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What Is the Cal Bar's 'Productive Mindset Intervention Program'?

By William Vogeler, Esq. | Last updated on

Dear L. Michelle,

This is for you and 3,418 people who took the California Bar Exam in February 2018 but failed. Please pass it along.

In response to your hilarious missive about the the test, I cannot say that I agree with your directive to the State Bar to "Go F*ck Yourself." I laughed per paragraph, but I feel your pain.

I can say something about the bar's new program to help test-takers, however, which you referenced in your letter. Here's the thing -- it's a work in progress. 

Productive Mindset Intervention Program

When the State Bar announced the test results -- the lowest in 70 years -- it also announced the Productive Mindset Intervention Program. The bar said it would be available to applicants "beginning with the July 2018 Bar Exam."

Of course, you knew that. You wrote that you tried to enroll, complained about the process, and found that "no one has been appointed for that yet."

Actually, the program is more like a study. In January, the State Bar's board of trustees authorized a "ten-year relationship between the State Bar of California and the Research Team to share data and conduct analyses for a productive mindset intervention."

The State Bar said the program would be available for the July 2018 Bar Exam, but it didn't work out. So yeah.

What Is the State Bar Doing for Test-Takers?

Above the Law, a rabid watchdog of state bar results, says the State Bar "has no clue what it's doing."

"Yes, the California Bar used their failure notifications to pimp a program that they knew none of those graduates could enroll in," wrote Joe Patrice.

Thank you, L. Michelle, for pointing out the problem first. As you suggested, the State Bar takes in about $12 million to administer the test each year and it would be nice if it were fair.

Perhaps your humorous invective will help the State Bar get a more productive mindset (program).

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