Opinion
11-19-2020
IN RE ADMINISTRATION OF REMOTE FEBRUARY 23 AND 24, 2021 OHIO BAR EXAMINATION AND COURTESY SEATING Administrative Actions
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor of Ohio issued Executive Order 2020-01D and declared a state of emergency in Ohio in response to COVID-19;
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization publicly characterized COVID-19 as a global "pandemic" requiring "urgent and aggressive action" to control the spread of COVID-19;
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a National Emergency;
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2020, the Court issued the order entitled "In re July 2020 Bar Examination and Expansion of Practice Pending Admission during the Admission to the Practice of Law Process," which, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed the July 2020 Ohio Bar Examination ("exam") to September 9 and 10, 2020 ("September") and temporarily expanded practice pending admission ( Gov.Bar R. I(19) ) to allow recent law-school graduates to apply to the Court for temporary supervised practice, if enumerated eligibility requirements are met;
WHEREAS, on July 22, 2020, the Court issued the order entitled "In re Postponement of In-person September 9-10, 2020 Ohio Bar Examination and Administration of Remote October 5-6, 2020 Ohio Bar Examination; Deadlines; Practice Pending Admission" which, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed the September 2020 Ohio Bar Examination ("exam") to October 5 and 6, 2020 ("October"), temporarily expanded practice pending admission (Gov.Bar R.I(19)) to allow recent graduates to apply to the Court for temporary supervised practice, if enumerated eligibility requirements are met, authorized entering into memoranda of understanding for reciprocity with other remote jurisdictions, and provided for application withdrawals, exam transfers, and fee refunds under certain circumstances;
NOW THEREFORE, the Court hereby orders the following:
(A) In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and for vital safety, logistical, and planning considerations concerning the administration of the exam, a remote exam shall be administered on February 23 and 24, 2021 ("February") using the uniformbar-examination questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which shall satisfy the examination requirement of Gov.Bar R. I(5). (B) Applicants who currently have applications pending to sit for the February exam may either withdraw their exam application and have their fees refunded or they may transfer their exam application to the July 2021 exam. Applicants will make this election by e-mail to the Office of Bar Admissions. The deadline for applicants to make this election is December 10, 2020.
(C) If an applicant with recent-graduate-practicing-pending-admission status opts to transfer to the July 2021 exam, their temporary authority to practice law in Ohio shall terminate on the day they withdraw their application, the day they transfer their application, or for any of the other termination events outlined in the Court's previous orders, whichever terminating event occurs first.
(D) If an applicant achieved a passing Ohio score on the October Ohio remote bar examination, they may file an application to sit for Ohio's February remote uniform-bar examination and will not be charged a late fee. The deadline for applicants to make this election is December 10, 2020.
All other requirements for application and admission to the practice of law in the State of Ohio remain in effect.