THE COMMITTEE OF BAR EXAMINERS OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
A meeting of the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California convened in closed session at 12:45 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, in a meeting room at the State Bar offices in Los Angeles, California, Patricia P. White, Chair, presiding. Officers and members present were: Patricia P. White, Chair; Lee H. Wallach, Vice-Chair; James H. Aguirre, James A. Bolton, Ph.D., Michelle Domingo, Karen M. Goodman, Erika Hiramatsu, Joel S. Miliband, Martha Pruden-Hamiter, Larry Sheingold, Jeanne C. Vanderhoff, Patricia M. Villalobos, and Alan S. Yochelson, Members. Members Traci C. Belmore, KV Kumar, Alexander Lawrence, and Sandra L. Salazar, M.D. were absent. State Bar staff members in attendance were Gayle E. Murphy, Senior Director, Admissions, Gina Crawford, Director for Administration, Debra Murphy Lawson, Director for Moral Character Determinations, George C. Leal, Director for Educational Standards, Lisa Jeong Cummins, Director for Examinations, Greg S. Shin, Director for Operations and Management, Kim Wong, Administrative Specialist, and Rachel S. Grunberg, Senior Assistant General Counsel. Also in attendance were Christopher Frick, Examination Development and Grading Team member, Dr. Jack Schafer, presenter, and Brooke Schafer, Elizabeth Stine, Diane Meyers, David Sermos, Brandon Tady, Thomas Mills, Michael Glass, Anand Kumar, Kristin Ritsema, Lara Bairamian, and Riza Sitton from the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel. The session ended at approximately 2:10 p.m., at which time the Committee’s subcommittees met. The meeting reconvened in closed session at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2014. All Committee members and staff in attendance on Friday were present on Saturday. Board of Trustees member David Torres was also present. The meeting went into open session at 10:05 a.m., at which time former member Archie “Joe” Biggers and visitors Dean Greg Brandes, Dean Larry David, and Dean George Dezes joined the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
It was by common consent agreed that the 2014 – 2015 Committee of Bar Examiners Subcommittee and other assignments, as attached to these minutes as “Item 1,” be received and filed.
It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the minutes taken during the public session of the meeting on Aug. 22, 2014, be approved.
Recognition of Outgoing Member It was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Committee’s gratitude be extended to outgoing member Archie “Joe” Biggers for his years of service and that the following citation be prepared and presented to him: This citation is presented by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California on the occasion of his retirement from the Committee of Bar Examiners and his four years and nine months of distinguished service to the legal profession in California. Response to Call for Public Comment on Proposals Submitted by Task Force on Admissions Regulation Reform It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the proposals submitted by the Task Force on Admissions Regulation Reform be received and filed; that a response on behalf of the Committee be drafted and approved by Chair Patricia White, and members Karen Goodman, Larry Sheingold and Alan Yochelson before submission by the November deadline; that the response communicate that requiring practice-based experiential training of applicants pre-admission is generally supported by the Committee, but there are various concerns with regard to implementation of the proposal and the 50 hours Pro-Bono requirement proposal, and seek guidance and further dialogue as to the committee’s role in administering the new requirements. [Post-Adjournment: Attached to these minutes as “Item 2” is the committee’s response.] Recognition of Outgoing Performance Test Drafting Team Chair It was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Committee’s gratitude be extended to outgoing Chair of the Performance Test Drafting Team, Armando Menocal, for his years of service and that the following citation be prepared and presented to him: This citation is presented to Armando M. Menocal III by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California in recognition of his service as the chair of the Performance Test Drafting Team since the team was first established by the committee in 1985 through 2014, and his distinguished service to the legal profession in California. August and September 2014 Key Indicators It was by common consent agreed that the August and September 2014 Key Indicators for the Office of Admissions/Committee of Bar Examiners be received and filed. Schedule for Dec. 12 and 13, 2014 Committee Meeting It was by common consent agreed that the schedule for the Dec. 12 and 13, 2014 Committee Meeting, which will be held at the State Bar of California Offices in San Francisco, California, be received and filed. Policy Regarding Release of Results It was by common consent agreed that the Committee of Bar Examiners’ policy regarding announcement of examination results, which prohibits the early release of the results to anyone, be received and filed.
