Carolina Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer UpdatesNorth Carolina’s current bar examination does not specifically test North Carolina law. Lawyers admitted before 2019, and perhaps some clients too, could be forgiven for responding with a bit of surprise. Wait, what?
Graduates of North Carolina law schools may very well have studied and been tested on North Carolina law, and every lawyer should be competent in the law governing a matter they undertake for representation.
Yet, without wishing to seem unkind, it bears pointing out that the present testing and licensure process does not establish a demonstrated knowledge base in North Carolina law. A lawyer educated outside North Carolina can pass the bar exam without ever being required to study or be tested on North Carolina statutes, appellate decisions, evidence, procedure, or other state-specific law.