States Consider New Paths to Lawyer Licensing

In a recent Bloomberg Law article, reporter Maia Spoto explores how a growing number of US states are re-evaluating how new lawyers enter the profession. With the NextGen bar exam on the horizon, some jurisdictions are piloting alternative licensing paths - such as supervised practice and portfolio submissions - to address equity gaps and expand access to legal services.

The article features insight from Sarah Morris, a Partner in Macrae’s West Coast US team, who notes that Big Law hiring is still closely tied to bar passage. “It’s incredibly rare for someone to be hired by a Big Law firm without passing the bar exam,” she says, pointing out that the states exploring alternatives “are not major legal markets” for AmLaw100 firms.

Read the full article by Maia Spoto for Bloomberg Law here.

For more insights, connect with Sarah Morris or reach out to our team at Macrae.