After countless all-nighters spend pouring over law books, endless study sessions and doubtlessly some sleepless nights spent tossing and turning in anticipation of today, the waiting is over for the latest batch of prospective attorneys to be minted in New York State.

This morning the New York State Board of Law Examiners releases the bar examination results for the 3,881 candidates who took the test February 22 and 23rd. Preliminary data released by the board indicates that less than half of those taking the test passed (48 percent). This number includes both domestic-educated and foreign-educated candidates, and also includes first-time test takers as well as repeat testers.

Overall, graduates of American Bar Association approved law schools taking the examination for the first time fared considerably better, with 76 percent passing the exam.

Both of those numbers represent declines in the passing rate when compared to the February 2010 examination. At that time, 4,031 candidates took the test, the largest number ever for a February examination. Of those, 80.5 percent of students from ABA-approved law schools passed the exam, with the overall passing rate coming in at 50 percent.

To see the complete list of candidates who passed the February 2011 exam, visit www.nybarexam.org