Proposed 2014 – 2015 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the proposed 2014 – 2015 goals for the Subcommittee on Examinations be received and filed.
July 2014 Bar Examination Cost Analysis It was by common consent agreed that the report on costs for administering the July 2014 California Bar Examination be received and filed. June 2014 First-Year Law Students’ Examination Cost Analysis It was by common consent agreed that the report on costs for administering the June 2014 First-Year Law Students’ Examination be received and filed. June 30, 2014 Financial Analysis Report It was by common consent agreed that the Financial Analysis Report as of June 30, 2014 for the Admissions Fund, be received and filed. Proposed 2014 – 2015 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the proposed 2014 – 2015 goals for the Subcommittee on Operations and Management be received and filed.
Notice of Changes in Law School Administrators It was by common consent agreed that the notices from the St. Francis School of Law of the appointment of Dawn Prueter as registrar; and from Pinnacles School of Law of the resignation of Jamie P. Gelber, former owner and administrator on Sept. 1, 2014 and the appointment of Barry Sherman as administrator and registrar, be received and filed.
Report on Pilot Program Re Calculation of Cumulative Bar Examination Pass Rates It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the report on the Pilot Program re Calculation of Cumulative Bar Examination Pass Rates be received and filed; that the proposed amendments to Guidelines 12.1 and 12.2 of the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules, as attached to these minutes as “Item 3,” be adopted in principle; that the proposed amendments be circulated for a 30-day public comment period; that the proposed amendments and any comments received be forwarded to the Committee’s Advisory Committee on California Accredited Law School Rules for its review and comment; and that this matter be placed on the agenda for final consideration by the Committee at its January 2015 meeting. Concord Law School – Major Change Request It was moved, seconded and duly carried, member James Aguirre abstaining, that the Major Change Request of Concord Law School (CLS) for authorization to offer a Master of Science in Legal Studies degree (MSLS) and a Master of Jurisprudence degree (MJ) be received and filed; that the request for approval of the Major Change be granted, subject to certain conditions; that the Committee’s acquiescence that will allow CLS to award MSLS and MM degrees be conferred; that no student enrolled in either the MSLS or MJ degree program may concurrently be enrolled in the law school’s JD or Executive JD degree programs; that credit earned in either the MSLS or MJ degree program not be transferrable as credit toward earning a JD or EJD degree; and, as required by Guideline 13.1 of the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules, CLS provide the mandatory notice (both electronically and in hard copy documentation) that the MSLS and MJ degrees will not qualify a recipient to take the California Bar Examination. Larry H. Layton School of Law – Interim Inspection Report It was moved, seconded and duly carried that the report of the interim inspection conducted on May 13, 2014, by Ms. Joy Strayer, Educational Standards Consultant, of the Larry H. Layton School of Law be received and filed; that registration of the school be continued; and that the next Periodic Inspection be scheduled for the fall of 2018, unless an earlier inspection is found necessary by the Committee. Proposed 2014 – 2015 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the proposed 2014 – 2015 goals for the Subcommittee on Educational Standards be received and filed.
Proposed 2014 – 2015 Subcommittee Goals It was by common consent agreed that the proposed 2014 – 2015 goals for the Subcommittee on Moral Character be received and filed. Adjournment in the Memory of Vicki Cummings, Office of Admissions Staff Member Having concluded all the business scheduled for consideration during the open and closed sessions of the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, in the memory of Office of Admissions Staff Member Vicki Cummings, who had served as a member of the Office of Admissions staff with distinction and dedication for the past 26½ years, and that a record of this action be forwarded to Vicki’s family with the committee’s condolences on their loss.