florida bar exam october 2020

Results of first-ever online Florida bar exam are in

The test given last month had to be delayed several times as scheduling and technical glitches were worked out.

Less than half of the people who took Florida's first online-only bar exam last month are immediately moving on to become attorneys. 

On Friday, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners released pass/fail results for the latest administrations of the twice-yearly test. The exam, normally held every February and July, was postponed because of the pandemic, and finally given in late October.

In all, 3,137 people took the October exam, with 1,487 — or 47.4% — passing and being approved for admission to the Florida Bar. That includes passing a "character and fitness" review, an in-depth background check.

Looking at only first-time test-takers, they passed at a rate of more than 71%, a slight drop from the nearly 74% passage rate for those sitting for the July 2019 exam. Students from Florida International University took top place, with 89% of first-timers passing.

Comparisons to last year are hampered by the different format, however: Last year's test was the traditional in-person, two-day exam at the Tampa Convention Center; the one in October was a one-day only, fully online exam of 100 multiple choice questions and three essay questions. 

Locally, Florida State University ranked in second place among Florida law schools by passage rate; Florida A&M University saw a slight increase in its passage rate, according to test results. 

Of the 135 FSU Law students who sat for the test in October, more than 84% passed, a decline from 86% in July 2019. And nearly 62% of the 107 FAMU Law students earned passing marks.

Just days before it was scheduled to be given in August, flaws in the online software caused a postponement that sparked protests outside the Supreme Court building in Tallahassee, the ushering in of new software and a rare public apology from Chief Justice Charles Canady.

Canady announced a swearing-in ceremony that will be held, also online, on Dec. 9.

More: Florida decides state's next bar exam will also be held online

Here are the latest results for first-time exam takers by individual Florida school or other category:

• Florida International University College of Law, Miami: 89.3%
• Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee: 84.4%
• University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville: 83.9%
• Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport: 74.4%
• University of Miami School of Law: 72.5%
• Those previously admitted to the practice of law in other states: 71.7%
• Nova Southeastern University College of Law, Fort Lauderdale: 67.4%
• St. Thomas University College of Law, Miami Gardens: 66.9%
• Ave Maria School of Law, Naples: 64.4%
• Those who graduated from law schools outside Florida: 63.8%
• Florida A&M University College of Law, Orlando: 61.7%
• Barry University School of Law, Orlando: 61.2%
• Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville: 57.6%

Contact Karl Etters at [email protected] or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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• Bar Exam Modifications During COVID-19: 50-State Legal Resources

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, many attorney licensing jurisdictions across the country revised their original plans for administering the bar exam in July 2020. Some states proceeded with the test in July on the originally scheduled dates, but sought to mitigate risks associated with the virus by limiting exam seating, requiring social distancing and mask use, and mandating that test-takers submit to temperature checks upon entry to testing sites. Many jurisdictions scheduled a fall exam in addition or as an alternative to the July exam, while others made the decision to completely cancel the July exam and commit to a September or October testing date. A number of states chose to administer the test online as well, and some offered options other than those listed above.

For the February 2021 exam, a majority of states chose to offer the test remotely, although some proceeded with in-person exams. Remote testing was made more feasible when the National Conference of Bar Examiners made the Uniform Bar Examination, which is used by many states, available for remote administration. In July 2021, a number of states plan to administer the bar exam remotely again.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

Along with modifications to test dates and methods, many jurisdictions have created or expanded existing opportunities for new law school graduates to engage in limited practice under attorney supervision while awaiting bar exam testing opportunities or results.

Click on the states below to learn more about how each licensing jurisdiction approached bar exams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Massachusetts

