ProctorU Settled California Bar Exam Lawsuit

Test takers reached a $1.35 million agreement following widespread software malfunctions during the February 2025 exam.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a stark, monolithic column silhouette in navy and cream, evoking institutional legal accountability. — A $1.35 million settlement has been reached with ProctorU after software malfunctions disrupted the February 2025 California bar exam for 4,100 test takers. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A class-action settlement of $1.35 million has been reached with ProctorU after test takers faced severe software glitches during the February 2025 California bar exam. The 4,100 settlement class members will receive payouts starting at $153 each to cover laptop fees.

Why it matters

The lawsuit arose after students alleged the company knowingly deployed malfunctioning software that caused windows to crash and answers to be lost during the high-stakes test. This resolution provides financial recourse for those whose testing environment was compromised by the technical failures.

The settlement agreement total is $1.35 million, with each of the 4,100 class members eligible for at least $153. A preliminary hearing to consider the agreement is scheduled for January 7, 2027.

The players

ProctorU

This is a proctoring service company that provides remote examination oversight software for various academic and professional testing organizations.

State Bar of California

This organization is responsible for regulating the legal profession and administering the bar examination process for the state of California.

Jon S. Tigar

He serves as a judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

The details

Plaintiffs claimed that ProctorU was aware of software glitches weeks before the February 2025 exam but failed to rectify them, leading to disrupted testing experiences. The settlement proceeds will be distributed evenly among the affected test takers after accounting for necessary legal fees and costs.

Test takers sat for the bar exam in February 2025.
Parties revealed the settlement accord in a briefing in August 2026.
The case was formally filed on September 18, 2026.
Judge Jon S. Tigar will consider the agreement at a hearing on January 7, 2027.

Legal Context

This settlement follows a previous $5.25 million agreement reached between the State Bar of California and ProctorU regarding similar technical failures. The legal proceedings highlight the ongoing scrutiny of remote proctoring platforms in high-stakes professional licensing exams.

Eligible test takers can expect to receive at least $153 in compensation to cover laptop fees incurred during the botched exam. The ongoing court supervision ensures that the settlement funds will be verified and distributed to the affected class members.

The takeaway

This case underscores the financial risks companies face when technology failures compromise high-stakes professional assessments. Affected test takers should monitor court updates to track the official distribution timeline for their settlement payouts.