Atlanta, November 9, 2020 –In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Supreme Court of Georgia has decided for a second time to replace an in-person Georgia Bar examination with an online test that will be offered remotely on Feb. 23 and 24, 2021. Chief Justice Harold D. Melton made the announcement today and said that registration will open tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10. Passage of the bar exam is required for licensure to practice law in Georgia.
The first virtual test was given in Georgia on Oct. 5 and 6, at which time 1,325 applicants completed the exam. Nationwide, approximately 30,000 people took an online test on Oct. 5 and 6, as other states similarly switched from an in-person bar exam to an online test due to public health concerns during the pandemic.
“In light of the continuing threat of COVID-19, and following the successful remote examination last month, we are convinced this is a reasonable and safe alternative,” Chief Justice Melton said Monday. “Our experience from the October exam will help us further improve the exam and the testing experience, and I am confident the process will go smoothly.”