Local law school’s passage rate exceeds state average

Costa Mesa-based Whittier Law School is celebrating news that more of its students passed the California State Bar Exam on a first try than ever before.

The school’s 84.3% passage rate in July’s exam beat the statewide average of 61.7%, and may end up the highest in the county this year.

The school’s pass rates have been rising for the last few years.

Those graduates were sworn in Tuesday at a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.

“We are delighted that our graduates have made such an achievement,” the school’s dean, Neil Cogan said. “This further confirms that enhancements made to our existing curriculum and exam preparation program have been successful in meeting the law school’s goals.”

— Michael Alexander