Mississippi

New Hampshire

North Carolina

North Dakota

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

West Virginia

• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28-29, 2020 and September 30-October 1, 2020
• Modifications: The July administration of the Alabama Bar Exam took place as scheduled with safety protocols including health screenings and social distancing. On July 12, 2020, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order for an alternate bar exam to be held beginning on September 30, 2020. This exam was held on September 30-October 1, 2020 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex with public health protocols. The Supreme Court’s order also created temporary exceptions for bar exam applicants, including an option to postpone their exam until February 2021. Applicants are also eligible to serve as student interns as defined under the Alabama Rule for Legal Internship by Law Students, which permits third-year law students to work under the supervision of a licensed attorney in Alabama. Applicants can participate as student interns until the date that they are admitted to the Alabama State Bar, or the date that February 2021 bar exam results are released, whichever is earlier.
• February 2021 Bar Exam: In person.
• Order, Supreme Court of Alabama , July 12, 2020
• Admissions Office, Alabama State Bar
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: September 9-10, 2020
• Modifications: The July 2020 bar exam was moved to September 9-10, 2020 and took place on these rescheduled dates with public health protocols. On August 12, 2020, the Alaska Supreme Court issued an order that allows those with legal intern permits to appear and participate in all district court criminal matters (except for trials and evidentiary hearings) and created a “supervised practitioner permit” option for law graduates to temporarily engage in the practice of law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
• Order No. 1963, Alaska Supreme Court , August 12, 2020
• Alaska Bar Association
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28-29, 2020 (in-person) and October 5-6, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: The July administration of the Arizona bar exam took place as scheduled with safety protocols including health screenings, mask requirements, and social distancing. On July 1, 2020, the Arizona Supreme Court announced that applicants registered for the July in-person exam and those who requested a refund or who transferred their July application to the February 2021 in-person exam would have an option to take an online-only exam on October 5-6, 2020. The results of the October exam will only be valid for practicing law in Arizona. On September 23, 2020, the Arizona Supreme Court issued an order that outlined requirements for the October exam and stated that the passing score for this exam will be 273. The Arizona Supreme Court has also approved emergency amendments to Arizona Supreme Court Rule 39(c), which will allow law graduates to engage in limited practice under the supervision of a licensed Arizona attorney. The amended rule was effective on May 1, 2020.
• February 2021 Bar Exam: Remote.
• Administrative Order No. 2020-150, Arizona Supreme Court , September 23, 2020
• October 5 and 6, 2020 Online NCBE Bar Exam FAQs, Arizona Supreme Court , Updated July 24, 2020
• July 28 and 29 Arizona Bar Exam COVID Related Policy and Procedures, Arizona Supreme Court , July 6, 2020
• News Release, Arizona Supreme Court , July 1, 2020
• Administrative Order No. 2020-78, Arizona Supreme Court , May 15, 2020
• Letter, Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, Arizona Supreme Court , April 7, 2020
• Order Amending Rule 39, Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court , April 6, 2020
• Attorney Admissions, Arizona Judicial Branch
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28-29, 2020
• Modifications: The July administration of the Arkansas bar exam took place as scheduled. On July 9, 2020, the Supreme Court of Arkansas adopted an emergency/temporary rule to allow people who had registered for the July 2020 Arkansas Bar Exam, but who were unwilling or unable to sit for this exam because of the coronavirus pandemic, to be permitted to temporarily engage in the limited practice of law under the supervision of an attorney who has been an active member of the Bar of Arkansas for at least five years.
• Opinion, In re: Adoption of Arkansas Rules Governing Admission to the Bar: Rule XV-A Temporary Supervised Practice and July 2020 Arkansas Bar Examination, Arkansas Supreme Court , July 9, 2020
• Opinion, In re: Arkansas Rules Governing Admission to the Bar: Rule XV-A Temporary Supervised Practice, Arkansas Supreme Court , July 9, 2020
• Arkansas Bar Examination, Arkansas Judiciary
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: October 5-6, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: On July 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of California sent a letter to the State Bar of California, which cancelled the bar exam scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 and directed the State Bar to offer an online remote administration of the bar exam on October 5-6, 2020. Locations for in-person testing will be available on a limited basis for this exam. In its letter, the Supreme Court also directed the State Bar to permanently reduce the California bar exam’s minimum passing score to 1390 (beginning with the October exam) and to implement a temporary supervised provisional licensure program as soon as possible. On August 10, 2020, the Supreme Court issued an order that provided additional details on the October bar exam and confirmed the new, permanent lower minimum passing score. On September 24, 2020, the State Bar Board of Trustees approved a draft rule that would allow 2020 law school graduates to temporarily engage in the practice of law under the supervision of a licensed attorney (the “Provisional Licensure Program”). This rule has been sent to the Supreme Court, which must provide final approval.
• February 2021 Bar Exam: Remote (in person for people who cannot take the test remotely).
• October 2020 Bar Exam FAQs, State Bar of California , Updated September 25, 2020
• Provisional Licensure Rule of Court – Return from Public Comment and Request for Adoption by Board of Trustees for Approval by the Supreme Court, The State Bar of California , September 24, 2020
• Administrative Order 2020-08-10 (and Letter), Supreme Court of California , August 10, 2020
• Press Release, California Courts , August 10, 2020
• Letter, RE: California Bar Exam, Supreme Court of California , July 16, 2020
• Press Release, California Courts , July 16, 2020
• October 2020 California Bar Examination, The State Bar of California
• Administrative Order 2020-11-18-02, Supreme Court of California , November 19, 2020
• California Bar Examination, The State Bar of California
• Modifications: The July administration of the Colorado bar exam took place as scheduled, with safety protocols including health screening, mask requirements, and social distancing to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Applicants for the July 2020 exam were provided with an option to transfer their application to the February 2021 exam. On July 9, 2020, the Colorado Supreme Court adopted an emergency rule that allowed applicants for the July exam who transfer to the February 2021 exam to temporarily engage in the limited practice of law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
• Rule 205.8, Colorado Supreme Court , July 9, 2020
• Updated Testing Protocols for the July 2020 Administration of the Colorado Bar Examination, Colorado Supreme Court , July 8, 2020
• Press Release, Colorado Supreme Court , May 14, 2020
• Certification for Limited Practice as a Graduate Before Admission By Examination, Colorado Supreme Court
• Press Release, Colorado Judicial Branch , November 6, 2020
• Bar Examination, Colorado Supreme Court
