For the latest rules and procedures regarding the New York Bar Exam, please see to https://www.nybarexam.org/

The below information is current as of 1Q, 2021.

A.    Eligibility

In order to sit the New York bar exam and qualify to practice law in New York, you must be eligible under the rules of the Board of Law Examiners (BOLE). Irish law graduates must have graduated from a program that is “substantially equivalent in duration to the legal education provided by an American Bar Association approved law school in the United States”. In practice, this means having a degree in law that required the completion of at least 83 credit hours. 2 ETCS credits are considered equivalent to one U.S. credit, so the candidate must have at least 168 ETCS in legal subjects.

B. Steps for establishing eligibility

1. Create a BOLE account online and receive your BOLE ID at https://portal.nybarexam.org/

2. Once created, BOLE will email you instructions for the docs you have to submit.

3. All documents and correspondence sent to BOLD need to have your BOLE ID number on them.

4. Documents you need to provide to BOLE:

a. Official Transcripts from every law school attended that includes the dates of attendance for each period of study, the courses taken and passed for each period of study, the grades, the number of credits, the degree awarded, and the date the degree was awarded. Remember, they must also contain your BOLE ID.

b. Degree Certificate – only if official transcript does not state clearly degree awarded

c. Proof of fulfillment of the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in the foreign country.

• If already qualified as a solicitor/barrister in Ireland, submit copy of your admission certificate.

• If not, submit proof of the educational requirements for admission to practice law in Ireland and proof from the bar admission authorities that you have fulfilled these requirements. You’ll need to contact the Law Society to do this – they’ll request a certified copy of your degree (certified by a practicing Solicitor) and they charge a fee of €45 (may increase). Note, that they may not be able to send it directly to the BOLE, but it appears that BOLE will generally accept a sealed envelope from the Law Society submitted directly by the applicant.

d. Accreditation – submit a written statement from the competent accrediting agency of your foreign government that the law school you attended was recognized by them and qualified and approved throughout your period of study. Note: Law Society letter should suffice for this.

5. BOLE will email you each time they receive a document and tell you what other documents are still required. Bole will confirm once all required documents are received.

6. BOLE will email applicant once evaluation is complete. This can take up to 6 months. For example, in my case, the last of my documents were submitted to BOLE on September 18, 2017 and I received an email confirming I was eligible to sit for the Bar exam on February 15, 2018.

7. Note: BOLE advises applicants to wait until you receive a determination of your Request for Evaluation before submitting an application to sit for the NY Bar Exam as the $750 fee is nonrefundable.

More information available at: https://www.nybarexam.org/Foreign/ForeignLegalEducation.htm

C.    Applying for the Exams:

There are three exam components - the UBE (Uniform Bar Exam) which is 12 hours long and scheduled over two days, the NYLE (New York Law Exams) which is two hours, and and the MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam) which is also two hours.

UBE

The UBE is the “main” bar exam that is held Apply for the UBE via your BOLE Account (https://portal.nybarexam.org/) and pay the $750 fee. The two-day exams are held twice each year, on the last Tuesdays and Wednesdays of February and July.

New York Law Exam

You can complete the New York Law Courses via your BOLE Account (https://portal.nybarexam.org/) and apply via your BOLE account by the posted deadlines. Course Materials and more information are available at https://www.nybarexam.org/Content/CourseMaterials.htm. The fee to take the NYLE is $27. Occurs a few times throughout the year. Open book exam performed in your home. The NYLE may be taken before or after the UBE, however, applicants who have not submitted to the Board proof of having taken and passed the NYLE by the time the bar examination results are released will be notified that they have passed the bar examination but the Board cannot certify such applicants to the Appellate Division until the Board receives proof of a passing NYLE score.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

Create an account with NCBE (http://www.ncbex.org/about-ncbe-exams/mpre/) and register for the MPRE. The fee for the MPRE is $125. Occurs a few times throughout the year. The passing score in New York for the MPRE is 85. The MPRE may be taken before or after the UBE, however, applicants who have not submitted to the Board proof of having taken and passed the MPRE by the time the bar examination results are released will be notified that they have passed the bar examination but the Board cannot certify such applicants to the Appellate Division until the Board receives proof of a passing MPRE score. A passing MPRE score is valid for four years from the date the applicant sat for that MPRE.

Note: Applicants for admission by examination, whether taken in New York or in another UBE jurisdiction, have three years from the date when the applicant sits for the second day of the Uniform Bar Examination to take and pass the MPRE and NYLE and file their complete application for admission to the Appellate Division otherwise the applicant will have to re-sit the bar examination.

D.    After the Exams

Once applicants have completed and passed each exam BOLE will send a Notice of Certification to the applicant. This will be emailed to the applicant and will inform the applicant which Appellate Division Department, based on the applicant’s home address, to send their Application for Admission.

The Application for Admission must be filed with the Appellate Division Department as indicated on the Notice of Certification. You must file the complete Application for Admission to the Bar with the Supreme Court, Appellate Division within three years from the date when you sat for the second day of the bar examination. All questions regarding your application for admission to practice should be directed to the Appellate Division indicated on your Notice of Certification.

Each Appellate Division’s requirements vary slightly but bear in mind that each Application for Admission

must include:

1. A copy of the letter/notice of certification from BOLE

2. Application for Admission Questionnaire (form at below link)

3. Two (2) Affidavits of Good Moral Character (form at below link)

4. Employment Affidavits for each law related employment that applicant has had. (form at below link)

5. Law School Certificate (provided by your law school directly to the Appellate Division) (form at below link)

6. Certificates of Good Standing and Grievance Letters from jurisdictions in which applicant has been admitted to practice (if applicable)

7. Proof of compliance with the Mandatory 50-Hour Pro Bono Requirement. Note, can use Law School Pro-Bono work e.g. final year placement module (form at below link)

8. Proof of Attorney Registration and Fee Payment.

All forms to be used are locate on the BOLE website at:

https://www.nybarexam.org/Admission/AdmissionMultiDeptPacket.htm 

This guide was prepared by Laura Staunton, Esq., and is based on personal experience only.