The latest Israel Bar Association results tell a clear story: when it comes to preparing future lawyers, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is setting the benchmark. In the winter 2025 sitting, Hebrew University graduates achieved the highest pass rate and the strongest average scores in the country, placing them at the top of Israel’s legal training landscape.
Strong national results – with a clear leader
Nationwide, 2,953 legal interns took the written bar exam in Jerusalem on 23 December 2025, with an overall pass rate of 52.32% and an average score of 59.2. Among first-time candidates, performance was considerably stronger: 67.7% passed, underscoring how much hinges on the quality of undergraduate legal education and internship training.
Within this national picture, university graduates significantly outperformed other groups. Across all Israeli universities, the combined pass rate reached 87.48%, compared with 43.2% among college graduates and just over 10% among those who studied law abroad. Yet even against this strong university cohort, Hebrew University stood out: nearly 95% of its examinees passed, giving it both the highest pass rate and the top average score in the country. [jpost](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-883085)
The Hebrew University at the forefront
The figures show that Hebrew University is not only leading, but doing so by a clear margin. While Bar-Ilan University, the University of Haifa, Reichman University and Tel Aviv University all reported overall pass rates above 80%, only Hebrew University approached the 95% mark. Among first-time examinees, pass rates exceeded 90% at Hebrew University, Bar-Ilan and the University of Haifa, again confirming Hebrew University’s place at the head of the pack. [jpost](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-883085)
These outcomes reflect the strength of the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Law: rigorous academic training, a demanding curriculum, and a strong emphasis on analytical skills and real‑world legal practice. They also point to the added value of high‑quality internships, which the data suggest are closely linked to success in the bar exam. Interns at the State Attorney’s Office, for example, achieved an 85.14% pass rate, compared with 46.64% among those interning in private firms, highlighting how institutional training environments can influence outcomes.
The wider gap: repeat takers and system challenges
Behind the headline numbers lies a stark divide between first-time takers and repeat candidates. While 67.7% of first-time examinees passed, only 28.96% succeeded on their second attempt, and just 10.21% of those sitting the exam for a third time or more passed. This pattern underscores both the difficulty of the exam and the importance of strong preparation from the start – an area where Hebrew University clearly excels.
The disparities between institutions are equally striking. Some colleges, such as the College of Management Academic Studies in Rishon Lezion, reported strong results, with over 82% of candidates passing overall and 86% among first-time takers. Others, including Ono Academic College, Netanya Academic College and the Academic Center for Law and Business, recorded pass rates below 40%, while the Carmel Academic Center in Haifa reported an overall pass rate of under 5%. In this context, Hebrew University’s nearly 95% success rate stands out as an indicator of consistent, system‑wide quality.
Looking ahead: what the results mean
For prospective law students, the winter 2025 bar exam results offer a clear signal. Graduating from a leading university significantly increases the likelihood of passing the bar on the first attempt and entering the profession on solid footing. For policymakers and the wider legal community, the figures also raise questions about equity, support for weaker institutions, and how to better assist repeat examinees who struggle to cross the threshold into the profession.
What is already clear is that the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Law continues to play a central role in shaping Israel’s legal system. With nearly 95% of its graduates passing one of the country’s most demanding professional exams, it remains a powerhouse for training the next generation of judges, advocates, public servants and legal scholars – and a point of pride for supporters and alumni in Israel and around the world.