Law deans in New York are pushing back against the plan to reschedule the July bar exam for early September in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing concerns that the exam may not be possible for public health reasons and that any delay in licensing new lawyers will harm graduating law students.

An April 1 letter to Chief Judge Janet DiFiore of the New York State Court of Appeals signed by the deans of all 15 of the state’s American Bar Association-accredited law schools urges the court to adopt a system whereby 2020 law graduates would be able to practice for up to 18 months under the supervision of a licensed attorney.