• Modifications: On July 23, 2020, the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee (CBEC) announced that the in-person bar examination scheduled for September 30-October 1, 2020 has been cancelled, and a remote online version of the bar exam will be offered on October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will only qualify applicants for admission in Connecticut. This remote exam will not produce a portable Uniform Bar Examination score, but the CBEC has entered into reciprocity agreements with the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from the October exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) In addition, the Rules Committee of the Connecticut Superior Court approved a temporary emergency rule on May 11, 2020, expanding the scope of the state’s legal intern rules.
• FAQs Related to the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam in Connecticut, Connecticut Bar Examining Committee , Revised September 17, 2020
• Minutes of the Meeting, Rules Committee of the Connecticut Superior Court , May 11, 2020
• Connecticut Bar Examining Committee
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: None scheduled for summer-fall 2020.
• Modifications: On July 24, 2020, Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. announced that the Delaware Supreme Court cancelled the in-person bar exam that was scheduled for September 9-11, 2020. On August 12, 2020, the Delaware Supreme Court adopted a limited practice privilege order that will enable many of the applicants for the 2020 Delaware bar exam to perform legal work under attorney supervision until the administration of the 2021 Delaware bar exam.
• February 2021 Bar Exam: Not administered.
• Order, In re: Certified Limited Practice Privilege for 2020 Delaware Bar Applicants, Delaware Supreme Court , August 12, 2020
• Press Release, Delaware Courts , August 12, 2020
• Press Release, Delaware Courts , July 24, 2020
• Board of Bar Examiners of the Supreme Court of Delaware
• Modifications: On June 8, 2020, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will administer a remote DC Bar Exam on October 5-6, 2020 instead of the previously announced Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in September. Applicants who are successful on the remote exam will be eligible for admission in DC, which will also qualify them to practice as in-house counsel or federal government attorneys in all 50 states. This remote exam will not produce a portable UBE score, but the District of Columbia Committee on Admissions has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from the October exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) On September 24, 2020, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals issued an order that adopted two new rules on an emergency basis. Under these rules, 2020 DC bar exam applicants who received a J.D. in 2019 and 2020 (and who meet additional eligibility criteria) can be admitted to the bar without taking the bar exam, and 2020 and 2021 DC bar exam applicants who received a J.D. in 2019 and 2020 (and who meet additional eligibility criteria) can engage in the practice of law under supervision for a limited time period.
• Rule 49(C)(8A) and Rule 46-A FAQs, Committee on Admissions , September 25, 2020
• Order, District of Columbia Court of Appeals , September 24, 2020
• Order, District of Columbia Court of Appeals , September 15, 2020
• Order, District of Columbia Court of Appeals , July 10, 2020
• Fall Bar Exam FAQs, Committee on Admissions , Updated July 1, 2020
• Order, District of Columbia Court of Appeals , June 10, 2020
• Committee on Admissions, District of Columbia Courts
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: October 13, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: On August 26, 2020, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners announced that a remote online Florida bar exam would be administered on October 13, 2020, with testing potentially continuing on October 14 for candidates who receive test accommodations. This will serve as the rescheduled exam from the cancelled August 19, 2020 exam date. Applicants for the August exam can choose to take the October exam or defer to the February 2021 bar exam. On September 3, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court announced that Florida State University Law School Dean Erin O’Hara O’Connor will be serving as the Registrant Advocate, a new role that is intended to assist bar examinees who were unable to take the 2020 summer bar exam due to COVID-19 pandemic test failures. In addition, a supervised practice program has been established that allows some 2020 bar exam applicants to temporarily engage in the limited practice of law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
• Press Release, Florida Supreme Court , September 3, 2020
• Order, In re: COVID-19 Emergency Changes to the Administration of the July 2020 Florida Bar Examination - Rescheduling of Online Bar Examination and Authorization of Temporary Supervised Practice Program, Florida Supreme Court , August 26, 2020
• Press Release, Florida Supreme Court , August 26, 2020
• Order, In re: COVID-19 Emergency Measures Relating to the 2020 Bar Applicants — Creation of the Temporary Supervised Practice Program, Florida Supreme Court , August 24, 2020
• Press Release, Florida Supreme Court , August 24, 2020
• Press Release, Florida Board of Bar Examiners , November 18, 2020
• FAQs, Florida Board of Bar Examiners
• Florida Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: On July 20, 2020, Chief Justice Harold D. Melton announced that the Supreme Court of Georgia cancelled the in-person Georgia bar examination scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 due to coronavirus concerns, and that a remote online exam will be offered on October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will only qualify applicants for admission in Georgia. The Supreme Court had previously issued an emergency order, effective on June 1, 2020, that allows for the provisional admission of recent law graduates and attorneys from other jurisdictions (who plan to take the Georgia bar exam) to the practice of law in Georgia for a limited time.
• Press Release, Supreme Court of Georgia , July 20, 2020
• Order, Supreme Court of Georgia , April 17, 2020
• Press Release, Supreme Court of Georgia , November 9, 2020
• Georgia Office of Bar Admissions
• Modifications: On April 20, 2020, the Supreme Court of Hawaii issued an order that rescheduled the July bar exam to September 9-10, 2020. This September exam took place as scheduled at the Hawaii Convention Center, with public health protocols. On July 24, 2020, the Supreme Court had announced that the passing score will be temporarily reduced to 133 for the September exam. In addition, the Supreme Court issued an order on July 22, 2020 that provided applicants for the September bar exam with an option to obtain a temporary, provisional license to practice law instead of taking the September exam.
• Order, In the Matter of the September 2020 Bar Exam, Hawaii Supreme Court , August 28, 2020
• Press Release, Hawaii State Judiciary , July 24, 2020
• Order, In the Matter of the September 2020 Bar Exam, Hawaii Supreme Court , July 22, 2020
• Press Release, Hawaii State Judiciary , July 22, 2020
• Order, In the Matter of the July 2020 Hawaii Bar Examination for Admission to the Bar of the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Supreme Court , April 20, 2020
• Bar Application, Hawaii State Judiciary
• Modifications: The in-person July administration of the Idaho bar exam took place as scheduled, with safety protocols in place. In addition, the Supreme Court has authorized a remote, online bar exam for October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will only qualify applicants for admission in Idaho. Applicants for the July exam were provided with the option to take the October exam instead. On June 25, 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court issued an order that waived, through February 23, 2021, some rules related to bar exam deferrals. In addition, for any 2020 graduate of an ABA-accredited law school who has already registered for the Idaho bar exam and chooses to defer taking the exam, the term of a limited license to practice law pursuant to Idaho Bar Commission Rule 226 has been extended until October 31, 2021.
