Bar Examination Editor

Title: Bar Examination Editor

Location: FL, IA, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK, PA, WA, and WI Remote

Department: Assessment Development

Job Description:

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing a competent, ethical, and diverse legal profession. We develop and deliver high-quality assessment products, services, and research that support state courts and licensing authorities in evaluating the readiness of aspiring lawyers.

NCBE is committed to fostering a collaborative, mission-driven environment with competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, flexible scheduling, and professional development opportunities. NCBE’s headquarters is based in Madison, Wisconsin, a dynamic community with exceptional amenities.

The Bar Examination Editor works with legal subject matter experts (e.g., law school faculty, judges, and practicing attorneys) from around the country to develop content for NCBE’s high-stakes, legal licensure exams and study aids for those examinations. The Bar Examination Editor is responsible for final content of assigned NCBE examinations in particular content areas and must complete the assigned work within the exam development and production cycles. Attention to detail and participating in a multifaceted quality-control process are critical for success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides item-writing assignments to subject matter experts who draft items in assigned content areas for specific examinations.
• Edits submitted items, with particular attention to substantive accuracy, clarity, appropriateness to entry-level practice of law, fairness, and bias. Confirms authorities supporting the correctness of answers and verifies the detailed specifications of items.
• Collaborates with other Bar Examination Editors to further edit items in other content areas and for other examinations as needed. For short-answer and essay examinations, drafts and edits model answers and grading materials and verifies authorities supporting those materials.
• Assists as needed in developing additional item types and specifications for new NCBE examinations.
• Provides ongoing training to subject matter experts in accordance with established style guides and content specifications.
•  Promotes positive working relationships with subject matter experts.
• Manages the item-writing and review cycles for subject matter experts and other external review experts. This includes assessing the status of the item bank and identifying areas where more items are needed.
• Participates in projects to increase the item bank, including creating new items for review and revision by subject matter experts.
• Selects groups of items for upcoming exams in compliance with current content specifications and as approved by the department leadership, research staff, and subject matter experts.
• Assists with reviewing item placement on exams and other quality-control tasks.
• Demonstrates an understanding of performance statistics for tested items.
• Follows security and quality-control protocols and ensures that subject matter experts are aware of security protocols.
• Participates as the staff representative at off-site, multi-day meetings with subject matter experts.
• Attends grading events, policy committee meetings, and/or other NCBE events.
• Coordinates creation and review of new study aids and conducts periodic reviews of existing NCBE study aids.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

• Graduate of an ABA-approved law school and admitted to the bar in at least one jurisdiction.
• Experience in law practice or law clerking is preferred.
• Demonstrated writing and editing skill.
• 2+ years of legal editing experience required.
• Proofreading experience is preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Word and Excel, Chicago Manual of Style, and AP style guidelines.
• High level of organizational and time management skills.

 

The Bar Examination Editor may work remotely. NCBE will consider applicants from the following states: FL, IA, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK, PA, WA, and WI.

Mission

NCBE promotes fairness, integrity, and best practices in admission to the legal profession for the benefit and protection of the public. We serve admission authorities, courts, the legal education community, and candidates by providing high-quality

• assessment products, services, and research;
• character investigations; and
• informational and educational resources and programs.