University of Baltimore School of Law graduates achieved a 90% first-time pass rate on the July 2026 Maryland bar examination, exceeding both the statewide and national first-time pass rates as Maryland administered the new NextGen Uniform Bar Exam for the first time.
According to results released October 9, 148 of 165 (90%) UBalt Law J.D. graduates
taking the exam for the first time passed, compared with 85% statewide and 85% nationally
among NextGen jurisdictions reporting results.
The results also demonstrated progress among graduates retaking the exam. Fifty-three
percent of UBalt Law repeat takers passed, compared with 40% statewide and 41% nationally.
Overall, 181 of the school’s 227 J.D. graduates who took the July exam passed, for
an 80% overall pass rate, compared with 69% statewide.
Together, the results mark UBalt Law’s strongest first-time performance relative to
the Maryland statewide average since 2011.
“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and the determination, discipline, and hard
work these results represent,” said Dean LaVonda N. Reed. “We know preparing students
to enter the legal profession requires a community-wide commitment to academic excellence,
practical skills, and student success. I am grateful to our UBalt Law community for
the expertise, guidance, and support they provide throughout our students’ legal education
and as they prepared for this critical milestone.”
Faculty and staff volunteered in record numbers as Bar Success Mentors, with more
than two dozen mentors providing additional coaching, encouragement, and individualized
support during the critical weeks of bar preparation. Members of the Class of 2026
also demonstrated exceptional engagement with their preparation, committing to the
sustained study and practice required for the exam.
UBalt Law continues to expand and refine its academic success programs. Initiatives
include enhancements to the first-year Introduction to Lawyering Skills program, an
expanded Office of Academic Success that provides earlier support, a redesigned Essential
Skills for the Bar Exam course, the Beeline to the Bar summer program, and targeted
multiple-choice tutoring.
“Our goal is to help students develop the knowledge, analytical abilities, and practical
skills they need to succeed—not only on the bar exam, but throughout their legal careers,”
said Neal A. Kempler, director of Bar Success at UBalt Law. “We work to make preparation
an integral part of the student experience, with support that responds to students’
needs and continues as they approach licensure.”
In fall 2026, UBalt Law expanded its bar preparation resources through an institutional
partnership with Themis Bar Review. The partnership is a comprehensive, start-to-finish
approach that integrates bar success into students’ legal education from day one.
The NextGen exam places renewed emphasis on the knowledge and skills needed to practice
law, including applying legal principles to realistic situations. UBalt Law’s commitment
to experiential learning—including its nationally ranked clinical and legal writing
programs, externships, and skills-focused curriculum—reinforces the school’s focus
on preparing practice-ready lawyers.
“Our mission extends beyond preparing students for licensure. We are preparing practice-ready
lawyers who will lead in the legal profession, serve their communities, and shape
the future of law through skilled advocacy, sound judgment, and a commitment to justice
and the public good,” said Dean LaVonda N. Reed.