All lawyers must pass this exam, it doesn't matter if you're doing transactional/contract work, or arguing in the court room. There is the famous example of our late President John F. Kennedy's son, JFK Jr. He failed the New York bar exam three times after he graduated law school, it was a big story in the media each time. Poor fellow! :) I don't like the U.S. system. I think it's better to train lawyers in specialized schooling, and then make them work for a few years in an apprenticeship model. Honestly, law school teaches you very little about the actual practice of law. You really can only learn by doing it, same as most professions. I was lucky, because I was already doing legal work (as a paralegal) when I decided to go to law school. Therefore, I knew that I was getting myself into, and the realities of the profession. :)