• Idaho October Remote Bar Examination FAQs, Idaho State Bar
• Emergency Order, In re: Idaho Bar Commission Rules 226 and 203, Idaho Supreme Court , July 20, 2020
• Letter from Chief Justice Roger Burdick, Idaho Supreme Court , July 20, 2020
• Order, In re: Waiver of Provisions of Idaho Bar Commission Rule 219, Idaho Supreme Court , June 25, 2020
• Bar Exam, Idaho State Bar
• Modifications: On July 23, 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court announced the cancellation of the in-person Illinois bar exam scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 in light of coronavirus concerns. A remote online exam will be offered on October 5-6, 2020. The October exam will cover the same topics as the in-person exam and qualify applicants for admission in Illinois only. This remote exam will not produce a portable Uniform Bar Examination score, but the state has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from the October exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) The Illinois Supreme Court issued an order on July 2, 2020 that temporarily expanded the class of employers eligible to supervise new law school graduates to include private law firms and other for-profit entities.
• FAQs for the Illinois Bar Examination scheduled for October 5-6, 2020, Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
• Reciprocity Announcement, Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
• Illinois Bar Exam to be Held Remotely, Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar , July 23, 2020
• Order, In re: Illinois Courts Response to COVID-19 Emergency/Temporary Performance of Legal Services by Law Graduates, Supreme Court of Illinois , July 2, 2020
• Press Release, Supreme Court of Illinois , July 2, 2020
• Press Release, Supreme Court of Illinois , November 10, 2020
• Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: August 4, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: A one-day, remote online bar exam was administered on August 4, 2020. Due to technical issues, this exam had been postponed from the previously scheduled date of July 28, 2020, and modifications were made, including having this exam be in an open-book format, with no live monitoring or proctoring. Applicants received the exam questions by email and submitted responses by email. Under an Indiana Supreme Court order issued on April 8, 2020, any graduate of an ABA-accredited law school who graduated in November 2019 or later and has not sat for any bar exam prior to February 2021 can work as a graduate legal intern in Indiana until February 28, 2021, or until the results of the February 2021 Indiana bar exam are released if they sit for it.
• Order, In the Matter of the August 2020 Indiana Bar Examination, Indiana Supreme Court , July 29, 2020
• Press Release, Indiana Judicial Branch , July 29, 2020
• Order, In the Matter of the July 2020 Indiana Bar Examination, Indiana Supreme Court , May 7, 2020
• Press Release, Indiana Judicial Branch , May 7, 2020
• Order, In the Matter of Graduate Legal Interns During COVID-19 Pandemic, Indiana Supreme Court , April 8, 2020
• Order on February 2021 Bar Examination and Adoption of UBE, Indiana Supreme Court , November 24, 2020
• Indiana Board of Law Examiners
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 27-29, 2020
• Modifications: The July 2020 Iowa bar exam was administered in-person on July 28-29, 2020. The July 27 exam orientation was held remotely. Applicants for the July exam were provided with an option to defer to the February 2021 Iowa bar exam.
• Order, Iowa Supreme Court , June 5, 2020
• Order, Iowa Supreme Court , May 6, 2020
• Order, Iowa Supreme Court , December 3, 2020
• Attorney Admissions, Iowa Judicial Branch
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28-29, 2020 and September 9-10, 2020
• Modifications: The July administration of the Kansas bar exam took place as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. Applicants for the July exam had the option to take this exam or an alternative bar exam on September 9-10, 2020. In addition, the Kansas Supreme Court has temporarily modified some of the requirements for bar exam applicants to obtain a temporary permit to practice, including suspending the requirement of including a certificate from a supervising attorney.
• Press Release, Kansas Judicial Branch , May 14, 2020
• Announcement on 2020 Bar Admission by Examination, Kansas Supreme Court , April 17, 2020
• Attorney Admissions, Kansas Judicial Branch
• Modifications: On July 9, 2020, the Supreme Court of Kentucky issued an order cancelling the bar examinations scheduled for July 28-29, 2020 and September 30-October 1, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. A remote bar examination will now be offered on October 5-6, 2020. The Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from the October remote bar exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) The Supreme Court has also revised its temporary rule regarding Supervised Practice of Law Pending Admission to allow individuals who applied for the July or September 2020 bar exam (and who are now registered for the October remote exam) to apply for temporary admission to the Kentucky Bar Association. The temporary admission would be subject to certain conditions, including supervision by a licensed attorney.
• Amended Order 2020-50, In re: Administration of 2020 Bar Examinations, Supreme Court of Kentucky , July 9, 2020
• Amended Order 2020-51, In re: Temporary Rule Permitting Supervised Practice of Law Pending Admission, Supreme Court of Kentucky , July 9, 2020
• Press Release, Supreme Court of Kentucky , July 9, 2020
• Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: August 31, 2020 (online) and October 10, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: In response to the coronavirus pandemic, on July 22, 2020, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an order permitting certain “Qualified Candidates” for admission to the Louisiana State Bar to be admitted to practice without having to take and pass the bar exam in 2020, provided that all other requirements for admission are met. These “Qualified Candidates” must complete 25 hours of continuing legal education and the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Transition Into Practice mentoring program by December 31, 2021. Bar exam applicants who do not meet the definition of “Qualified Candidate” can take the bar exam in an online, remote format on October 10, 2020. (A previous administration was on August 31, 2020.) On August 12, 2020, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an order that made modifications to these remote exams, including having them be in an open-book format, with no live monitoring or proctoring. Applicants will receive the exam questions by email and submit responses by email. The August 31, 2020 exam was intended to be administered on August 24, 2020, but it was rescheduled due to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.
• Order, Louisiana Supreme Court , August 12, 2020
• Press Release, Louisiana Supreme Court , August 12, 2020
• Order, Louisiana Supreme Court , July 22, 2020
• Press Release, Louisiana Supreme Court , July 22, 2020
• Order, Louisiana Supreme Court , November 25, 2020
• News, Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions
• Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: September 30-October 1, 2020
