In California, the percentage of applicants passing the bar exam rose by 5% despite a magnitude 5.4 earthquake that hit the Los Angeles area and briefly disrupted the first day of the exam.

According to the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners, 61.7% of applicants passed this July’s test, up from 56.1% in July 2007. In New York, 74.7% passed in July, compared with 70.6% the prior year, according to the New York State Board of Law Examiners.