May 30, 2006

Law school graduates pass Missouri bar exam

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's law school were perfect in the recent Missouri Bar Examination.

All 14 SIUC law school graduates taking the test in February passed the examination, compared with the statewide average of 79.5 percent. All 13 SIUC law school graduates taking the test for the first time passed, compared with 82 percent of first-time takers statewide.

Law school graduates always do well on Missouri exams, said Dean Peter C. Alexander.

"We are very proud of our alums and we hope that the word will get out that the SIU School of Law is a place that prepares men and women to practice law," Alexander said.

Alexander is also pleased that all first-time bar exam entrants passed.

"That is quite an accomplishment," he said.

The graduates were "well-prepared" by the law school, said assistant professor Suzanne J. Schmitz.

"We are confident they will have successful careers as attorneys," she said.

Offering progressive graduate and professional education that enables students to perform at their optimum level and prepares them for distinguished careers is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.