SJCL Bar Pass Matches the ABA Standard

The American Bar Association (“ABA”) requires that at least 75% of a law school’s graduates pass a bar examination within two years of graduation. While SJCL is not ABA accredited, its graduates have met or exceeded that ABA pass standard for the classes of:

2022 – 94%

2021 – 82%

2020 – 80%

Note: Statistics for Class of 2023 and 2024 results will be posted once two years of attempts have been completed.

SJCL Bar Pass Rate Tops CalBar Law Schools

SJCL’s Five Year Cumulative Bar Pass Rate has been the highest of the California Accredited law schools for the last three years:

2023 – 79.7%

2022 – 76.3%

2021 – 77.7%

Compare to other schools on the CalBar.org website (PDF)

Note: If this link does not show the 2023 statistics, please open the link and then click "ctrl + F5" to refresh the document to the current version.

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Student Achievement

Graduate Bar Pass Rates*

Grad Year # of
Grads Taking		 First Time Pass First Time
Pass Rate		 Pass Overall Overall Passing
for Grad Class
2024 35 26 74% 26 74%
2023 32 10 31% 20 63%
2022 36 18 50% 35 97%
2021 33 17 52% 29 88%
2020 35 24 69% 28 80%
2019 34 6 18% 23 68%
2018 38 12 32% 31 82%
2017 35 19 54% 27 77%
2016 45 15 33% 40 89%
2015 35 10 29% 29 83%
2014 51 27 53% 45 88%
2013 52 29 56% 48 92%
2012 43 24 56% 36 84%
2011 31 20 65% 29 94%
2010 43 24 56% 40 93%
2009 45 20 44% 37 82%

*Performance statistics for each administration of the California Bar Examination is available on the California State Bar website.

Retention and Graduation Rates

Year Enrolled Enrolling Academic Exclusions Withdrawals Retention Rate* Grad Total Grad Rate Retained Grad Rate**
2023 57 30 4 40.35%      
2022 44 16 4 54.55%      
2021 53 14 7 60.38%      
2020 78 28 11 50.00%      
2019 68 24 3 60.29% 37 50.75% 90%
2018 74 24 9 56.76% 40 55.41% 98%
2017 70 24 12 48.57% 34 48.57% 100%
2016 56 15 7 60.71% 32 57.14% 94%
2015 67 24 5 56.72% 36 53.73% 95%
2014 67 21 7 58.21% 35 52.24% 90%
2013 76 22 10 57.89% 42 55.26% 95%
2012 69 25 3 59.42% 39 56.52% 95%
2011 80 21 10 61.25% 44 55.00% 90%
2010 94 36 11 50.00% 47 50.00% 100%
2009 101 30 19 51.49% 51 50.50% 98%
2008 80 25 16 48.75% 36 45.00% 92%
2007 90 27 23 44.44% 40 44.44% 100%

*Retention rate reflects those retained at the end of the first year of law school.
**Retained Grad Rate reflects the percentage of students that go on to graduate after their first successful year of law school.

Student Learning Outcomes

SJCL Graduates Will

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the structures and processes of the U.S. legal system and foundational substantive law, including subjects tested on bar examinations.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in legal analysis and problem solving.
  • Demonstrate competence in written and oral communication in a variety of settings.
  • Demonstrate mastery of appropriate strategies and technologies to research legal issues effectively and efficiently.
  • Demonstrate the ability to recognize and resolve ethical issues and exhibit professionalism appropriate to the profession.

Employment Outcomes

The percentage of students graduating in 2019 who were employed in 2020, 2021, or 2022 in:

  1. Jobs that require a J.D. degree OR
  2. Jobs in which holding a J.D. degree is an advantage
Class of 2019  
Total Number of 2019 J.D. Graduates: 34
Total number of Survey Responses Received: 26
Survey response rate: 76.5%
Employment Status of 2019 Grads in: 2021 2022 2023
J.D. Degree Required 81.80% 84.80% 84.8
J.D. Degree Advantage 15.20% 15.20% 15.20%