I read with great interest the article regarding the City Bar’s proposal that the Court of Appeals either adopt the national online multiple-choice examination offered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) for October 2020 or grant a permanent diploma privilege to admit all 2020 graduates of ABA-accredited law schools who meet all other qualifications for admission (NYLJ July 17, 2020). I have also read the City Bar’s letter in which it justifies its proposals in light of the unprecedented challenges facing recent graduates. I was surprised that it did not consider the possibility of a practice order permitting 2020 graduates to practice under the guidance and supervision of an attorney until such time as an in-person exam may safely be given.

I have great sympathy and compassion for recent graduates and appreciate the considerable stress and pressures they are under. Indeed, I recently spearheaded a resolution adopted by the New York State Bar Association on July 14, 2020, calling for an extension of student loan deferments to September 2021. I empathize with the plight of recent law graduates, and I believe that the City Bar’s suggestion that under current circumstances the NCBE online exam should be adopted needs careful consideration. However, the alternative proposal for diploma privilege is deeply flawed, misguided and should not be considered.