Rhode Island
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- Rhode Island Supreme Court
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
- Phone Number
- 401-222-3272
- Email Address
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- No
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
- Prelegal Education Requirements
No
- Legal Education Requirements
Must have law degree from a law school accredited by the ABA and approved by the Board.
- 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. Rhode Island intends to administer the NextGen bar exam in July 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
- 5
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 270
- Fee(s)
$975 – first-time takers and repeaters, $1,475 – attorneys
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Optional, allowed for the essay potion of the examination. Must register laptop with ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc. by the registration deadline communicated to applicants after the application deadline
- Laptop Fee
- No
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 2 years
- Score Transfer Fee
- $975 of $1,475 depending on if NCBE character investigation is required.
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 80
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- Within 5 years prior to the application deadline for exam or prior to filing their Petition for Admission on Transferred UBE score
- MPRE Fee
- $160
- 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
There is no public information posted. Information received upon request to ribarexam@courts.ri.gov.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Only one male and one female are permitted to use the restroom at a time. No extra time is given for restroom use.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
Bag search
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
Government photo ID and admission ticket issued by the bar admissions office. Name is the name on record.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Seats are assigned. Applicants are notified of their seat number.