Summary - law

What is the New York Bar Examination? Effective with the July 2016 bar examination, the New York bar examination consists of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). The UBE is a high quality, uniform battery of tests that are administered contemporaneously in every other jurisdiction that has adopted the UBE. The UBE is uniformly administered, graded and scored, and it results in a score that can then be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. The UBE, which consists of the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), and the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), is a paper and in-person examination. All applicants have the option to use a personal laptop computer along with Boarddesignated word processing security software to type the answers to MPT and MEE questions so long as all applicable deadlines for this option are met. Otherwise, applicants handwrite the answers to the MPT and MEE questions. All applicants are required to record their answers to the MBE questions on a Scantron answer sheet that will be provided by the Board. An applicant must take all sections of the UBE concurrently in the same jurisdiction in order to earn a UBE score that may then be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. The UBE is held each year on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. More information regarding the UBE, including the list of jurisdictions that have adopted the UBE, is available at the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) at: Keep in mind that the UBE differs from the New York Law Exam (NYLE), which is an online, open book exam on New York specific law (see “What are other admission requirements” below). 2. What is a BOLE ID and NCBE Number? In order to apply for the UBE, you must have an NCBE Identification number. If you do not have one, you must visit application to receive your NCBE Number. All applicants must also create a Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) account before applying for the examination. To create a BOLE account, you should click on BOLE Account on the Board's homepage and you will need to furnish the following information: (1) Name – enter your full legal name exactly as it appears in the official government issued photo identification that you will use as proof of identity on the date of the bar exam; (2) Date of Birth; (3) Email address – Use an email address that you check frequently as all communications from the Board will be sent only by email; (4) NCBE Number. Upon creating a BOLE account, you will receive an auto-generated email containing your temporary password from . You will be prompted to log back into your BOLE account to change your password and to complete your Account Profile. You will be 2 prompted to furnish your legal residence address and indicate the basis for your eligibility to sit for the bar exam. You will be assigned a unique identification number called a BOLE ID, which will be located in your Account Profile. If you do not immediately complete your Account Profile, any subsequent application with the Board will be deemed incomplete. Applicants may login to their accounts on the BOLE website at any time using their user name (email address) and password. All transactions and registrations will be made in the applicant's online account including applying for the UBE, registering for the NYLE, applying for admission by transferred UBE score and changing your address. Examination results from the UBE and the NYLE will also be posted to applicant accounts. You should retain your BOLE ID and use it for all future correspondence with the Board. You should also be prepared to give your BOLE ID when calling the Board office for any reason. All correspondence from the Board will be sent only by email and only to the email address that you provide in your BOLE account. Therefore, it is recommended that you use an email address that will not expire (i.e., Gmail, Yahoo). Emails will come from so please make certain that you adjust the settings in your email account to accept emails from this address. The server that generates emails from does not accept responses. If you respond to an email from we will NOT receive it and you will not receive a response. You should also check your email regularly (including your junk/spam folder) for important updates and emails regarding the examination. If you change your email with the Board after any given application period closes for the UBE, you need to make certain that it also gets updated with ExamSoft Worldwide, the Board’s third-party software vendor. 3. How do I apply for the UBE? Applicants must apply to sit for the UBE through the Applicant Services Portal. After signing into their account with the Board, the applicant should click the link in the box entitled “New York Bar Examination” in order to register for the UBE. 4. What is the application deadline for the UBE? A. General Rules The UBE is administered on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. Applications must be filed during the month of October for a February examination and during the month of March for a July examination. An application is considered filed when it is filed electronically online and the application fee is paid. The application must be completed and the fee must be received during the application period for the application to be considered filed. There is no late application period. EXAMINATION APPLICATION FILING PERIOD 3 FEBRUARY EXAMS October 1 – October 31 JULY EXAMS March 1 – March 31 B. Special Rule for Re-Applicants For applicants who failed the immediately preceding administration of the UBE, the deadline for filing a re-application for the next offered bar examination is the later of (i) the application filing deadline set forth in Board Rule 6000.4(b) [which is March 31 for a July exam or October 31 for a February exam] or (ii) the 7th day following the date of the Board's release of the UBE examination results. Re-applicants who did not complete both days of the immediately preceding examination must file their application by March 31 for a July exam or October 31 for a February exam. This special rule does not apply to the NYLE. 5. What is the application fee for the UBE? The application fee for the UBE is set in statute by the New York State Legislature and is based on the method of qualifying (see Judiciary Law section 465). Since the fees are set by the legislature, neither the Board nor the Court of Appeals has the authority to reduce or waive the fees. The fees are non-refundable. 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).............................................................. $250 Section 520.6 (study of law in foreign country)................................................. $750 Section 520.17 (Pro Bono Scholars Program)………………………………… $250 6. How do I pay fees? A. UBE Application The only acceptable form of payment for the UBE is a Visa or MasterCard credit card. Debit cards are not accepted. The Board cannot accept credit card payment by mail or by phone. B. All Other Fees (see Board Rule Section 6000.14) If you are making any payment to the Board other than the online application fee for the UBE, UBE Score Transfer or Admission on Motion, the only acceptable forms of payment are: certified 4 check or cashier's check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. funds; U.S. Post Office money order; or a money order drawn on a U.S. bank or financial institution. All payments should be made payable to: "NYS Board of Law Examiners." Personal checks are not accepted and will be returned. Do not send cash.