Law students at UMKC are not just passing their exams—they’re setting new records and raising the bar for academic excellence.
Nearly 90.6% of law students passed the bar exam for the first time in 2024, a number 9% higher than last year and 5% higher than the average pass rate in Missouri.
Dean Lumen “Lou” Mulligan of the School of Law attributes the outstanding number to his students’ and faculty’s relentless drive for success.
“Those are real human beings. They are my students. What these statistics mean is that they’re able to get into their careers and build the new life they’ve been dreaming of now instead of waiting,” said Mulligan.
The bar exam is the final step to becoming a licensed attorney in the United States.
International law student Ali Quintanillo’s journey to becoming a lawyer has been anything but straightforward.
Originally from Venezuela, she had already become a practicing lawyer in both Venezuela and Mexico before she found herself in Kansas City, pursuing a Master of Laws at UMKC.
Her path to law wasn’t just shaped by the rigorous exams and challenges that came with the legal profession; it was also influenced by her experience in different legal systems.
“The biggest difference is the law itself. In Venezuela and Mexico, we follow civil law, which is derived from Roman law,” Quintanillo said. “We don’t rely on precedent the way you do here in the U.S. It’s about applying the law directly to the facts of a case.”
After passing the bar exam in both South and North America, Quintanillo has some advice for UMKC law students.
“Just study, study, and study, because this is the only way that you can be a good lawyer,” she said. “Do your best for your clients and be a good person in the world, we have to approach our opportunities and give something to the world.”
Law students often have to purchase a commercial bar program that costs thousands of dollars on top of their tuition. To counter their financial stress, UMKC partnered with nonprofit organization Helix, which provides students with bar prep material without a price tag.
“Before last year, Helix was one of the programs that you could sign up and pay for, but it wasn’t included as part of your tuition at UMKC,” said UMKC law student John View. “So this is a very big deal for law students who are trying to escape with less debt.”
Professor Wanda Temm has been instrumental in the bar prep program, having written the leading textbook on bar exam preparation. She said that the program relies on alumni support and believes it will continue to grow in the future because success begets success.
“The law school really supports our students,” she said. “We want our students to feel completely supported and protected as they head, fully-equipped, into the exam.”
The School of Law is also launching a new masters degree in August 2025 for those considering a career path in a law-adjacent field such as human resources, compliance, or insurance. Dean Mulligan encouraged people to visit and talk with their faculty if they are interested in learning more.
