Director Says Goodbye after 35 Years

Every February and every July, bar member hopefuls set their sights on an examination that determines their future. No more scantrons, no more mid-term tests and no more papers to write. The Oklahoma bar examination has been under the direction of Charlotte Nelson, administrative director of the Board of Bar Examiners, for 35 years. However, that tenure will end later this month as she plans for a well-deserved retirement.

Charlotte entered the legal profession as a legal assistant in Wichita Falls, Texas. Her husband was then transferred to Oklahoma in 1973. Having worked in a law office before, she interviewed with Turner and Turner in downtown Oklahoma City.

“They told me, ‘you could have this job, but we have a job that’s perfect for you. Go to the bar center,’” Charlotte recalled.

So it began. However, she didn’t think for a second that she would occupy this position for more than three decades.

“I really didn’t have time to think about it to be honest. I was here for eight years by myself doing all of it. It was very, very challenging by myself and I didn’t have time to think about looking for other jobs, but fortunately it worked out and I’ve enjoyed it,” she said.

When Charlotte began, she used a typewriter and stapled every application and exam individually by hand.

“I am very grateful and will forever be in debt to technology,” she said.

The Board of Bar Examiners does everything online now, and this streamlined process has made the job much faster.

Mariachi bands, construction trucks, water hazards and a 16,000-member nationwide church group are just a few of the distractions she has dealt with on exam day at the Cox Convention Center.

“I was telling the band and the construction workers they were not going to get in here and it would be over my body before they would. I worried about the 16,000 member church group for a year before the exam got here but it all worked out fine due to the efforts of the event coordinator and security keeping things quiet.”

Thirty-five years is a substantial amount of time anywhere, but Charlotte’s office has not always been in the same place. The entire wing of the Oklahoma Bar Center that houses the Board of Bar Examiners was not there 35 years ago. Evidently, there was not much of a need for that wing because there were only nine people on staff at the bar center when she began.

“There was one general counsel, one secretary of general counsel, no investigators, no CLE director and no communications department. I think what has become of the bar center is pretty neat,” Charlotte said.

Charlotte is responsible for admitting 15,000 bar members during her term as director.

“I don’t really think about the number of people, I just do the job. I still get excited at the admission ceremony and I really get excited for those who pass. One of the greatest feelings is seeing the disabled and what they have accomplished,” she said.

The bar exam has not changed much, according to Charlotte.

“The biggest difference is clearly technology,” she said. “Also, the exam used to be two days of essay format and now it is one day of essay and one day of multi-state and is offered in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Also, back when I started there were very few women taking the bar exam, maybe 10 a year at the most, compared to now where about 60 percent taking the exam are women.”

Over the years, she has faced many challenges, but overall she said, “Getting all of it done and meeting the deadlines, there is always a deadline. Getting the grades, the questions, getting it all entered and ready for the bar results and making sure I don’t leave anyone out. Those have been the biggest challenges.”

Retirement has come difficult for Charlotte.

“I have mixed emotions about retiring. I’m excited about it, excited to be able to be home and spend more time with my husband and family. I’m hoping I don’t get bored but I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to miss all of the people here especially and miss the job too. It has been very fun and I am certainly not counting the days until retirement or anything.”

Charlotte and her husband plan to do what they want without having to worry about getting back for deadlines.

“We’ve had the opportunity to go to places for meetings but never the time to take everything in and enjoy it to the fullest. We have many places that we would like to go back to and hopefully we will get the chance.”

They also plan to spend more time with their kids and grandkids and take better care of themselves.

One thing sticks out in Charlotte’s mind when she looks back at all her years of service: “I surely have enjoyed it,” she said.

Charlotte, it has been an honor and pleasure working with you and we only hope we can do our jobs with the same passion and success that you did yours. Thank you for 35 years of outstanding service and happy retirement.

The Year Charlotte Started…

• President Nixon accused of Watergate cover-up
• Average price for a gallon of gasoline=$0.48
• Billboard Top Hit of 1973: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn
• Supreme Court settles Roe v. Wade
• Sears Tower is completed
• United States & Vietnam sign cease-fire
• “Good Morning America” premiers on ABC
• Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match
• “The Sting” wins Academy Award for best picture
• Pablo Picasso dies in France at 91
• KISS performs their first show
• Dolphins complete only undefeated season in NFL history