National Jurist - October 2008 - (Page 9) NEWS California bar examiners shaken up Although a 5.4 magnitude earthquake shook 4,000 aspiring lawyers as they took the California Bar Exam on July 29, the State Bar Committee has not made a decision yet on what, if anything they will do. The Committee will reveal its decision, based purely on data, by Thanksgiving. The quake hit at about 11:45 a.m. near Ontario when the morning session was winding down and was felt throughout the area. According to Robert Hawley, deputy executive director of the State Bar of California, there were five locations that were affected by the quake. Three Los Angeles metro sites — the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, the Radisson Hotel at LA Airport and the California Market Center in downtown LA — and convention facilities or hotels in Anaheim and Ontario were affected. Whether or not officials will recommend any adjustments to the exam results is still up in the air. “We won’t know that until the exams are graded,” Hawley said. “The exams are graded at the conclusion of the exams with results coming out right before Thanksgiving.” There will be a point, Hawley said, when the psychometricians, the scientists on retainer who calibrate and examine the exam to assure its validity, file their reports. “Psychometrics is the science of testing and performance indicators, assuring the test tools are valid,” he adds. “They look at data involving the test performance to assure that there were not any unusual occurences. This is not unusual. Every time the test is given the psychometricians look at the results to assure there was not some irregularity.” Hawley said the psychometricians will look at the exam performance based on ample data. The State Bar of California has given the exam for 75 years to a half million people. “In recent times we’ve given the same exam for two decades to 10,000 people a year at the same locations,” he said. “We have data to be able to compare. If there is a spike of irregularity the psychometricians will find it.” The State Bar will rely on the scientific reports filed by the psychometricians. The psychometricians will advise the Commitee of Bar Examiners as to their findings. Then the Committee of Bar Examiners will evaluate these findings and decide what, if anything, they will do. “The important thing to remember is that this is a scientific process,” Hawley said. “It involves data, not drama.” —Robert Gluck Pass the Bar—guaranteed or your money back. Now offering full service Bar review for NY, NJ, and FL. Learn more about Complete Bar Review at kaplanpmbr.com * MBR02806 1-800-523-0777 | kaplanpmbr.com * Pass the Bar, guaranteed or your money back. Must be a first time taker with a JD from an ABA-approved law school, and be enrolled in a Kaplan PMBR Complete Bar Review Course to qualify. Other restrictions apply. Visit kaplanpmbr.com for complete eligibility requirements. October 2008 THE NATIONAL JURIST 9 http://www.kaplanpmbr.com http://www.kaplanpmbr.com http://www.kaplanpmbr.com http://www.kaplanpmbr.com
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