New York Adopts Uniform Bar Exam

In his Law Day address today, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman announced a change in the Rules of the Court of Appeals to allow for the adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam in New York, beginning in July 2016.  As Judge Lippman explained, '[w]ith New York's adoption of the UBE, New York law graduates will no longer have to duplicate their efforts by taking the bar exam in multiple UBE jurisdictions."  Other states that have adopted the Uniform Bar Exam to date are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The notice of the Rules change states that "[a]pplicants who achieve a passing score on the UBE and seek admission in New York will also be required to complete two state-specific components: an online "New York Law Course" and a separate, online 50-question multiple choice exam" on New York specific law. The New York essay question portion of the current bar exam will be dropped.

A New York Times article provides further background, and the full Report of the Advisory Committee on the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is available here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Congrats to Bar Takers

To everyone who took the bar exam (or even multiple bar exams) this week--congratulations!

We know that you won't receive the exam results for months, but just making it through the months of study and the arduous days of the exam should feel like an accomplishment.

Now take a few days to relax.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

NY Bar Exam

It is that time for the takers of the July 20101 N.Y. Bar Exam. Cross your paws for all of your friends out there who graduated and took the exam.

And yes, if you are a 3L or 4L, it is something you will need to start to think about. The New York Board of Law Examiners page is the place to start. For those curious, check out some past essay questions.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat