Duquesne Kline School of Law Grads Again Exceed State Averages in July 2024 PA Bar Exam

In addition, the Law School’s overall passage rate of 84.83%, which includes repeat takers, significantly outpaced the Pennsylvania state overall passage rate of 76.69%. 

“I congratulate our graduates for these impressive results. Their studying and hard work have paid off. I also applaud our excellent Bar Studies Team and outstanding faculty for their diligence in ensuring our graduates were prepared,” said Duquesne Kline School of Law Dean April Barton. 

Duquesne Kline School of Law ranks 6th in the nation for preparing its students to pass the bar exam, according to preLaw Magazine. In 2024, Duquesne Kline School of Law achieved this rank among 187 law schools assessed over a five-year period.

“Congratulations to our Duquesne Kline Law graduates for their outstanding performance on the Bar Exam,” said University President Ken Gormley, who also is a law professor at the school. “Their perseverance and determination embody the bigger goals and high standards we embrace at Duquesne. This achievement not only speaks to the caliber of our students but also to our phenomenal law faculty, whose commitment to a horizon-expanding, pragmatic legal education provides a strong foundation that prepares them for success. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the legal profession.”

Duquesne Kline School of Law Bar Studies Director and Professor Ashley London takes her role readying graduates for the exam seriously because a successful first-time bar passage attempt means greater employability. It also allows students to achieve their dreams of becoming practicing lawyers, said London. 

“The faculty and staff continually move the needle, researching and following the latest guidance to ensure our students are more than adequately ready to take and pass the bar exam. Each year, we provide the knowledge and support they will need to pass, but ultimately, they are the ones who work diligently to achieve their goals,” London said. “I’m very proud of our July bar takers, many of whom are first-generation law students.”

The bar exam is one important metric where Duquesne Kline School of Law graduates perform exceedingly well. Another is employment outcomes. In March, the American Bar Association (ABA) released 10-month employment statistics from law schools nationwide regarding the class of 2023. Out of the 137 members of the Class of 2023, 96.4% (132/137) of the graduates were employed or pursuing a graduate degree. As of March 15, 2024, they were employed in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

This marks the Commonwealth’s fifth administration of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). Passing the UBE allows individuals to transfer their successful scores to become licensed in other jurisdictions.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

It's time for bigger goals. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.
www.duq.edu