California State Bar Accepts Audit Findings and Ends Investigation Into Problematic Licensing Exam
San Francisco, Saturday, 8 August 2026.
The State Bar of California accepted all six state audit recommendations following the troubled February 2025 exam, while officially ending its independent internal investigation after finding no further issues.
Regulatory Response and Investigation Closure
On August 7, 2026, the State Bar of California issued a formal response to the California State Auditor’s report, agreeing with all six audit recommendations regarding the February 2025 bar exam administration [1]. This administrative action follows a closed-session approval by the Board of Trustees on August 4, 2026, signaling continued regulatory scrutiny over legal credentialing in the state [1]. While not a partisan political issue, the involved parties include the State Bar of California, the California State Auditor, and the California Supreme Court [1][2]. José Cisneros, State Bar Board Chair, acknowledged the unacceptable experiences exam takers faced during the February 2025 cycle [1].
Internal Investigation Findings
In a letter approved during the August 4 closed session, the Board informed the California Supreme Court that it paused the independent internal investigation during the pendency of the state audit [2]. The Board initially directed the investigation in March 2025 following the problematic exam administration [2]. After careful consideration of the State Auditor’s report, the Board determined that there are no issues that warrant further investigation by an independent investigator [2]. This decision concludes the privileged independent internal investigation into the issues relating to the February 2025 California Bar Exam [2].
Administrative Reforms and Oversight
To address the audit findings, the Office of Admissions has been restructured to separate exam development from exam administration [1]. Two new leadership roles, Chief of Admissions and Director of Exam Development, were created to enforce this separation of duties and improve internal controls [1]. Additionally, the State Bar implemented new vendor oversight protocols, including revisions to the General Procurement Manual to mandate managerial approval for out-of-scope requests [1]. Competitive bidding processes were conducted for administration contracts for the California Bar Exam and other licensing tests to ensure compliance [1].
Litigation and Future Exam Structure
The State Bar is currently engaged in ongoing litigation with Proctor U, Inc., doing business as Meazure Learning, the vendor responsible for the February 2025 bar exam [1]. Despite the litigation, the Board has recommended that the California Supreme Court adopt the NextGen UBE beginning in July 2028 [1]. Updates to the General Procurement Manual are expected to be finalized in the coming months, with an estimated timeframe of September to October 2026 [1]. The Committee of Bar Examiners has also established two new internal oversight bodies: a subcommittee on exam administration and a subcommittee on exam development [1].