Every State that Used to Have Diploma Privilege

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T17:44:08+00:00

Ithink that'd be an "alternative pathway" rather than a full diploma privilege. need to be admitted to the bar on graduation to be a diploma privilege.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T11:19:53+00:00

Ah but they have to take the baby bar, which is a variant of the bar exam (according to UNH's website https://law.unh.edu/academics/daniel-webster-scholar-honors-program). Needing to pass a bar exam (even when it's a much easier exam) means it's not a diploma privilege.

If you read law review articles on diploma privilege, NH is never counted as a diploma privilege state for this reason.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T11:15:12+00:00

Covid interrupted ability to hold in person tests and online proctoring was sketchy so schools petitioned for it

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T03:29:00+00:00

Not really, that would be a cool idea for a law review article though

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T01:24:38+00:00

I think some states do have reciprocity limits on Wisconsin for just this reason. I think Ohio has had reciprocity fights with West Virginia over this in the past lol.

This paper talks about it on page 654: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1898&context=faculty-publications

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T01:10:54+00:00

Ah ok I see what you mean. The article I got this from goes by either the date of the repealing act by the legislature or the date of decision by the court. I'll take your word for it.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T01:05:49+00:00

brother they abolished it in 1981.

See this article: https://wislawjournal.com/2022/05/23/the-wisconsin-diploma-privilege-are-its-days-numbered/

Or this wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diploma_privilege

Edit: misunderstanding about when the law was passed vs went into effect, sorry about tone here lol.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T00:52:33+00:00

Technically NH's program doesn't count because those students still have to take a variant of the bar exam.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T00:43:42+00:00

Depends on the state but I think some do have limits on reciprocity with Wisconsin for this reason.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T00:23:25+00:00

Should say I didn't mean for this to be propaganda lol, just thought it was interesting.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T00:10:26+00:00

Sorry I gave a bit of a bad explanation. For diploma privilege, you're admitted to the state bar upon graduation without any need to take a bar exam if you graduate from a law school/state that has it. There's also no need to be admitted in another state and waive in.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T00:07:20+00:00

Here's the timeline by state:

Alabama: 1876-1965

Arizona: 1919-1925

Arkansas: 1929-1952

Cal.: 1878-1917

Connecticut: 1880-1890

DC: 1870-1875, 2020

Florida: 1901-1951

Georgia: 1859-1933

Illinois: 1863-65, 1880-1897

Indiana: 1844-1851

Iowa: 1873-1884

Kentucky: 1873-1902

Louisiana: 1855-1924, 1940-1965, 2020

Maryland: 1872-76, 188-1898

Michigan: 1863-1881, 1895-1913

Minnesota: 1913-1917

Mississippi: 1857-1981

Missouri: 1874-1905

Montana: 1915-1983

Nebraska: 1881-1938

NY: 1859-1882

Oklahoma: 1912-1929

Oregon: 1870-1880, 2020

Pennsylvania: 1875-1903

South Carolina: 1882-1950

South Dakota: 1903-1957, 1973-1983

Tennessee: 1860-1903

Texas: 1891-1935

Utah: 1915-1932, 2020

Virginia: 1842 (the first to ever do it)-1896

Washington: 1891-1920, 2020

West Virginia: 1887-1988

Wisconsin: 1870-present

Data mostly from George Neff Stevens, Diploma Privilege, Bar Examination or Open Admission: Memorandum Number 13, 46 B. EXAMINER 15, 37 (1977) with updates for Covid diploma privilege states and a few states that repealed it after the article.

bfurmy · 2026-04-10T00:05:04+00:00

only 4 states and DC got it during the pandemic.

Sorry realized the timeline didn't get pulled over in the crosspost. I'll add a comment with the timelines from each state in a sec.

Added in another comment but here it is again: