Georgia State Law Holds the No.1 Bar Passage for First-Timers

ATLANTA — Georgia State University College of Law now has the highest bar passage rate for first-time test takers in the state of Georgia.

Twenty-four Georgia State Law graduates sat for the February 2026 bar examination and 21 passed the bar exam on their first attempt, resulting in an 87.5 percent pass rate according to the 2026 Georgia Bar Examination statistics.

Overall, Georgia State Law had a total of 49 applicants who took the bar exam in February, with 31 passing the exam at 63.3 percent.

“There is no silver bullet for bar preparation. Strong performance comes from strong preparation. Our students succeed because they’re grounded in a solid faculty‑built foundation, supported through bar preparation courses, guided by individualized bar coaching, and strengthened by ‘Pounce the Bar’ programming—including our Supplemental Writing Program—to carry them confidently across the finish line,” said Professor Tia Gibbs, director of academic advisement and Bar Success at Georgia State Law.

The College of Law has displayed steady, consistent progress over the last few years. In July 2025, the college sat at 87.3 percent for first timers who passed the bar exam. Now, they are leading the way for law schools in the state of Georgia.

Amber Reese (J.D. ’25) passed the February 2026 bar exam and used several tactics to prepare including Themis Bar Prep, the Adaptibar MBE practice questions and JD Advising supplements.

“…Exam simulations and the Supplemental Writing Program conducted by Professor Gibbs [were most helpful],” said Reese, who advises graduates to start studying as early as possible for the bar and to find creative ways to memorize the materials — other than rewrites and flashcards.

Reese also noted that Georgia State Law’s faculty played a major part in this feat.

“Everyone was super supportive and always gave encouraging words, tips and strategies. I give most of the credit to Professor Gibbs, as I felt like she had my back and held my hand through the entire process. I am forever grateful.”

The College of Law is known for focusing heavily on bar preparation for its law students, dedicating programming and countless resources to render a successful outcome. In 2023, Professor Gibbs launched “Pounce the Bar,” a robust bar preparation program that offers law students programming opportunities and support to study and practice for the bar exam and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). Professor Gibbs started a fundraising campaign in fall 2025 to financially support graduates preparing for the bar exam using crowdfunding. If you would like to support a Georgia State Law graduate student on their journey to take the bar exam click the link for more information: https://impact.gsu.edu/project/49601.