• Modifications: The Maine bar exam scheduled for July 28-29, 2020 was cancelled and rescheduled to September 30-October 1, 2020. This rescheduled exam took place with safety protocols. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court also issued an emergency order to allow the refund of fees paid by bar exam applicants to the Maine Board of Bar Examiners under certain circumstances.
• September 30, 2020 - October 1, 2020 Maine Bar Examination Safety Precautions, State of Maine Board of Bar Examiners
• Order Regarding the Maine Bar Examination, Maine Supreme Court , April 15, 2020 (revised June 4, 2020 and July 16, 2020)
• Maine Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: The State Board of Law Examiners (SBLE) will offer an online, remote administration of the Maryland bar exam on October 5-6, 2020. This exam will not provide a portable Uniform Bar Examination score, but the SBLE has reached reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores earned on the October 2020 exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) On August 28, 2020, the Court of Appeals of Maryland issued an order that allows some 2020 bar exam applicants to obtain a “Temporary Special Authorization” that will allow them to temporarily engage in the limited practice of law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
• FAQs Related to the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam in Maryland, Maryland State Board of Law Examiners , Updated September 18, 2020
• FAQs on the Order Establishing Special Authorization for the Temporary Supervised Practice of Law in Maryland, Maryland State Board of Law Examiners
• Administrative Order on Establishing Special Authorization for the Temporary Supervised Practice of Law, Court of Appeals of Maryland , August 28, 2020
• Maryland State Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: The September 30-October 1, 2020 in-person Massachusetts administration of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. An alternative, remote online bar exam will be offered on October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will not provide a portable UBE score, but the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners has reached reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores earned on the October 2020 exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has also temporarily expanded its student practice rule for law students who have graduated from Massachusetts law schools in the spring of 2020. This change will make it easier for them to appear in court on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or certain indigent clients without having passed the bar exam.
• Letter and Memorandum, Procedures and Safeguards: October 2020 Remotely-Administered Exam for Bar Admission , August 25, 2020
• FAQs Related to October 2020 Examination for Admission to the Massachusetts Bar
• Press Release, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Clerk's Office for the County of Suffolk , July 1, 2020
• Temporary Emergency Order, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court , April 22, 2020
• Bar Exam and COVID-19, Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners
• Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: On May 18, 2020, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order that the two-day exam scheduled for July 28-29, 2020 be replaced with a one-day exam on July 28, 2020. This exam was administered online (with limited exceptions) and only contained the essay portion of the traditional exam. Some examinees experienced technical difficulties during the exam, and the Michigan Supreme Court has asked the Michigan Board of Law Examiners to investigate these issues. Applicants who did not wish to take the online exam had the option to transfer their applications at no cost to the February 2021 bar exam.
• Press Release, Michigan Courts , July 29, 2020
• FAQs, July 2020 Michigan Online Bar Examination , Updated July 6, 2020
• July 2020 Bar Examination Initial Information, Michigan Board of Law Examiners , May 27, 2020
• Administrative Order No. 2020-15, Michigan Supreme Court , May 18, 2020
• Press Release, Michigan Courts , May 18, 2020
• Administrative Order No. 2020-22, Michigan Supreme Court , December 4, 2020
• Michigan Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: The Minnesota Board of Law Examiners administered the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020, with safety protocols including physical distancing and a requirement that examinees wear a mask at all times. An additional administration of the UBE was administered on September 9-10, 2020 with safety protocols. Applicants who indicated that they would take the exam in September could defer to the February 2021 or July 2021 exams. On June 5, 2020, the Minnesota Supreme Court adopted changes to the Student Practice Rules that will permit recent graduates to practice under the supervision of a Minnesota licensed lawyer in good standing. These changes were effective on July 1, 2020.
• FAQs Related to the September 2020 Exam Administration, Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners , Updated August 28, 2020
• COVID-19 Preparedness Plan - September 2020 Bar Examinations, Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners , Updated August 20, 2020
• Order Adopting Supervised Practice Rules, Minnesota Supreme Court , June 5, 2020
• Testing Protocols, Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners , May 22, 2020
• Letter, Re: July 2020/September 2020 Bar Examination, Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners , May 20, 2020
• Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: The July 2020 bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. The exam involved safety protocols, including health screenings, mask requirements, and physical distancing. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the $325 deferment fee and $25 February 2021 application update fee were waived for all July 2020 applicants who deferred to the February 2021 exam.
• Emergency Administrative Order-12, Mississippi Supreme Court , May 14, 2020
• Bar Admissions, State of Mississippi Judiciary
• Modifications: The Uniform Bar Examination was administered as scheduled in Missouri on July 28-29, 2020. Safety protocols included requirements that all attendees wear masks and maintain social distancing. On April 28, 2020, the Supreme Court of Missouri issued an order that allowed examinees to delay taking the exam with no postponement fee and extended the temporary certification period under Rule 13 so that recent graduates could continue to practice in limited subject matters under supervision.
• Statement Regarding July Bar Examination, Missouri Courts , July 9, 2020
• COVID-19 Precautionary Measures for the July 2020 Bar Examination, Missouri Board of Law Examiners , June 5, 2020
• July 2020 Exam COVID-19 FAQs, Missouri Board of Law Examiners , updated June 5, 2020
• Order, In re: July 2020 Uniform Bar Examination, Missouri Supreme Court , April 28, 2020
• Announcements, Missouri Board of Law Examiners
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28-29, 2020 (mandatory Montana Law Seminar on July 30, 2020 via Zoom)
• Modifications: The Montana Uniform Bar Exam was administered on July 28 and 29, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the July 30, 2020 Montana Law Seminar was offered via Zoom only. On June 17, 2020, the Montana Supreme Court approved temporary rules to allow provisional admission to the bar for certain eligible candidates who are unable or unwilling to sit for the bar exam during the pandemic.
• Order, In re: Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana, Supreme Court of the State of the Montana , June 17, 2020
• Admissions Information, State Bar of Montana
• Admissions, State Bar of Montana
• Modifications: On May 7, 2020, the Nebraska Supreme Court issued an order that the July 2020 Nebraska bar exam would be administered on July 28-29, 2020, along with an additional exam on September 9-10, 2020. The July and September exams were administered as scheduled, with public health protocols. On May 28, 2020, the Nebraska Supreme Court extended senior certified law student status to all May 2020 graduates of a Nebraska law school who have not yet taken the bar exam.
