College of Law Achieves Second-Highest Bar Exam Pass Rate in Florida

Jacksonville University's College of Law has made an impressive debut in Florida's legal landscape, with its inaugural class achieving a 91.7% pass rate on the July 2025 General Bar Examination - the second-highest rate among all Florida law schools.

The Florida Board of Bar Examiners released results showing JU's first-time test-takers recorded the second-highest pass rate in the state, with their performance significantly exceeding the statewide average of 78.4%.

"This outstanding achievement reflects the exceptional quality of our faculty, the rigor of our curriculum, and most importantly, the dedication and talent of our students," said President Tim Cost. "Our College of Law is already establishing itself as a premier institution that prepares graduates to pass the bar and excel as leaders in Florida's legal community. This latest success demonstrates our commitment to providing comprehensive legal education here in Jacksonville."

The College of Law's journey from concept to bar exam success spans nearly a decade of focused development. The law school officially opened in September 2022 with an inaugural class of students in the VyStar Tower downtown, before moving to its permanent home in the historic former Atlantic Bank building in August 2024.

"The bar examination is a humbling rite of passage for everyone involved and it's gratifying to be in such good company among Florida's law schools," said Nick Allard, the Randall C. Berg Jr. Founding Dean. "We're enormously grateful for the confidence our students, the university, and Jacksonville's legal community have placed in us. We're proud that our students' performance on the bar this year placed us among the top performers and are committed to maintaining excellence as we steadily grow."

In March 2024, the College of Law received provisional ABA accreditation on the fastest possible timeline, positioning the inaugural class to sit for the Florida Bar Examination. The program emphasizes practical skills training alongside traditional legal education, combining rigorous academics with hands-on experience through clinics, externships, and simulation courses designed to prepare graduates for immediate success in legal practice.

This year, the College of Law welcomed its largest class ever and plans to continue building on this success as it prepares future classes of legal professionals to serve Florida and beyond.