Frequently Asked Questions
"When is the bar exam given and when do I apply?""How do I apply online?"
"Where is the bar exam held?"
"When will I receive information regarding my seat assignment?"
"Can I change the test center I was assigned to?"
How do I withdraw from an exam? Will I lose the application fee?
"When will I receive my results from the bar exam?"
"How do I transfer my MBE scores to or from New York?"
"How do I change the Department I was assigned to?"
"How do I change my address with the Board?"
"What happens after I have taken and passed the bar exam?"
"Can I take the bar exam with testing accommodations under the ADA?"
"How do I apply for test accommodations?"
"How do I become a proctor for the bar exam?"
"Which foreign educated students need to request an evaluation?"
"What are the fees collected by the Board?"
"How do I request a duplicate Notice/Letter of Certification?"
"Do I need to register with the Board before or while still at law school?"
"Can the Board provide a list of those schools which are ABA approved?"
Exam Dates and Deadlines
"When is the bar exam given and when do I apply?"
The bar exam is held twice a year, on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.
| Dates of Examination | Application Filing Period |
| February 23-24, 2010 | November 1 – November 30, 2009 |
| July 27-28, 2010 | April 1 – April 30, 2010 |
There is no provision for late filing.
Re-Applicants please note: If you took and failed the immediately preceding examination, the deadline for re-application is the later of (1) the filing deadline above; or (2) 14 days from the date of the release of the examination results. Re-applicants who did not sit or show up for the immediately preceding examination must file their re-application in accordance with the filing dates set forth above.
Creating an Online Account
"How do I apply online?"
In order to apply online, you first create a user account. You must
have a valid email account, which will be used for all email
correspondence by the Board. You will then be assigned a BOLE ID #,
which you should have available whenever contacting the Board either
by phone or by mail.
Exam Sites
"Where is the bar exam held?"
The examination is always held in Albany, New York City and Buffalo.
As test sites are confirmed, the locations will be posted on the
Board’s website. We do not have any information regarding hotel
accommodations at any of the locations. Most cities have a Visitors
and Convention Bureau, and we suggest you contact that type of
organization, or your travel agent, to locate that information.
Seat Assignments
"When will I receive information regarding my seat assignment?"
Seat assignments (tickets) will be posted online approximately two
weeks prior to the examination for all applicants who have provided
the necessary law school transcript(s), by the required deadline, to
prove that they are eligible to sit for the examination. All
applicants must present a copy of the seat ticket, as well as a
valid government issued photo identification, to gain entrance into the
examination.
Changing Test Center Location
"Can I change the test center I was assigned to?"
Testing location changes will only be made in rare instances and
only upon a showing of good cause. Such requests must be in the form
of an affidavit showing the location requested, the reason for the
request, and supporting documentation if applicable (i.e., medical
necessity verified by a doctor's certificate). Mere convenience or
geographical proximity is not considered good cause. Requests for a
change of testing location will be decided on a case-by-case basis
and will be based on availability of seats at the requested
location.
Withdrawing from an Exam
How do I withdraw from an exam? Will I lose the application fee?
Should you decide to withdraw from the examination, notify the
Board, in writing, by fax or by mail as soon as possible. The
application fee is non-refundable except in extremely limited
circumstances. If there are extenuating circumstances causing you to
withdraw, you may request a credit. All such requests must be in
writing and accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. The
reason for the withdrawal and the supporting documentation will be
reviewed by the Board to determine if there is a valid basis to
credit the fee. If you applied on-line and paid your fee by credit
card, you may be held responsible for any penalties incurred by the
Board should you cancel the credit card charge for any reason.
Release of Results
"When will I receive my results from the bar exam?"
While the Board does not set a
specific date for the release of bar exam results, historically
results from the July examination are released in mid-November, and
the results of the February examination are released in mid-May.
MBE Score Transfers
"How do I transfer my MBE scores to or from New York?"
Please see section on MBE score transfers
Changing Judicial Departments
"How do I change the Department I was assigned to?"
Upon successful completion of the bar examination, applicants are
certified to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the
Judicial Department where the last residence address the Board has
on file for the applicant is located. The applicant is mailed a
letter of certification which must be filed with the Appellate
Division as a part of the application for admission to the Bar. Once
an applicant has been certified by the Board, a change in Department
can only be made by application to the Presiding Justice of the
Department to which the applicant was certified.
Change of Address
"How do I change my address with the Board?"
The Board must be promptly notified in writing, by mail or by fax,
of any changes in your residence, correspondence address or New York
employment address. Please include your old address, your new
address and your BOLE ID. Please note that applicants have a
continuing obligation until the release of the examination results
to notify the Board of any changes in address. Absent a change of
address, examination results will be mailed to the last
correspondence address that we have on record.
Admission Information
"What happens after I have taken and passed the bar exam?"
Admissions, Swearing In, and Character and Fitness:
Any questions regarding admission to the Bar, swearing in or the
character and fitness application materials should be directed to
the appropriate Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Each
applicant for admission should visit the website of the appropriate
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court by clicking on the link in
the box below to learn of their individual requirements or forms.
The telephone numbers and website links are as follows:
| First Department | (646) 386-5893 |
| Second Department | (718) 923-6360 |
| Third Department | (518) 471-4778 |
| Fourth Department | (585) 530-3100 |
Laptop Information
Please see section on the Laptop Program
Test Accommodations (ADA)
"Can I take the bar exam with testing accommodations under the ADA?"
