In February 2025, California held its first bar exam delivered both in person and online. The rollout was troubled. Some test takers reported being unable to log in, while others experienced computer crashes and technical glitches that disrupted their exams.
These problems were serious enough that seven test takers sued Meazure Learning, the company contracted to administer the exam. Meazure Learning is also known as ProctorU. The plaintiffs claimed the company failed to properly run the test and violated California consumer protection laws. They also alleged negligent infliction of emotional distress and unjust enrichment—the idea that Meazure Learning profited unfairly from a failed service.
Meazure Learning tried to dismiss the case early. The company argued that its testing software was an "intangible item" and therefore not covered under California's consumer protection laws, which typically apply to goods and services. The company also claimed it had not entered into a contract directly with bar takers. These arguments did not fully succeed in blocking the case from moving forward.
On August 11, 2026, a federal court filing announced that the two sides had reached a preliminary settlement. The attorneys representing the seven plaintiffs did not disclose what the settlement terms would be. They said those specific details would be filed with the court by September 11, 2026. Neither Meazure Learning nor the plaintiffs' attorneys responded immediately to requests for comment on the announcement.
This is not the first legal action over the failed exam. The State Bar of California itself sued Meazure Learning over the same February 2025 technical problems. In July 2026, that separate case settled. Under that agreement, Meazure Learning agreed to pay the state bar 5.25 million dollars. Additionally, the company gave up a claim for 1.36 million dollars that the state still owed them. This settlement showed that the technical failures were serious enough to trigger significant financial consequences for the testing vendor.
For test takers affected by the technical failures, the class action settlement may offer some compensation or remedy, though the details remain unknown for now. The bar exam is a major hurdle for new lawyers, and technical problems that prevent fair testing can have real consequences for people's careers and livelihoods. Many graduates depend on passing the exam to begin their legal careers and start earning income. When technology fails at such a critical moment, it can delay that path and create real hardship for those who invested years in law school.
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