California, September 19, 2025
News Summary
California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as the new executive director of the State Bar following tumultuous issues related to the February 2025 bar exam. Her unanimous approval comes as the State Bar faces widespread criticism over technical difficulties and poorly constructed questions from the exam. As calls for reform grow, Enderton-Speed will lead the organization through a transformative period, including potential adoption of the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028.
California has appointed Laura Enderton-Speed as its new executive director of the State Bar as it faces challenges stemming from a problematic bar exam rollout. Enderton-Speed’s appointment was unanimously approved during the State Bar’s Board of Trustees meeting held on Thursday. She previously directed the office that provides leadership support to the Judicial Council of California and currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law and California State University.
As the new executive director, Enderton-Speed will oversee the organization during a period marked by turmoil related to the bar exam, especially following the disastrous February 2025 bar exam. This exam was marred by numerous technical difficulties and poorly constructed questions, provoking widespread criticism from both examinees and legal educators.
In light of these issues, deans from California’s leading law schools have called for the California State Bar to adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028. This initiative aims to address the frustrations experienced during the February exam, where a reported 3,886 examinees faced significant technical challenges. The California Supreme Court has responded by mandating a return to the standard Multistate Bar Examination format for the upcoming exams scheduled for July 29 and 30.
Among the critical concerns raised by participants during the February exam were persistent technical problems that have prompted a lawsuit against Meazure Learning, the vendor responsible for administering the exam. Complaints about the exam included allegations of incorrect question designs and the controversial use of artificial intelligence (AI) in developing some multiple-choice questions, which has ignited debates about transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
The California Supreme Court has demanded explanations for the incorporation of AI into exam question creation, which was disclosed only post-exam. Many critics have pointed to this as a significant concern, calling into question the reliability of the exam and whether proper review processes were followed. California law stipulates that any changes impacting exam preparation should provide a two-year notice, suggesting potential violations may have occurred during the question development process.
Despite these issues, the State Bar’s former executive director stated confidence in the validity of the AI-assisted questions. However, the use of AI in developing these questions was reportedly not sanctioned by the Committee of Bar Examiners prior to their deployment. Additionally, the engagement of a non-legally trained psychometrician for this task has attracted further scrutiny regarding conflicts of interest.
With these matters gaining public interest, the California State Bar has initiated a lawsuit against ProctorU, alleging failure to meet contract expectations during the administration of the exam. Furthermore, a legislative audit is under consideration to review the various issues surrounding the February exam, as two class-action lawsuits against Meazure Learning remain pending. The State Bar accuses Meazure Learning of fraud and other breaches of conduct, claiming that the vendor was unprepared for the scale of the examination. As a result of these ongoing controversies, the State Bar has terminated its contract with ProctorU.
Key Developments
- Laura Enderton-Speed appointed as new executive director of the California State Bar.
- Unanimous approval from the Board of Trustees.
- Push for the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028 from law school deans.
- February 2025 bar exam reported significant technical failures and poorly worded questions.
- California Supreme Court mandates a return to the Multistate Bar Examination for July.
- Lawsuit filed against Meazure Learning for bar exam administration failure.
Background Context
The California State Bar’s challenges have emerged amid growing concerns about the quality and reliability of bar examinations. The debacle of the February exam highlights the necessity for reform in the way legal assessments are conducted, with evolving expectations from stakeholders in the legal education community.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New Executive Director | Laura Enderton-Speed |
| Former Role | Director of Office for Judicial Council of California |
| Key Exam Issues | Technical difficulties, poor questions |
| Deans’ Recommendation | Adopt NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028 |
| Pending Legal Actions | Lawsuits against Meazure Learning and ProctorU |
| Next Exam Format | Multistate Bar Examination |
FAQ
Who has been appointed as the new executive director of the California State Bar?
Laura Enderton-Speed has been appointed as the new executive director of the California State Bar.
What issues arose during the February 2025 bar exam?
The February 2025 bar exam faced technical difficulties and poorly designed questions, leading to numerous complaints from examinees.
What recommendation have deans from California’s law schools made?
Deans from California’s leading law schools urged the California State Bar to adopt the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination by 2028.
What actions has the California State Bar taken following the exam’s issues?
The California State Bar initiated a lawsuit against Meazure Learning and is considering a legislative audit to assess the exam’s administration issues.
What format has the California Supreme Court mandated for the upcoming July bar exam?
The California Supreme Court has ordered the bar exam to revert to the existing Multistate Bar Examination for the July 29 and 30 exams.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Bloomberg Law: California State Bar Pulls New Leader from Judicial Council
- Daily Journal: California Law Deans Push State Bar to Adopt NextGen Universal Bar Exam in 2028
- Above the Law: Hindsight Makes It Easy to See the California Bar Made Too Many Changes Too Quickly
- ABA Journal: California State Bar Sues Vendor After Troubled Exam
- Reuters: Thousands Who Did Not Pass California Bar Exam Get Chance to Practice Now
- Wikipedia: Bar Exam
- Google Search: California State Bar Exam
- Google Scholar: California State Bar Exam
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bar Examination
- Google News: California State Bar
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTINGTON BEACH
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