**Petition for Equal Bar Exam Requirements for All Law Graduates in Wisconsin**

**To: The Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Wisconsin State Bar Association**

**Subject: Request for Equal Bar Exam Requirements for All Law Graduates in Wisconsin**

**Date: Oct 7th,2024**

**We, the undersigned, respectfully submit this petition to request that all law graduates seeking to practice law in the state of Wisconsin be required to sit for the bar exam, regardless of the law school they attended.**

**Background:**

The legal profession is built on the principles of competence, integrity, and public trust. The bar exam serves as a critical measure of a lawyer's knowledge and ability to practice law effectively. However, the current policy in Wisconsin allows graduates from certain law schools, specifically those accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), to practice without taking the bar exam. This policy raises significant concerns regarding the quality and consistency of legal representation in our state.

**Concerns:**

1. **Undermining National Standards:** By exempting graduates from specific law schools from the bar exam, Wisconsin sets a precedent that undermines the rigorous standards upheld by law schools across the country. This creates an impression that Wisconsin law graduates are somehow superior, which is misleading and detrimental to the reputation of legal education nationwide.

2. **Public Confidence:** Clients who invest significant resources in legal representation deserve assurance that their attorneys possess the necessary skills and knowledge to advocate effectively on their behalf. The current exemption may erode public confidence in the legal profession, as it raises questions about the competency of lawyers who have not demonstrated their abilities through the bar exam.

3. **Equity Among Law Schools:** All law schools, regardless of their location or reputation, should be held to the same standards when it comes to licensure. Requiring all graduates to take the bar exam ensures a level playing field and promotes fairness in the legal profession.

4. **Quality of Legal Services:** The bar exam serves as a critical filter to ensure that only those who have demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the law are permitted to practice. By allowing exemptions, we risk compromising the quality of legal services available to the public.

**Request:**

We urge the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Wisconsin State Bar Association to reconsider the current policy and implement a requirement that all law graduates, regardless of their alma mater, must sit for the bar exam to practice law in Wisconsin. This change will enhance the integrity of the legal profession, restore public confidence, and ensure that all attorneys meet the same high standards of competence.

**Conclusion:**

We believe that this change is essential for the future of the legal profession in Wisconsin. We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your favorable consideration of our request. Just for your information there are signatures on this petition from across the country which I feel are relevant to this issue because lawyers at practice and other states education is being questioned and somehow reflects being lower standards than what Wisconsin is therefore this  pertains to all states not just Wisconsin. Due to the fact that Wisconsin is questioning the competency of lawyers across the country.

**Sincerely,**
Kimberly Howell 
2000 Johnston Dr #25
Manitowoc WI 54220
kahowell29@gmail.com