Benchmarking the Bar: No Unity in Difference Scores

17 Pages Posted: 29 Sep 2007

See all articles by Gary S. Rosin

Gary S. Rosin

South Texas College of Law Houston

Date Written: Septembar 28, 2007

Abstract

Under ABA proposed Interpretation 301-6, the primary benchmark used to measure the adequacy of a law-school's academic program would be the amount by which is "local" Bar passage rate for first-takers differs from the overall passage rate for all first-takers from ABA-approved law schools. The study used generalized linear modeling as a method to compare Bar "difference scores" of ABA-approved law-schools in two states, New York and California. The study found that Bar difference scores in California were significantly more sensitive to changes in law-school relative LSAT scores than were Bar difference scores in New York. Bar difference scores - subtracting the "local" overall ABA Bar passage rate - do not fully adjust for variations in state grading practices, especially differences in minimum passing scores ("cut scores") . . .

Keywords: Bar pasage rates, effective schools, ABA

Suggested Citation

Rosin, Gary S., Benchmarking the Bar: No Unity in Difference Scores (Septembar 28, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1017996 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1017996

Gary S. Rosin (Contact Author)

South Texas College of Law Houston ( email )

1303 San Jacinto
Houston, TX 77002
713-646-1854 (Phone)
713-646-1766 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.stcl.edu/rosin/Gary_Rosin.htm

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