Third Maldives’ Bar Exam Solidifies the Standard of Admission to the Legal Profession

On October 12, 2024, the Bar Council of Maldives (BCM) successfully administered the third bar exam, which is one of the two essential requirements to become licensed to practice as a lawyer in the Maldives under the Legal Profession Act (LPA). A total of 505 candidates have now sat the exam, since its introduction in 2022. The third round of exams signifies the institutionalization of the bar exam and increased local capacity to develop and administer exams.

Established in June 2019, the BCM has a broad mandate under the LPA including developing and administering the bar exam and licensing lawyers – a crucial benchmark for evaluating a law graduate's preparedness to practice, thereby instituting a foundational standard for entry into the legal profession. As a newly established independent institution, BCM was stymied by insufficient financial and human resources and was at a crossroads as to how to create a bar examination that met international standards within the statutory deadline. The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) was able to provide support to the BCM to develop and administer the inaugural and subsequent bar exams under the USAID-funded Strong and Inclusive Maldivian Democracy program.

Building on the results of previous programs in Maldives, in August 2020, ABA ROLI began the Strong and Inclusive Maldivian Democracy (SIMD) Program. In partnership with the USAID Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (USAID/CEPPS), ABA ROLI’s component of the SIMD Program works to increase the efficiency and responsiveness of the Maldivian justice sector. ABA ROLI implements SIMD in partnership with local organizations including the Bar Council of the Maldives, Public Interest Law Center, and governmental and independent institutions.

ABA ROLI contracted with Kaplan, a professional licensing exam developer, to develop and edit exam questions, train question writers, run a feasibility study and assess the results of the exam. In February 2022, ABA ROLI also organized a study visit for BCM staff to receive in-person training on exam administration in Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois where they observed the bar exam. To help students prepare for the exam, BCM also prepared additional exam revision materials. The first bar exam administered on November 19, 2022, was implemented by staff who were trained by ABA ROLI for key roles including Chief Examiner, Chief of Operations, and Chief Invigilator. Psychometric analysis of the exam data shows that the first Maldives bar exam reached international best practice standards based on key statistical quality indicators for a new licensing exam. Recognizing the first bar exam as one that meets rigorous international standards and as a model for international cooperation, in 2023, BCM was invited to speak about exam administration at the Annual Bar Admissions Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, alongside the international community of legal profession regulators recognizes the exam.

Since then, BCM has successfully administered three bar exams highlighting BCM’s growing self-sufficiency, as it develops the examination process with minimal reliance on external support from ABA ROLI or other donors. Notably, the third bar exam, conducted on October 12, was developed locally and funded through previous years exam fees. This transition marks a significant advancement toward the institutionalization of the bar exam as a key mechanism for regulating the legal profession in the Maldives. BCM has continuously adhered to the practices learned in the first exam including conducting a comprehensive operational feasibility study aimed at streamlining key exam-day procedures, and training invigilators.

The BCM is now working on developing the fourth bar exam. Candidates who pass the exam will become part of a new generation of qualified and capable young lawyers, who can protect citizens' rights, uphold the rule of law, and hold government accountable. It also provides an opportunity for BCM to gain recognition as a bar that adheres to professional standards and international best practices.