A SMALLER THAN USUAL group - 38 new admittees - was sworn in at the May 19, 2003, swearing-in, 20 fewer than the swearing-in held at the same time last year.

This group also survived a particularly bruising Bar exam - the 53 percent passing rate was one of the lowest passing rates in recent years (see chart).

According to Frederick J. Coolbroth, chair of the NH Board of Bar Examiners, most of the unsuccessful test-takers stumbled on the Multi-State exam. The Multi-State exam was particularly notable this year because an error in scoring it required the Bar Examiners to reexamine the scores of a number of candidates with borderline failing scores. After recalculation, one additional candidate was added to the swearing-in list for May 19.

The number of candidates for the Bar also may be lower due to anticipation of the new admission-by-motion process, which became effective March 1, 2003. One attorney had the luck - and the ready paperwork - to complete his application for admission on motion in time for the May swearing-in. Edward J. Marder, a military retiree who has been a lawyer for the past 17 years, had relocated to Lebanon, NH, last year and had just completed the process for gaining admission to the Vermont Bar when New Hampshire's new rule took effect. Marder, who has a particular interest in municipal labor law, has joined the Gardner, Fulton & Waugh firm in Lebanon.

Some facts & figures on the latest group:

• 20 women, 18 men
• 22 are licensed to practice in at least one other state.
• 10 are working for established New Hampshire law firms; six are with Massachusetts law firms.
• Three are court clerks, three have in-house corporate positions (one in NH, two in Mass.), and six (one in NH) are in government positions. Two are assistant county prosecutors in New Hampshire.
• Two have their own law offices.
• Five New Hampshire residents indicated that they do not yet have jobs practicing law.
• 20 have obtained their law degrees within the past year, and another 10 graduated in 2001.

Suffolk Law predominated, with eight graduates, followed by Franklin Pierce Law Center with seven, and Massachusetts School of Law with five graduates.

February 2003 - 53 percent

July 2002 - 62.7 percent

February 2002 - 55.9 percent

July 2001 - 63.3 percent

February 2001 - 69.5 percent

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