NYS Board of Law Examiners

 
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Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm Eastern Time

 Exam Day References & Security Policy

Security Policy

Security Policy
Civility Policy
Honor Code
Photo Identification
Seating Tickets
Exam Day Instructions

Prior to the bar examination, you should carefully read and review the Board’s Security Policy. The Security Policy contains important exam day references, such as a list of items which are permitted at the exam (all other items are prohibited) and behaviors which are prohibited at the exam. The Security Policy is frequently updated, and the Policy which applies during the bar examination will be sent to you with your Seating Ticket. Violations of the Security Policy will be prosecuted by the Board and may result in the imposition of penalties such as nullification of scores, disqualification from sitting for future exams, and notice to the Character and Fitness Committee (see Board Rule 6000.9).

THE BOARD HAS A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR CELL PHONES AND ALL OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES. IF YOU ARE FOUND TO HAVE BROUGHT ANY SUCH DEVICE PAST THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT, IT WILL BE CONFISCATED, AND A MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION WILL BE COMMENCED UNDER BOARD RULE 6000.9. AS A PENALTY YOUR EXAM SCORE MAY BE NULLIFIED AND, IF AT ANY TIME YOU PASS THE EXAM, A REPORT WILL BE MADE TO THE CHARACTER & FITNESS COMMITTEE. OTHER PENALTIES PERMITTED BY RULE MAY ALSO BE IMPOSED. IT IS NOT A DEFENSE TO A MISCONDUCT CHARGE THAT YOU WERE NOT AWARE YOU HAD A CELL PHONE OR ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR THAT IT WAS TURNED OFF, RENDERED INOPERABLE OR STORED IN YOUR POCKET.


CIVILTY POLICY
The Board of Law Examiners has also adopted a Civility Policy which governs applicants' interactions with the Board of Law Examiners. Based on the New York State Standards of Civility for the legal profession which apply to attorneys who practice in New York State (see http://www.nycourts.gov/press/old_keep/stnds.shtml), it sets forth principles of behavior which govern those who aspire to practice law in New York. Violations of the Civility Policy can be reported to the Committee on Character & Fitness having jurisdiction over the applicant, and more serious violations can form the basis of a charge under Board Rule 6000.9 which prohibits Fraud, Dishonesty and Other Misconduct. The Civility Policy can be found HERE.

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HONOR CODE

On the day of the bar examination, all applicants will be required to sign a statement affirming that they have read and will comply with the Honor Code and the Board’s Security Policy. Applicants will be required to affirm that they are do not have a cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic device or prohibited item in the exam room. The Security Policy is located above. The Honor Code is as follows:

I have no prior knowledge of these test booklets or questions. I understand that the following acts constitute misconduct under Board Rule 6000.9: bringing a prohibited item (cell phone, electronic device, notes, etc.) through the security checkpoint; using a prohibited item; copying answers or giving assistance to any candidate; writing or typing anything after time is called; removing exam materials from the exam room; violating the U.S. copyright protections of the exam including disclosing the content of the exam to anyone at any time; failing to cooperate with the Board in a misconduct investigation; and any other act which might compromise the integrity of this exam. I am aware that such acts will lead to misconduct charges and may result in penalties including nullification of my exam results, disclosure of my misconduct file to the Committee on Character and Fitness as well as to other jurisdictions where I am admitted or may seek admission, and any other penalty permitted by Rule 6000.9. I will not engage in any such conduct and will honor my ethical obligation to promptly report any misconduct by any candidate to a proctor or other Board official.

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PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

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 a U.S. driver's license, a passport, or other government issued photo ID. A non-U.S. citizen who does not possess a driver's license issued by a U.S. state or territory must present a valid passport for identification. The name on your photo ID must match the name on your Seating Ticket.

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SEATING TICKETS

Seating Tickets will generally become available by email to qualified applicants approximately two weeks before the date of the scheduled examination. At that time, Seating Tickets are also made available to view and print from the home page of the Board’s website. Applicants will need their BOLE ID Number to access their Seating Ticket on-line. Applicants must present their Seating Ticket to security in order to enter the examination. Therefore, it is important to print and bring a copy of the Seating Ticket to the exam. The seat number assigned in the Seating Ticket is the only means of identification throughout the grading process. Each seat at the examination has a number prominently displayed on a sticker. It is critical that applicants sit in the correct seat, and include the seat number on all examination materials.

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ORAL AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN AT THE EXAMINATION

Many problems can be avoided by listening to and reading the instructions given at the examination. Some important exam day rules to remember are:

  • 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 may not be allowed to re-enter the exam room and you could be disqualified from completing the exam.

  • Your proctor will provide you with your EXIT PASS after you have turned in all your examination materials. You must have an EXIT PASS when you complete each session, and you must give your EXIT PASS to security to leave the exam room after each session.

  • After you leave the exam room, you may not re-enter until the next testing session.

  • No notes may be brought past the security checkpoint, and no studying is allowed past the security checkpoint.

  • No applicant may leave their seat during the last 15 minutes of the session for any reason.

  • Applicants who do not immediately stop writing or typing when time is called will be reported to the Board and may be found guilty of violating the Board's rule covering Fraud and Dishonesty.

  • All coats, jackets and/or outerwear MUST be checked and will NOT be permitted in the exam room. You are discouraged from relying on the availability of coat check for storage of prohibited items. The exam will NOT be delayed due to long lines at the coat check.

  • NO writing is allowed on either side of the Seating Ticket.

  • Do NOT remove examination materials from the exam room.

  • NO SMOKING is allowed during the exam.

 

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