Washington Bar Exam Thwarted By Bad Wi-Fi

Key Points:

• On July 28, approximately 645 law graduates in Yakima, Washington, faced a major technical failure during the bar exam due to insufficient Wi-Fi bandwidth, preventing most from accessing the exam platform and forcing a cancellation of the test.
• The Washington State Bar Association initially postponed the exam to the following days but ultimately canceled it entirely, offering affected candidates options including a make-up exam in September, deferral to February 2027, or a refund.
• The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) defended its new testing platform, launched on the same day in Washington and nine other states, claiming it performed as designed except for site-specific issues in three jurisdictions.
• Law school deans in Washington have called on the state supreme court to grant diploma privilege to the affected graduates, arguing it is the most equitable remedy to avoid unfair financial, professional, and emotional burdens caused by the exam’s failure.
• A 2024 Washington Supreme Court task force found the bar exam minimally effective for ensuring lawyer competency and highlighted its historical role in disproportionately blocking marginalized groups; the court has approved reforms including experiential pathways but has yet to implement them, leaving current graduates without alternatives.