• News, Nebraska Judicial Branch , September 16, 2020
• Press Release, Nebraska Judicial Branch , July 31, 2020
• Order, In re: Petition for Waiver of the Bar Examination Requirement for Admission to the Bar and Provision of Emergency Diploma Privilege, Nebraska Supreme Court , July 13, 2020
• Press Release, Nebraska Judicial Branch , July 11, 2020
• Administrative Order, In re: Senior Law Students; Limited Practice of Law, Nebraska Supreme Court , May 28, 2020
• Administrative Order, In re: July 2020 Bar Examination, Nebraska Supreme Court , May 7, 2020
• Order, Nebraska Supreme Court , December 11, 2020
• Admission to the Practice of Law, State of Nebraska Judicial Branch
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: August 11-12, 2020
• Modifications: The July 2020 Nevada bar exam was rescheduled to August 11-12, 2020, with significant modifications due to COVID-19. These modifications included the ability to take the exam remotely by computer, the use of open book, and the elimination of the Multistate Bar Examination. The exam consisted of eight one-hour essays and a performance test written by the Nevada Board of Bar Examiners. A limited number of in-person testing seats were available in Las Vegas. Applicants were allowed to withdraw from this exam and permitted to sit for either of the next two exams or receive a refund.
• News Release, State Bar of Nevada , July 26, 2020
• Order, In re: Matter of the July 2020 Nevada State Bar Examination, Nevada Supreme Court , May 20, 2020
• News Release, State Bar of Nevada , November 9, 2020
• Admissions, State Bar of Nevada
• Modifications: On July 22, 2020, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire cancelled the in-person bar exam scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 due to COVID-19, and authorized a remote online exam for October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will use questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and will qualify applicants for admission in New Hampshire. This remote exam will not produce a UBE score, but the state has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.)
• FAQ - October 5 and 6, 2020 Remote Bar Exam, New Hampshire Office of Bar Admissions , Revised September 16, 2020
• Order, Supreme Court of New Hampshire , July 22, 2020
• News Release, Judicial Branch, State of New Hampshire , July 22, 2020
• Score Transfer Agreements for October Remote Exam (New Hampshire), National Conference on Bar Examiners
• News Release, Judicial Branch, State of New Hampshire , October 29, 2020
• NH Bar Admissions - New Hampshire Judicial Branch
• Modifications: On July 15, 2020, the Supreme Court of New Jersey cancelled the in-person bar exam scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 and authorized a remote online exam for October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will use questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and will qualify applicants for admission in New Jersey. This remote exam will not produce a Uniform Bar Exam score, but the Board of Bar Examiners has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) On April 6, 2020, the Supreme Court issued an order that temporarily relaxes court rules to allow 2020 law school graduates who have not yet taken the bar exam to practice law under attorney supervision.
• October 5th-6th, 2020 Remote Bar Examination Interstate Portability of Scores Reciprocal Jurisdictions, New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners
• Order, Supreme Court of New Jersey , July 15, 2020
• Press Release, New Jersey Courts , July 15, 2020
• Order, Supreme Court of New Jersey , April 6, 2020
• Press Release, New Jersey Courts , April 6, 2020
• FAQs, New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners
• All Announcements, New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: On April 28, 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court postponed the July 2020 bar examination to September 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The court also ordered that a working group develop a proposal for a temporary, alternative practice program that would provide a limited, supervised opportunity for legal practice by applicants who are waiting for an opportunity to take a bar examination in the event that the September 2020 bar exam is cancelled. The bar exam was administered on September 9-10, 2020.
• Order, In the Matter of the Administration of the Bar Examination by The New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico , April 28, 2020
• Information on Bar Admissions and COVID-19, New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: In light of developments related to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York administration of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 has been cancelled, and a remote online exam will be offered on October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will use questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and will qualify applicants for admission in New York. This remote exam will not produce a UBE score, but the New York State Board of Law Examiners has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) On April 28, 2020, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore approved a program that allows qualified law school graduates who will be taking the bar exam for the first time to temporarily engage in the limited practice of law under the supervision of an experienced attorney in good standing.
• Bar Examination Update, New York State Court of Appeals , July 23, 2020
• Chief Judge Approves Temporary Authorization Program, New York State Unified Court System , April 28, 2020
• New York State Board of Law Examiners
• New York State Court of Appeals
• Modifications: The July bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020 with safety protocols, including temperature screenings, mask requirements, and social distancing. The minimum passing score has been reduced from 270 to 268 for the July 2020 and February 2021 North Carolina bar exams, and the minimum acceptable score for Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) Transfer applicants who sit for the UBE in July 2020, September 2020, or February 2021 has been reduced from 270 to 268.
• Passing Score Reduced for July 2020 and February 2021 North Carolina Bar Examinations, North Carolina Board of Law Examiners
• Notice to Applicants Regarding COVID-19 Requirements for the July 2020 North Carolina Bar Examination, North Carolina Board of Law Examiners
• A Note from the Chair, North Carolina Board of Law Examiners
• Announcement, North Carolina Board of Law Examiners , November 23, 2020
• All Announcements, North Carolina Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: The North Dakota bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. There is an existing rule in North Dakota that allows for the temporary practice of law in the state by law school graduates under certain circumstances.
• Bar Exam Application, North Dakota State Board of Law Examiners
• COVID-19 FAQs re: Administration of the Bar Exam in North Dakota in 2020, North Dakota State Board of Law Examiners
• Temporary Practice Of Law School Graduates Applying For Admission, State of North Dakota Courts (effective August 1, 2001)
• Modifications: On July 22, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ohio cancelled the in-person bar exam scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 and authorized a remote online exam for October 5-6, 2020. This exam will use questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and will qualify applicants for admission in Ohio. The October exam will not produce a Uniform Bar Exam score, but the state has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) In addition, the Supreme Court has modified the Practice Pending Admission During the Admission to the Practice of Law Process (PPA) to allow recent law school graduates to apply for temporary supervised practice in Ohio.
