able to take the UBE.
"I think it's great," Patton said. "It makes us [the University]] more appealing to future law students who may not want to practice in Kansas forever, like myself."
Even though there are only 15 states that administer the UBE, Patton still thinks the exam is beneficial.
"It depends on where you're
going, but there are enough [states] that I think it's still worth it," Patton said.
As of right now, the 14 other states that have adopted the UBE are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Edited by Samantha Darling
EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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