General

Phone Number

304-558-7815

Email Address

Bar Admissions Administrator: ashton.bias@courtswv.gov

Diploma Privilege

No

Prelegal education requirements

Yes, must have a degree of A.B, or B.S., or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, or its equivalent.

Legal education requirements

Must have a L.L.B. or J.D., or their equivalents, from a law school accredited by the ABA, or its equivalent or, if having graduated from a non-ABA accredited law school, must have passed the bar exam in another jurisdiction and been admitted to practice in such jurisdiction; likewise, there is an exception for individuals that attended a non-ABA accredited law school of such statute that its graduates are eligible to take the bar examination in a another state and the applicant completed three years of law office study and work in West Virginia and if two attorneys admitted in West Virginia vouch for the applicant; graduates of reputable non-ABA law schools that are determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent may be deemed eligible to sit (with special application requirements and timelines). See Rule 3.0.

Registration requirements, if applicable.

N/A

Registration fee, if applicable.

N/A

Limit on attempts?

4, unless special permission is granted

Fee(s)

$500 application fee for students and law school graduates not admitted in any jurisdiction or attorneys admitted less than one year; $800 for attorneys admitted one year or more

Are laptops allowed/required?

Permitted for day one of the exam

Laptop fee?

Yes

Is courtesy seating allowed?

No

Transfer fee?

$750

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?

Details and exam location, permitted items, etc. are confirmed by email, approximately two months before exam date with all those deemed eligible to sit. Applicants are instructed to reach out to the WVBLE office with any questions after receiving such information.