• Remote Bar Exam FAQs, Office of Bar Admissions
• Administrative Actions #2, 2020-Ohio-3800, Supreme Court of Ohio , July 22, 2020
• Administrative Actions #2, 2020-Ohio-2954, Supreme Court of Ohio , May 14, 2020
• Practice Pending Admission for Recent Graduates, Supreme Court of Ohio
• Administrative Actions, Supreme Court of Ohio , November 19, 2020
• Office of Bar Admissions, Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Judicial System
• Modifications: The Oklahoma bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. Safety protocols included social distancing, temperature checks, and mask requirements. Any registered July 2020 applicant who did not wish to take the July 2020 exam had the option of requesting a deferral to the next available exam date.
• Notice, Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners , May 8, 2020
• Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: The July bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. The minimum passing score has been temporarily lowered for this exam from 274 to 266. A remote online bar exam will be administered on October 5-6, 2020, using questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The passing score for the October exam will be 266 or higher, and it will qualify applicants for admission in Oregon. This remote exam will not produce a Uniform Bar Exam score, but the Board of Bar Examiners has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Vermont for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) In addition, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Oregon Supreme Court established an “Emergency Diploma Privilege” for July 2020 Oregon bar exam applicants who either: (a) graduated in 2020 from one of the three Oregon law schools; or (b) graduated in 2020 from any other law school accredited by the ABA that had a minimum of 86 percent of graduates pass a 2019 bar exam on their first attempt. A person admitted to the Oregon Bar via this diploma privilege would be a fully licensed member of the Bar. The deadline for eligible bar exam applicants to elect admission by diploma privilege was July 6, 2020.
• Supreme Court Order No. 20-022, Oregon Supreme Court , August 5, 2020
• Supreme Court Order No. 20-012, Oregon Supreme Court , June 30, 2020
• COVID-19 Announcements for July 2020 Bar Exam, Oregon State Bar
• Chief Justice Order No. 20-009, Oregon Supreme Court , March 27, 2020
• Score Transfer Agreements for October Remote Exam (Oregon), National Conference on Bar Examiners
• Admissions, Oregon State Bar
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: October 5-7, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: On July 9, 2020, the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners announced that the in-person bar exam scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 (which was the rescheduled date for the exam that was to be administered in July) will not take place due to coronavirus concerns. Instead, the Board will administer a remote bar exam on October 5-7, 2020, which will consist of a 100-question multistate bar exam on October 6 and essay sections on October 5 and 7. In addition, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has approved a limited license program that allows July 2020 bar exam applicants to temporarily practice law under the supervision of an experienced lawyer.
• Information for October 2020 Remote Bar Examinees, Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners , Updated October 1, 2020
• October 2020 Pennsylvania Bar Exam FAQs, Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners
• Letter from the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners , July 8, 2020
• Press Release, Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners , April 28, 2020
• Order, In re: Order Permitting Limited Practice by Persons Unable to Sit for July 2020 Pennsylvania Bar Examination Because of COVID-19, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania , April 28, 2020
• Letter from the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners , October 19, 2020
• Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: On June 11, 2020, the Rhode Island Supreme Court announced that the July 2020 bar exam would be postponed to September 30-October 1, 2020. This exam took place as scheduled.
• Order, In re: Article II of the Supreme Court Rules (Further Response to COVID-19 - July 2020 Rhode Island Bar Examination), Rhode Island Supreme Court , June 11, 2020
• Order, Rhode Island Supreme Court , November 30, 2020
• Admission to the Rhode Island Bar, Rhode Island Judiciary
• Modifications: The South Carolina bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. Safety protocols included health screenings, mask requirements, and social distancing.
• Order, Re: COVID-19 Mitigation Measures for the July 2020 South Carolina Bar Examination, Supreme Court of South Carolina , July 2, 2020
• Office of Bar Admissions, Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Modifications: The July bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. On May 6, 2020, the South Dakota Supreme Court issued an order that amended, for July 2020 South Dakota bar exam applicants, the existing program that allows law students and graduates to work for a limited period of time under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
• Order, South Dakota Supreme Court , May 6, 2020
• South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: On July 13, 2020, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order that cancelled the in-person Uniform Bar Examination scheduled for September 9-10, 2020 and directed that an online, remotely-proctored Admissions Assessment exam be offered on October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will use questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and will qualify applicants for admission in Tennessee. This remote exam will not produce a Uniform Bar Exam score, but the Board of Law Examiners has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) The Supreme Court’s order also temporarily extended the amount of time that applicants for the bar exam that was originally scheduled for July 2020 (if they graduated from law school between March 1 and July 24, 2020) can practice law under supervision pending admission.
• Order, In re: COVID-19 Pandemic, Tennessee Supreme Court , July 13, 2020
• Press Release, Tennessee State Courts , July 13, 2020
• FAQs: October 2020 Admissions Assessment, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners
• Order, In re: COVID-19 Pandemic, Tennessee Supreme Court , October 23, 2020
• Press Release, Tennessee State Courts , October 23, 2020
• COVID-19 Announcements, Tennessee Board of Law Examiners
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: September 9-10, 2020 (in-person) and October 5-6, 2020 (online)
• Modifications: On July 3, 2020, the Texas Supreme Court issued an order that cancelled the July bar exam and directed that an in-person exam be administered on September 9-10, 2020 and an online exam be administered on October 5-6, 2020. The September exam was administered as scheduled. On August 24, 2020, the Texas Board of Bar Examiners approved a proposal to accept a score of 270 or higher earned on the October 5-6, 2020 remote bar exam being administered by the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont as meeting the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) score requirement for those applying for admission to the Texas Bar based on a transferred UBE score. The Supreme Court also adopted updated rules in April that allow law students and graduates to participate in the limited practice of law in Texas under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
• UBE Transfers and the October 2020 Bar Exams, Texas Board of Bar Examiners , August 25, 2020
