Testing vendor Meazure Learning has agreed to pay the State Bar of California $5.25 million to settle a lawsuit regarding technical failures during the February 2025 bar exam. As part of the settlement announced Monday, the company will also forfeit an outstanding $1.36 million payment from the state agency. The State Bar of California filed the lawsuit in May 2025, alleging the vendor failed to fulfill its contract to provide a stable remote and in-person testing platform.
The February 2025 exam was impacted by multiple software issues, including login failures, proctoring disruptions, and faulty interface functions. A California State Auditor report released last week found that the administrative failures cost the state bar approximately $5.1 million in direct costs and $4 million in lost revenue from fee waivers and refunds. The audit also noted that the state bar failed to fully verify Meazure Learning's capabilities before signing the $4.1 million contract in 2024.
State Bar General Counsel Ellin Davtyan described the settlement as an appropriate resolution to offset costs related to the exam. A spokesperson for Meazure Learning stated that the company denies any liability or wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid the expense of continued litigation. Following the incident, the agency returned to in-person testing and has recommended adopting the NextGen bar exam for future use starting in 2028.