Ohio court considers allowing bar exam for law students in 6-year programs; norm is 7 years

12/28/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Supreme Court is accepting public comment on a possible rule change that could let students become lawyers after six years of college training instead of seven.

The court says Ohio law school deans requested that it consider letting applicants apply for the bar exam if they complete a six-year joint program for a bachelor’s degree and a law degree. The director of the Office of Bar Admissions at the court says current rules would require such graduates to get a waiver.

The traditional path for aspiring lawyers is slightly longer, with four years of undergraduate work and three years in law school.

No Ohio law schools offer the six-year joint program now. Those institutions would have to decide whether to create such programs.