• Nineteenth Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster, Misc. Docket No. 20-9083, Supreme Court of Texas , July 3, 2020
• Thirteenth Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster, Misc. Docket No. 20-9060, Supreme Court of Texas , April 29, 2020
• Announcement, Texas Board of Law Examiners , January 11, 2021
• Texas Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: The July 2020 bar exam was cancelled, and the Utah State Bar administered a bar exam on September 30-October 1, 2020. On April 21, 2020, the Utah Supreme Court issued an order that provided an alternative one-time option for licensure for certain July 2020 exam applicants. Requirements of this option include performing 360 hours of legal practice under the supervision of an experienced attorney, and an applicant must have either graduated from a law school that had an overall first-time bar passage rate of 86% or greater in 2019 (from all bar examinations, not just the Utah exam), or currently be in good standing and licensed in another jurisdiction. Applicants who do not meet these criteria, or who would prefer to take the bar exam, had the option of taking the bar exam on the rescheduled date.
• Order, In re: Matter of Emergency Modifications to Utah Supreme Court Rules of Professional Practice, Rules Governing Admission to the Utah State Bar, Utah Supreme Court , April 21, 2020
• Press Release, Utah Courts , April 21, 2020
• All Announcements, Utah State Bar Admissions
• Modifications: On July 17, 2020, the Vermont Supreme Court announced the cancellation of the in-person bar examination scheduled for September 9-10, 2020. This exam will be replaced with a remote online exam that will be administered on October 5-6, 2020. This remote exam will use questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and will qualify applicants for admission in Vermont. This remote exam will not produce a Uniform Bar Exam score, but the Board of Bar Examiners has entered into reciprocity agreements with Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee for the portability of scores from this exam. (Texas will also accept scores from this exam.) All applicants registered for the July bar exam were automatically registered for the October exam, but they could choose to opt out of this exam and sit for the February 2021 bar exam or withdraw their application and receive a refund. Applicants who decided not to take the remote exam and chose to register for the February 2021 exam will be considered to be “registered for the next administration of the bar examination” for the purposes of eligibility to practice as a legal intern under Part VI of the Vermont Rules of Admission to the Bar.
• Order Promulgating Amendments to Administrative Order No. 49, Vermont Supreme Court , July 17, 2020
• Score Transfer Agreements for October Remote Exam (Vermont), National Conference on Bar Examiners
• Admission to the Vermont Bar, Vermont Judiciary
• 2020 Bar Exam Dates: July 28-29, 2020 and September 10, 2020
• Modifications: The July bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners administered an additional bar exam on September 10, 2020. The September exam was a Virginia essay exam and did not have an MBE component (an MBE score was not required to pass this exam). Applicants for the September exam had the option to defer to the February 2021 exam.
• COVID-19 Updates, Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
• Press Release, Virginia State Bar , July 13, 2020
• Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: On June 12, 2020, the Supreme Court of Washington announced that applicants for admission to practice law who are registered for either the July or September 2020 bar exam and who have received a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school, and applicants registered to take the LLLT examination scheduled for July 2020, are granted the option of receiving a diploma privilege to practice in Washington due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bar examinations in July and September 2020 were administered for those who did not qualify for the diploma privilege and for those who wanted to take the exam to receive a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) score. The minimum passing UBE score was reduced from 270 to 266 for the July and September exams, both for applicants taking the exam in Washington and for applicants seeking admission to the Washington Bar by transferring their UBE score from another jurisdiction. On May 15, 2020, the Supreme Court of Washington authorized temporary expansions to the existing Licensed Legal Interns program that enables law school graduates to practice law under the supervision of an attorney.
• February 2021 Bar Exam: Remote (in-person testing at discretion if remote testing would be impractical or unreasonable).
• Bar Exams Scheduled for July 28-29, 2020 and September 9-10, 2020 Frequently Asked Questions, Washington State Bar Association , Revised August 4, 2020
• Order Granting Diploma Privilege and Temporarily Modifying Admission & Practice Rules, Supreme Court of Washington , June 12, 2020
• Order Temporarily Modifying Admission and Practice Rules, Supreme Court of Washington , May 15, 2020
• Letter, Re: 2020 Bar Exams, Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens, Supreme Court of Washington , May 13, 2020
• Rule 9 Licensed Legal Interns, Washington State Bar Association
• APR 9: Licensed Legal Interns, Admission and Practice Rules, Washington Courts
• Order, Supreme Court of Washington , December 3, 2020
• Admission By Lawyer Bar Examination, Washington State Bar Association
• Modifications: The West Virginia Board of Law Examiners administered the July bar exam as scheduled. Public health protocols included social distancing, health screenings prior to entering the test site, and a requirement that all applicants wear a mask during the exam.
• Bar Examination Application Instructions, West Virginia Board of Law Examiners
• West Virginia Board of Law Examiners
• Modifications: The Wisconsin bar exam was administered as scheduled on July 28-29, 2020. Note that graduates of the two law schools in Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin and Marquette) can be admitted to the practice of law in the state by demonstrating their legal competence through academic requirements outlined in Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 40.03.
• Order, In re: The Matter of the Modification of SCR 40.03 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, Wisconsin Supreme Court , June 1, 2020
• Chapter 40: Admission to the Bar, Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules
• Admission to the Practice of Law in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Court System
• Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners
• Modifications: On July 15, 2020, the Wyoming State Bar announced that an additional administration of the bar exam would be offered on September 30-October 1, 2020. Both the July 28-29 and September 30-October 1 bar exams were administered as scheduled. The Wyoming Supreme Court issued an order on April 10, 2020 implementing a practice pending admission rule that allows bar exam applicants who have satisfied the requirements of the rule to practice under the supervision of a licensed member of the Wyoming State Bar while waiting for their exam results. This rule was supposed to only apply if the July 2020 bar exam was postponed; however, the Supreme Court issued an order on July 17, 2020 that removed this condition.
• Order, In the Matter of the Amendments to Rule 203 of the Rules and Procedures Governing Admission to the Practice of Law, Supreme Court of Wyoming , July 17, 2020
• Press Release, Wyoming State Bar , July 15, 2020
• Order, In the Matter of the Adoption of Rule 203 of the Rules and Procedures Governing Admission to the Practice of Law, Supreme Court of Wyoming , April 10, 2020
• Admissions, Wyoming State Bar

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