Hebrew University Leads June 2026 Israeli Bar Exam Pass Rates with 60.86% First-Time Success
The results of the Israeli Bar Association's June 2026 certification exams were released on Thursday, revealing a 60.86% pass rate among first-time candidates and an overall pass rate of approximately 42%. Out of 2,919 examinees, 1,243 successfully passed the exam. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem again topped the list for highest first-time pass rates at 91.82%, followed by Tel Aviv University, University of Haifa, Bar-Ilan University, and the College of Management, which notably rose to fifth place for first-time passers and fourth overall.
Statistics from the Bar Association show that candidates taking the exam for the first time have the highest chance of passing, while those attempting it for the third time or more have only about a 6.32% success rate. The June 2026 pass rates are lower compared to the summer 2025 exam, which had a 77.8% first-time pass rate and an overall 59.4% pass rate among interns. December 2024 was one of the toughest exam sessions in recent years, with less than a third passing and a lowered passing score from 60 to 56, approved by Justice Minister Yariv Levin due to low average scores.
In terms of overall pass rates by academic institution, Hebrew University leads again with 89.66%, followed by Tel Aviv University at 82.66%, Bar-Ilan University at 76.77%, and the College of Management at 74.07%. At the lower end are Netanya Academic College (32.12%), Ono Academic College (28.14%), and Safed Academic College (47%).
The Bar Association also highlighted the correlation between internship placement and exam success. Interns at the State Attorney's Office have the highest pass rate at 79.02%, followed by military prosecution interns and police interns at 54.76%. Private sector interns have a significantly lower pass rate of 37.40%, and judicial interns pass at 49.43%. However, the private sector is large and diverse, with top law firms showing much higher pass rates comparable to the prosecution.
These results provide insight into the competitive landscape of legal certification in Israel and the varying success rates tied to academic background and internship environment.
