The Council of Bar Admission Administrators (CBAA) held its Fall Meeting virtually on November 6, 2020, with CBAA chair Sahbra Smook Jacobs of New Jersey welcoming attendees to the meeting. To maximize opportunities for attendees to participate in the 10 CBAA committee meetings, these committees met between October 8 and November 19. On November 6, the following two plenary sessions were held:
What’s in Store for the February 2021 Bar Exam?
This session, presented by NCBE staff members, addressed a number of issues surrounding the February 2021 bar exam, for which NCBE provided a full set of exam materials for a remote administration, thereby allowing jurisdictions the option to provide the exam remotely in the face of the continued challenges presented by COVID-19. Issues included policies for the remote exam, anticipated time frames for pre- and post-exam processes, and testing schedules for the remote exam.
A Review of New Best Practices in Light of the Coronavirus Pandemic
In this session, five jurisdiction representatives discussed best practices for new and necessary procedures in credentialing applicants, exam application procedures, and policy implications for remote and in-person testing.
(Panelists: Justin Aday, Assistant Executive Director, Alabama State Bar; Michele Gavagni, Executive Director, Florida Board of Bar Examiners; Jessica Holst, Lead Character & Fitness Investigator, Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners; Gina Palmer, Director, Attorney Services Division, Ohio Office of Bar Admissions; Joni Dickson Seko, Deputy General Counsel, Utah State Bar; Troy Wood, Regulatory Counsel, Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners)
