PONCE, P.R. — Two years after receiving a warning from the American Bar Association (ABA) over admissions practices, the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law has officially returned to full compliance with national accreditation rules.
How the School Got in Trouble
-
May 2023: The ABA’s Council on Legal Education cited the school for falling short of Standard 501, which requires transparent, rigorous admissions policies and limits enrollment to students likely to succeed academically and pass the bar.
-
Key concerns: A relatively low median LSAT of 137 and questions about whether every admitted student could realistically finish the J.D. and become licensed.
The Road to Recovery
Dean Fernando Moreno-Orama says the university pressed “reset” on its admissions process:
| Change | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|
| Holistic admissions | Greater emphasis on personal interviews, writing samples, work history, and community service—especially important after Puerto Rico’s EXADEP graduate‐admission test was phased out in 2020. |
| Bigger recruitment team | More one-on-one counseling for applicants, plus outreach beyond the island to attract strong bilingual candidates. |
| Data-driven tracking | Admissions and academic-support staff now monitor LSAT/GPA bands linked to first-year performance and early bar-prep outcomes. |
Result: The ABA’s May 2025 memo concluded the school now “meets the requirements” of Standards 501(a) and 501(b).
Bar Exam Hurdle Remains
While the admissions fix is a win, Standard 316 looms large: every law school must show that 75 percent of its graduates pass a bar exam within two years. Pontifical’s most recent figure (Class of 2022) was 62.03 percent, below the threshold.
“Our 2023 cohort is already above 80 percent and we will report that to the ABA in early 2026,” Dean Moreno-Orama told the ABA Journal.
Also Read – Englewood High School Gets $330K in Safety Improvements
Collaborating with the Bench
The school has partnered with the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico to study potential reforms to the commonwealth’s licensing process, which historically posts some of the lowest passage rates among all 56 U.S. jurisdictions tracked by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
A Quick Primer: Why Puerto Rico’s Bar Pass Rate Is Tough
-
Bilingual exam: Parts of the test appear in both Spanish and English, demanding high proficiency in legal terminology in two languages.
-
Civil-law tradition: Puerto Rico’s legal system blends U.S. common law with Spanish civil law, so candidates must master doctrines unique to the island.
-
Limited commercial prep options: Fewer large bar-prep companies operate locally, prompting many students to rely on faculty-run boot camps or home-grown study groups.
What’s Next?
-
More scholarships for high-LSAT applicants to lift incoming credentials.
-
Expanded academic-support workshops starting first semester, rather than waiting until bar-prep season.
-
Cross-registration agreements with mainland law schools for summer courses in federal practice, aiming to broaden graduates’ career prospects.
With admissions back on solid footing and a bar-pass turnaround under way, Pontifical’s law school hopes its next chapter will highlight not only compliance—but leadership—within Puerto Rico’s legal community.
