States explore alternative pathways to bar admission

Innovative ways to assess attorney competence beyond the traditional bar exam

Experiential learning and field experience are recognized as the most effective methods for teaching legal practice skills. Alternative pathways assess essential entry-level lawyering skills in ways that traditional bar exams do not. This interactive map highlights states that have explored innovative and alternative pathways that align more closely with the research on establishing minimum competence in the legal profession. 

Programs are grouped into three main types: 

1. Curriculum-Based
2. Supervised Practice 
3. Hybrid (Combined) Models