Software headaches adding to bar exam worries

Two business days from the July 2020 bar exam, some Indiana applicants are reporting problems with the software and adding more anxiety that they will not even be able to log on to take the test Tuesday.   

The Indiana bar is conducting the exam remotely, using ILG360 software, because of concerns with bringing everyone together for an in-person exam during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an email to applicants sent earlier this week, the Indiana Board of Law Examiners credited the ILG360 with working many hours to enable the remote exam to take place.

The Indiana Supreme Court acknowledged some problems and confirmed another live trial was being conducted Friday to give the applicants the opportunity to take a test run of the software.

“We are aware of a software complication with the exam that created log-in problems for applicants,” the Supreme Court said. “We apologize to those applicants.”

Thursday, the board suspended the live trials so all the July applicants could install a new update sent by ILG. The board acknowledged several had been experiencing a “significant lag” while doing the live trials using the newest version of the software but the update seemed to correct the problem.

However, when the live trials using the software update resumed Friday, applicants found new issues. Some were reported as having to spend almost 15 minutes repeatedly trying to enter the exam and once they got logged on, the test lagged as they typed their answers. Also, the software kept sending messages to some applicants about problems connecting to the internet.

Some applicants reported calling ILG360 tech support and being sent to voicemail. Of those who were able to reach the help desk, they said they received conflicting information.

Problems have been ongoing, according to some applicants. During a live trial conducted before the latest update, one applicant said the software was causing her two-year-old Mac laptop to sound like a truck and overheat.

According to another applicant, the July test takers are required to submit a waiver releasing ILG 360, the board and the Supreme Court from liability for technical issues. That had be turned in by 4 p.m. Friday in order to sit for the bar on Tuesday.