Delaware’s top court on Tuesday lowered the score required to pass the state’s bar exam and adopted other changes to lawyer licensing requirements in the state, which is a major hub for business litigation.
The Delaware Supreme Court said in a statement that the changes include reducing the “cut” score from a scale of 145 to 143 on the bar exam and offering the test twice a year instead of once.
The number of essays on the exam is also being reduced from eight to four, which will shorten the test duration from its current two and a half days to two days, according to a memo from the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, whose recommendations the court adopted. The number of essay topics will also decrease.
The adjustments will take effect before July’s bar exam. The exam will also be offered in February beginning in 2024, the court said.
Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr in the court’s announcement called the changes a “modernization” of the admission process to better match requirements in other states rather than a “lowering of standards.” He said the revisions will help the state stay competitive in attracting legal talent.