During the New York State Bar Examination at Hofstra University, a Fordham Law graduate experienced cardiac arrest shortly before the lunch break. According to The New York Post, the exam, attended by nearly a thousand law graduates, continued without interruption. The incident has led to responses from attendees and others in the legal education community.
Several students, all law graduates, witnessed the woman collapse from her chair and experience a medical emergency inside Hofstra’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Hofstra public safety officers responded promptly, administering CPR and using a defibrillator until paramedics arrived and transported her to a hospital. Her condition was not immediately disclosed. As reported by ABC7NY, students at the scene appeared visibly affected by the incident, with one individual reporting they were instructed to step over her on their way to lunch.
The New York State Board of Law Examiners, which oversees the exam, defended the decision not to pause the test, telling ABC7NY, "This event occurred only a few minutes before the scheduled end of the exam session," and stated that staff responded quickly once the situation was recognized. However, this account contrasts with statements from examinees, including one student named Isaac, who said it took more than seven or eight minutes before CPR was administered.
In response to the incident, several law students described feeling unsettled by how the situation was handled. According to Isaac, a witness who spoke with ABC7NY, a proctor told students to "shut up, and continue with the exam." Some students became emotional, with reports of individuals in tears, while others were asked to adjust their seating to allow access for first responders. Despite the disruption, examinees returned after lunch to complete the day’s testing.
Following the incident, Hofstra Law professor Nicole Lefton offered support to students, acknowledging in an email the potential distress caused by the event, as per report by The New York Post. While she did not share medical details, citing confidentiality, the message recognized the possible impact on those who witnessed the situation directly.
