The State Bar of California recently disclosed that artificial intelligence (AI) technology contributed to the creation of some multiple-choice questions for the February 2025 California bar exam. This revelation follows widespread criticism due to major technical problems that disrupted the exam. Out of 171 scored multiple-choice questions, 100 were developed by Kaplan, a legal education company; 48 were adapted from a first-year law students exam; and 23 were generated by ACS Ventures, a legal technology firm, with AI assistance. Legal educators have expressed concern over the use of AI and non-lawyer input in creating exam content, questioning the fairness and credibility of incorporating AI-generated questions in such a high-stakes licensing exam traditionally crafted by experienced legal experts. Alongside these concerns, the exam faced severe technical difficulties on its online platform. Test takers reported crashes, error messages, and lags that hindered their ability to complete the test smoothly, causing frustration and anxiety while undermining the exam’s integrity and raising doubts about the reliability of the testing infrastructure. In response, the State Bar plans to petition the California Supreme Court to adjust the exam scoring to account for the extraordinary challenges candidates faced due to these disruptions, seeking to ensure fairness for those affected by technical failures beyond their control. Nevertheless, criticism continues over the AI involvement without transparent oversight.

Experts warn that using AI tools without clear guidelines and rigorous review may compromise the exam’s role as a professional licensing gatekeeper, potentially resulting in questions lacking legal nuance and disadvantaging candidates. The combined issues of AI-generated content and technical glitches have intensified doubts about the overall integrity and reliability of the licensing process. Legal educators and practitioners are calling for greater transparency and stricter quality controls, emphasizing the necessity of human expertise to rigorously govern exam content development and maintain the high standards required for legal practice. This announcement has sparked ongoing debate about integrating emerging technologies like AI into professional certification exams. While AI may bring efficiency and innovation, its application in high-stakes legal testing must be carefully managed to preserve fairness, accuracy, and legitimacy. The California bar exam controversy underscores the tension between adopting technological advances and maintaining professional accountability. Moving forward, bar examiners, legal educators, and stakeholders are expected to undertake comprehensive reviews of content development procedures, technology infrastructure, and regulatory policies. These efforts seek to bolster the exam’s resilience against technical failures and to establish clear rules on appropriate AI use in exam settings. As preparation continues for future bar exams, the State Bar of California faces the crucial challenge of restoring confidence among candidates and the legal community. Transparent communication, rigorous oversight, and commitment to upholding strict professional standards will be vital to ensuring the bar exam’s credibility and fairness amid rapid technological change.