“It eliminates some people who really aren’t qualified...”
I respectfully disagree. A person’s own record and work would eliminate them just the same, or better.
Just like the rest of the world’s Trade professions, ie carpenter, framer, graphic designer.
And yes, the art of law is a Trade.
Engineers and doctors take professional exams, as do accountants, and hairdressers. This is normal for professions where the risks are great if the professional screws up, and a written exam can verify that the person has some key concepts thoroughly nailed down, and be able to use it properly.
Yes, a bad attorney will wash out of a job, but not until after he has screwed up somebody’s business, or lost their child custody battle, or cost them their freedom. An exam is a reasonable precaution, under the circumstances.
I will say, though, that, at least back when I was in law school, I learned that Wisconsin does not require a bar exam, if you graduated from one of their state’s law schools. So, in that case, the person’s record and work is standing for them. In all the other states, it’s bar exam + degree + professional responsibility exam. (Except in CA, you can take the bar without a degree, after apprenticing for a few years with a lawyer, but almost nobody does that because lawyers seem not to want the hassle of apprentices.)