Maryland
Overview
- Admitting Entity (Supreme Court, Mandatory Bar, etc.)
- Maryland Court of Appeals
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
- [State] Application Materials
- Are law students required to register with jurisdiction while in law school?
- No
- If UBE, is there a Jurisdiction Component?
- Yes
- Multistate Bar Exam?
- N/A
- Multistate Essay Exam?
- N/A
- Is exam jurisdiction-drafted?
- N/A
- Multistate Performance Test?
- N/A
- Does the jurisdiction provide information on day of testing procedures?
Information is provided.
- What are the restroom use rules of the admitting entity?
Administrative staff indicated that bathroom usage is whatever is available at the facility, which might include a single use family bathroom.
General
- Phone Number
- 410-260-3640
- Email Address
- Diploma Privilege
No
- Prelegal education requirements
Yes; must have completed prelegal education necessary to meet the minimum requirements for admission to an ABA-approved law school.
- Legal education requirements
Must have graduated with a JD or equivalent from an ABA-approved law school. Waivers may be available to applicants admitted to the Bar of another U.S. jurisdiction or who completed their first legal degree in a non-U.S. jurisdiction and completed an additional legal degree (LLM) at an ABA-approved U.S. law school.
- Registration requirements, if applicable.
N/A
- Registration fee, if applicable.
- N/A
- Limit on attempts?
- No limit
- Fee(s)
$400
- Are laptops allowed/required?
- Allowed; must file intent to use laptop and pay fee to vendor
- Laptop fee?
- $130-$180
- Is courtesy seating allowed?
- No
- Transfer fee?
- $400
- Day-of Testing 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.
- What security measures can applicants expect? Metal detectors? Bag search?
There are no bag searches or metal detectors. All bags must be left outside of the examination area.
Eligibility
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- Yes (Admission Without Examination for Experienced Out-of-State Attorneys)
- UBE Exam?
- Yes. Maryland intends to first administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2026.
- Minimum passing score?
- 266
- Can exam score be transferred?
- Yes
- Can only UBE scores be transferred?
- Yes
- Is there a time limit for accepting transferred scores?
- 3 years
- Is MPRE required?
- Yes
- Minimum passing score
- 85
- Is there a time period in which the MPRE score must be earned?
- Not more than 3 years prior to the date when applicant files a Notice of Intent to Take the UBE in Maryland
- MPRE fee
- $160
Requirements
- Application Name and Gender Identification
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.”
- What identifying documents do applicants need on test days and what name is required to be on that ID (as related to the name on the application for admission)?
Applicants are required to display government-issued photo identification that matches the name printed at the top of the seat number letter/examination pass. If a proctor determines there is an identification-related issue, the applicant is directed to the administrator’s table.
- Is there assigned seating? If so, how do applicants identify their seat (i.e. name, application number, etc.) If it is by name, which name will be listed?
Seating is at random. Applicants’ seat numbers are available through the portal 10 days prior to the exam.