The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law is celebrating the accomplishments of its recent graduates who successfully passed the Utah Bar Exam.

Ninety-two percent of University of Utah law students who took the exam in July passed on their first try, according to newly released statistics from the Utah State Bar.

“We are pleased to celebrate the success of our recent graduates who have passed the bar exam,” said Elizabeth Kronk Warner, dean of the S.J. Quinney College of Law.

“This strong bar passage rate not only reflects the preparation of our students for the exam, but speaks to the high-caliber faculty and staff at the College of Law who are dedicated to helping students achieve their career goals of becoming licensed attorneys throughout the course of students’ legal education,” she added.

Law graduates must pass the bar exam in order to become licensed to practice law in a particular state. Bar exam passage is celebrated as a milestone which officially launches a lawyer’s career, while outcomes of the test also matter for evaluating the quality of law school programs to produce practice-ready attorneys whose skill sets allow them to succeed in a real-world setting upon graduation.

Louisa Heiny, a professor at the College of Law who has worked to mentor students in learning opportunities designed to help better prepare students for the bar, said she’s pleased to see an upward trend in passage rates among U students.

“The exam is an important step as new law graduates move to the next stage of their careers. We are proud of the dedication and determination of our students,” said Heiny.