Oregon Alternatives to the Bar Exam Task Force - 2021 Report - Organizing Principles, Process, Recommendations

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen

2021 report outlining Oregon’s proposed alternatives to the traditional bar exam through two alternative pathways: an Oregon Experiential Pathway and a Supervised Practice Pathway. The organizing principles emphasize consumer protection, competent licensed attorneys, equity, removing unnecessary barriers, and providing alternatives. It compares Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Canada/Utah/Washington D.C. models, describes oversight by the Board of Bar Examiners, and details curriculum, portfolio work, feedback, and supervised apprenticeship requirements. It also addresses consumer protection and equity concerns plus next steps including public comment, implementation committees, and grading rubrics.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Organizing Principles

Consumer Protection and Competence

Oregon Essential Eligibility Requirements

IAALS Report on Building a Better Bar

Process

Existing and Proposed Models

Report to the Court

Recommendation

Two Alternative Pathways

Oregon Experiential Pathway

Supervised Practice Pathway

Maintaining Oversight and UBE Requirements

Addressing Consumer Protection Concerns

Addressing Equity Concerns

Next Steps

Public Comment and Implementation Committees

Oregon Alternatives to the Bar Exam Task Force 2021 Report Organizing Principles • Consumer Protection • Ensuring all licensed attorneys are competent to practice law • Oregon Essential Eligibility Requirements ([https://taskforces.osbar.org/files/RFA1.20and1.25EssentialEligibilityRequirementsandGuidelinesforAdmissio](https://taskforces.osbar.org/files/RFA1.20and1.25EssentialEligibilityRequirementsandGuidelinesforAdmissio)n.pdf) • IAALS Report on Building a Better Bar ([https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/building_a_better_bar.pd](https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/building_a_better_bar.pdf)[f](https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/building_a_better_bar.pdf)) • Continued oversight of competence by the Board of Bar Examiners • Equity • Removing unnecessary barriers • Providing alternatives Process • What is being done now? • Wisconsin model – “Diploma Privilege” • New Hampshire Model – Experiential curriculum • Canada/Utah/Washington D.C. Model – apprenticeship/supervised practice • How would these models fit with Oregon • Report to the Court Recommendation • Full report is available here: [https://taskforces.osbar.org/files/Bar-Exam-Alternatives](https://taskforces.osbar.org/files/Bar-Exam-Alternatives)TFReport.pdf • Two Alternative Pathways • Oregon Experiential Pathway • Supervised Practice Pathway • BBX to maintain oversight over competence determination for each • Maintain the UBE as a pathway • Continue to require MPRE and character and fitness review • Need for additional administrative resources to successfully implement two alternative pathways Oregon Experiential Pathway • Modeled after New Hampshire’s Daniel Webster’s Honors Program • 2L and 3L years focused on experiential learning and courses critical for practice • Curriculum to be developed between the BBX and Oregon law schools • Key components: • Mix of guided experiential learning (clinics or experiential courses) and externships • Practice-based courses like evidence, ethics, administrative law, statutory interpretation, criminal procedure, etc • Portfolio work produced throughout 2L and 3L year • Feedback from BBX allows for course correction if applicant is not meeting standards • Simulated real world work samples allow a true assessment of competence to practice • Following a ramp up period, open to all students who opt in • Permit out-of-state schools to apply once program is up and running Supervised Practice Pathway • Post-graduation apprenticeship for 1000-1500 hours of legal work under qualified supervising attorneys • Open to applicants from out-of-state or those that failed the bar exam • Produce portfolio of real-world work product for review by BBX • Additional considerations • Delaware-style “scavenger hunt” ([https://www.courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=28478](https://www.courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=28478)) • CLE requirements Addressing Consumer Protection Concerns • Ensuring competence of applicants • Same people who grade the bar exam will be grading portfolios • Competence determinations are not outsourced to law schools or supervising attorneys who have a direct mentorship relationship with the applicants • Breadth of knowledge requirements can be retained • Mandatory courses through the OEP; CLE requirements or “scavenger hunt”requirements for the SPP Addressing Equity Concerns • Multiple pathways = options and balance • OEP • Program is exclusionary ►following ramp-up period, making it accessible to larger and larger cohorts • Non-blind grading of work product may introduce bias ► work with experienced professors and psychometrician to identify a rubric that applies to all students’ work to limit possible bias • SPP • Applicant feels “trapped” with bad supervisor ► allow for multiple supervisors • First generati

FAQs

What are the two proposed alternative pathways to the bar exam in Oregon?

The report proposes an Oregon Experiential Pathway and a Supervised Practice Pathway, both designed to assess competence and provide routes to admission beyond the traditional bar exam structure.

How does the report address consumer protection and competence oversight?

It keeps the Board of Bar Examiners involved in competence determinations by ensuring the same people who grade the bar exam also grade portfolios, and by retaining requirements such as breadth of knowledge and oversight for course correction.

What equity concerns does the report raise and how does it propose to respond?

It addresses equity by expanding access over time after ramp-up, reducing potential bias in non-blind grading through rubrics and expert input, and improving supervisor availability—such as using Oregon’s first-year mentorship program and allowing multiple supervisors.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen