NOTICE TO BAR CANDIDATES
REGARDING STATE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS RULE ON FRAUD, DISHONESTY
AND OTHER MISCONDUCT (22 NYCRR § 6000.9)

When sitting for the bar exam in New York, please be aware that among other conduct, it is a violation of Board Rule § 6000.9 on Fraud, Dishonesty and other Misconduct to have written or designated any answers or other information on an answer sheet or booklet after the announcement of the conclusion of an exam session.

On every recent exam, instances of violations of this rule have been reported to the Board.

The penalties the Board has imposed on candidates found to have violated the Board rule by continuing to write after time was called generally have been all of the following: (1) nullification of the results of that examination; (2) disqualification from taking future New York State bar exams or applying for admission on motion for one or two years (the rule permits up to six years); (3) transmission of a written report of the matter to the Committee on Character and Fitness in New York State; and (4) transmission of a written report of the matter to bar admission authorities in other jurisdictions and countries where the candidate is or may seek to be admitted to practice law.

At the conclusion of each session of the examination, a pre-recorded announcement is made stating "STOP WRITING, CLOSE YOUR EXAMINATION BOOKS, AND STAND SILENTLY AT YOUR DESK. THIS EXAMINATION SESSION IS CONCLUDED." You must immediately put down your pen or pencil when that announcement is made. It is not permitted for you to complete the sentence you are writing on any essay or to fill in any bubbles on any machine graded (Scantron) answer sheet once time has been called. You are not permitted to write anything on your answer sheet once time is called, including your seat number or any other identifying information you may have left off. If you have failed to write such information on your paper, wait for your proctor to come to your desk and seek his/her instructions.

You are not permitted to erase or strikeout any part of an answer or any markings on your answer sheets or booklets once the announcement to stop writing has been made.

A claim that you were unable to hear the announcement because you were wearing earplugs, were too focused on the exam or did not understand the announcer or the announcement will not be accepted as an excuse for any conduct which is found to be in violation of this rule.

The Board cannot overemphasize the necessity of full compliance with this rule.