New York
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- New York State Court of Appeals
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
New York State Board of Bar Examiners
- Phone Number
- 518-453-5990
- Email Address
None provided
- 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
4 Routes (Section 520.3 – 520.6, 520.17 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals):
1. Applicant graduated from a US law school which at all times during the period of applicant’s attendance was ABA approved.
2. A combination of law school study at an ABA approved law school and law office study.
3. Graduation from an unapproved US law school with a JD and practice in a jurisdiction where the applicant has been admitted for 5 of the 7 years immediately preceding application to sit for the New York bar examination.
4. Successful completion of a program of study at a law school outside of the US that is both durationally and substantively equivalent to a program of study at an approved US law school, and if required, successful completion of an additional program of study at an approved US law school.
5. Students in their final year of JD program at an ABA approved law school may qualify to sit for the February bar examination in return for devoting their last semester of study to performing pro bono legal services through an approved program.- 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. New York intends to first administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2028.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- Yes
- Multistate Bar Exam
- Yes
- Multistate Essay Exam
- Yes
- Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
- No. A separate online course in New York-specific law is required.
- Multistate Performance Test
- Yes
- Attempt Limit on Bar Exam
- No limit
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 266
- Fee(s)
$250 – Section 520.3 (JD received from an ABA approved law school); $250 – Section 520.4 (law office study); $250 – Section 520.5 (unapproved law school); $750 – Section 520.6 (study of law in foreign country); $250 – Section 520.17 (Pro Bono Scholars Program)
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Allowed
- Laptop Fee
- 100
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 3 years
- Score Transfer Fee
- $50
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 85
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- 4 years
- 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
Yes – https://www.nybarexam.org/Security/Security.htm
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Once you enter the exam room, you may not leave it at any point except to use the restroom with permission of a proctor. If you violate this rule you could be disqualified from completing the exam
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
See – https://www.nybarexam.org/Security/Security.htm
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
All applicants must bring a government issued photo ID to the examination, which will be checked at all four sessions. Acceptable forms of ID include (1) U.S. driver’s license; (2) U.S. non-driver identification; (3) passport; (4) passport card; (5) U.S. permanent Resident ID Card; or (6) New York City Identification Card. The expiration date on the photo ID shall not be expired. The name on your photo ID must match the name in your BOLE Account and the name on your Seating Ticket.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Seating Tickets are provided through the portal approximately two weeks before the exam. Applicants must have their Seating Ticket to enter the exam. The seat number assigned on the Seating Ticket is the only means of identification throughout the grading process.