The MSU-Detroit College of Law had 87 percent of their first-time applicants pass the Michigan Bar exam in July, the second highest passing rate in the state.
The score is six percent above the state average and is second only to the University of Michigan Law School, which had a 94-percent passing rate.
The Lansing-based Thomas M. Cooley Law School saw 59 percent of its first time test-takers pass.
"I am delighted at the results," DCL Dean Terence Blackburn said. "The faculty and the students have worked hard to improve the bar pass success rate."
The scores were initially released in November and recently finalized after students with scores near the passing mark made their appeals to pass.
A high passing rate enhances a school's image and provides a way for prospective students and alumni to measure a school, said Laurie Schaibly, director of alumni relations for DCL.
MSU English graduate students work with law students to prepare them for the bar's essay questions. Free preparatory classes are offered during spring semester allowing students to take practice tests and learn about areas tested on the exam but typically not taught in the classroom.
"Our goal is to continue to exceed the state average and to exceed that by an increasing margin," Blackburn said.
Cooley President and Dean Don LeDuc is concerned with his students performance.
"Anytime we are under 75 percent you can write me down as concerned," LeDuc said.
In an attempt to increase scores, Cooley students are now required to take a practice examination. Supplementary courses also are being offered to prepare students for the exam.
Lance Werner is one of the 117 first time takers from DCL that passed the July exam.
"I thought it was horrible," he said. "It was awful. Honestly, I felt like someone whacked me in the head with a board.
"I was incoherent almost. It was terrible."
Werner said he has no idea how many hours he spent studying for the exam, but could measure his preparation in the amount of material he used.
"I probably used 20 ball-point pens, 25 to 30 highlighters, countless pencils, mountains of note cards," Werner said. "I answered over 3,500 multiple choice questions practicing for it and about 200 essay questions.
"I just wanted to take it once - I didn't want to put my family through it again."
Now with a two month old son, born the day after Werner discovered he passed the exam, he is pursuing his career in library science at Wayne State University and lending his notebooks to DCL students preparing for the exam.
Passing the test made everything worthwhile, Werner said.
"When you go to law school it is like climbing Mt. Everest and then the bar is reaching the top," he said. "If you don't pass the bar you never really climb the mountain."
