District of Columbia
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
Committee on Admissions
- Phone Number
- 202-879-2710
- Email Address
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- Yes
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
- Prelegal Education Requirements
No
- Legal Education Requirements
Must be a JD or LLB graduates of ABA-approved law school or a graduates of non-ABA-approved out-of-state law school that completed at least 26 semester hours of study in subjects tested on the bar exam in a law school that at the time of such study was ABA-approved are also eligible. Foreign law school graduates with 5 years of good standing in another US state or territory or that completed at least 26 semester hours of study in a law school that at the time of such study was ABA-approved are also eligible.
- Mandatory Law Student Bar Card Registration in Jurisdiction
- No
- Mandatory Student Registration Requirements (if applicable)
N/A
- Mandatory Student Registration Fee (if applicable)
- N/A
Bar Exam
- Universal Bar Exam
- Yes. The District of Columbia intends to first administer the NextGen bar exam in February 2028.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- No
- Multistate Bar Exam
- Yes
- Multistate Essay Exam
- Yes
- Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
- No
- Multistate Performance Test
- Yes
- Attempt Limit on Bar Exam
- 4
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 266
- Fee(s)
$405 + additional NCBE Investigation fee + laptop fee
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Required for essay responses. Applicants who wish to handwrite must submit a request.
- Laptop Fee
- $150
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- Generally no.
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes, if (a) the combined UBE scaled score (1) is not less than 266, (2) was attained within the prior 5 years, (3) was attained by taking the UBE no more than 4 times, and (b) there is an MPRE with the required score.
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 5 years
- Score Transfer Fee
- $418 (plus NCBE report fee)
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 75
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- No
- MPRE Fee
- Fee established by NCBE
- MPRE Application Name and Gender Identification Requirements
The MPRE application requires the first and last name to match exactly as listed on valid government-issued photo identification. If the applicant indicates they have been known by a different name, they must list the first name and last name or surname and does not have the option to explain the reason for the name change. The demographic information section asks, “[w]which of the following questions best represents your gender identity?” and provides the following options: “man,” “woman,” “non-binary,” “gender not listed here (please specify),” and “I prefer not to have my response used for research purposes.”
- MPRE Testing Day Procedures
An applicant testing at a Pearson VUE testing center must present a government-issued primary ID and a secondary ID. The primary ID must include a first and last name, recent recognizable photo, and signature. The secondary ID must include at least a first and last name and signature or first and last name and recent recognizable photo. The first and last name used to register must match exactly both IDs presented on test day. Any name corrections must be submitted through the NCBE Account Dashboard at least 48 hours before the first day of the test administration. Before entering the test room, Pearson VUE will collect a digital photograph and digital signature to verify identity. The applicant must consent to the NCBE Candidate Rules Agreement, which in part requires that if the applicant uses the restroom during testing, they must use “the restroom that is closest to the testing room” and pat themselves down (arms, legs, waistline) when leaving and re-entering the testing room. Applicants must also pat themselves down before entering the test room for the first time.
Testing Day Procedures
- Bar Exam Testing Day Procedures
Limited information is available.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Staff said bathroom access varies by location.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
No specific information is publicly posted. Staff said metal detectors are used at some locations. Applicants carry plastic bags so the bag search is fairly limited to ensuring the integrity of the exam is preserved.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
Applicants must present a valid government-issued ID that contains a recent, recognizable photo, first and last name, and date of birth.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Seat Tickets listing applicant name function as Exam ID/ Applicant ID/ Seat Numbers. Seating is randomized.