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.S. § 12101 et seq.) (ADA) and applicable regulations and case law, it is the policy of the New York State Board of Law Examiners to provide accommodations in testing conditions to applicants with disabilities who are qualified candidates for the bar examination, to the extent such accommodations are timely requested, reasonable, not unduly burdensome, consistent with the nature and purpose of the examination and necessitated by the applicant's disability. The Board's objective is to provide effective and necessary accommodations to qualified applicants as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, without substantially altering the nature of the examination process. Each applicant's request for test accommodations is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should carefully read Board Rule 6000.4 which covers the requirements and procedures for requesting test accommodations, the review process by the Board, and the procedures for filing an appeal in the event your request for test accommodations is denied.
"How do I apply for test accommodations?"
1. You should carefully read all of the instructions that accompany the Application for Test Accommodations Form, which provides details about the steps that must be followed in order for the Board to properly consider your request for test accommodations.
2. You should carefully read the Documentation Guidelines that pertain to your type of disability. Share them with your professional for use in preparing a comprehensive written report.
3. New Request - If this is your first request for test accommodations on the New York State bar examination or if a previous request was denied in its entirety, you must submit a completed Application for Test Accommodations Form together with all required supporting documentation.
4. Re-Applicant - If you received test accommodations for a prior administration of the New York State bar examination you must submit a completed Re-Applicant Application for Test Accommodations Form and if necessary, an updated report from your professional.
5. Send your completed Application for Test Accommodations Form or Re-Applicant Application for Test Accommodations Form together with all required documentation to:
New York State Board of Law Examiners
Office of Test Accommodations
Corporate Plaza – Building 3
254 Washington Avenue Extension
Albany, NY 12203
6. Filing Deadline -Your completed Request for Test Accommodations Form together with all required supporting documentation must be received in the Board’s office no later than November 30th for the February examination and no later than April 30th for the July examination, which are the same deadlines for filing your application to take the New York State bar examination. Requests for Test Accommodations and supporting documentation that are received after the deadline will not be considered.
7. The applicable forms and documentation guidelines are contained in the publication Instructions for Requesting Test Accommodations and Guidelines for the Documentation of Disabilities.
Proctoring the Bar Exam
"How do I become a proctor for the bar exam?"
See section on
Proctor Information on this website.
Foreign Legal Education Evaluations
"Who needs to request an evaluation by the Board?"
Applicants who have received their first degree in law from a
country other than the United States may have their legal education
evaluated by the Board. If an applicant wishes to request an
evaluation of their eligibility they shall complete a Request for
Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials Form, a copy of which may
be downloaded from this website, and mail it to the Board offices
together with the required documentation. The Board will commence
the evaluation and provide you with a written decision in due
course.
For more information please visit the Foreign Legal Education section on this website.
Fees
"What are the fees collected by the Board?"
The fee for an on-line examination application must be paid with a
credit card (Visa or Master Card only). Debit cards are not
accepted. An on-line examination application is not complete until
successful credit card authorization. All other fees payable to the
Board must be in the form of a certified check or money order
payable to: "NYS Board of Law Examiners." (credit and debit cards
are not allowed for fees other than the online application). Fees
are as follows:
Examination
……………………………………………………………………………………………… $250
Copies of essay questions from three prior examinations with above
average sample candidate answers
….............................................................$50
Duplicate Notice of Certification
…………………………………………………………...…..$10
MBE score
transfer..........................................................................$50
Certificate of Legal Education (Admission on Motion
ONLY)…................. $400
The following are available for 30 days following the release of the
results of the exam:
Copies of essay questions
………………………………………………………………………....$15
Copies of above average sample candidate answers
……………………………...…$15
Copies of failed applicant’s own essay answers
………………………………………...$40
Note: Copies of the essay questions and above average sample
candidate answers are made available on our website approximately
one to two months after the results are released.
Duplicate Notices of Certifications
"How do I request a duplicate Notice/Letter of Certification?"
Requests for a duplicate Notice of Certification must be in writing,
and must include the applicant's name, address, Social Security
Number, and the month and year of the bar examination taken and
passed. Requests for duplicates will not be considered until at
least 10 days after the mailing of the results to allow time for
receipt of the original by mail. The fee for a duplicate Notice of
Certification is $10.00, in the form of a certified check or money
order payable to "NYS Board of Law Examiners".
NOTE: The sole purpose for a Notice of Certification is for
presentation to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division in the
appropriate Judicial Department when applying for admission to the
Bar in New York State. Anyone who requires information for another
jurisdiction, such as confirmation of having taken and passed the
bar examination, need only make a written request including the
identifying information stated above, and we will prepare an
appropriate letter. There is no fee. The Board of Law Examiners
cannot confirm admission to the Bar or issue Certificates of Good
Standing. Such requests should be directed to the Supreme Court,
Appellate Division, in the Judicial Department in which the
applicant was admitted.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
For information on this examination, please call (215) 968-1001.
Attorney Registration
For information on New York State attorney registration and the
required fee, please call the Office of Court Administration at
(212) 428-2800 or visit them online at
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/attorneys/registration/index.shtml
Continuing Legal Education
For information on New York’s continuing legal education
requirement, please call the Office of Court Administration at (212)
428-2105, or visit them online at
http://www.courts.state.ny.us
Law Student Registration
"Do I need to register with the Board before or while still at law
school?"
New York does not require law students to pre-register with the Board.
The online application for the NYS Bar exam is available on this
website during the appropriate filing period of each exam.
American Bar Association Information
"Can the Board provide a list of those schools which are ABA
approved?"
For information on ABA accredited law schools, please contact the
American Bar Association at 750 North Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL
60611, or visit them online at
http://www.abanet.org/legaled
