Ohio
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- Ohio Supreme Court
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
Bar Admissions Section
- Phone Number
- 614-387-9340
- Email Address
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- Yes
- Admission by Motion
- Yes
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
Only accessible through a personal account
- Prelegal Education Requirements
Yes, must have a bachelor’s degree or doctoral-level degree from an accredited college or university
- Legal Education Requirements
Must have earned a J.D. or an L.L.B. degree from an ABA-approved law school or, if not located in the United States, from a law school evaluated and approved in accordance other requirements.
- Mandatory Law Student Bar Card Registration in Jurisdiction
- Yes
- Mandatory Student Registration Requirements (if applicable)
An applicant must file an Application to Register as a Candidate for Admission to the Practice of Law in Ohio with the Office of Bar Admissions of the Ohio Supreme Court by November 15th in the applicant’s second year of law school.
- Mandatory Student Registration Fee (if applicable)
- $75 Application to Register as a Candidate for Admission to the Practice of Law; $275 Late Application to Register
Bar Exam
- Universal Bar Exam
- Yes. Ohio intends to first administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2028.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- Separate from the UBE, the Ohio Law Component is an open-book multiple-choice exam testing knowledge of Ohio-specific law.
- Multistate Bar Exam
- Yes
- Multistate Essay Exam
- Yes
- Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
- Separate from the UBE, the Ohio Law Component is an open-book multiple-choice exam testing knowledge of Ohio-specific law.
- Multistate Performance Test
- Yes
- Attempt Limit on Bar Exam
- No limit
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 270
- Fee(s)
$462 Application to Take or Re-take Bar Exam; $562 Late Application to Take or Re-take Bar Examination; $750 Application for Admission by UBE Transfer Score; $1,500 Application for Admission Without Examination
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Allowed
- Laptop Fee
- $121
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Yes
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Yes
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- 5 years
- Score Transfer Fee
- $750
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 85
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- No
- 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
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Examinees will have access to restrooms during testing and are permitted to take menstrual products back and forth to the restroom as needed (an assortment of menstrual products will also be available in each restroom). Menstrual products including tampons, maxi pads, and liners may be brought into the exam hall in the examinee’s clear plastic bag of permitted items. Each restroom is proctored for exam security.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
Each examinee is permitted to bring one clear plastic gallon bag in which they must keep their permitted items. Staff will visually inspect the clear plastic bag before you enter the testing room.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
A government issued photo ID is required
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
There is assigned seating. An applicant’s number appears at the seating area.