Bar Exam Application

An applicant for admission to the North Dakota Bar must be 18 years of age and have received a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from a law school approved, or provisionally approved, for accreditation by the American Bar Association.

North Dakota administers the Uniform Bar Examination.  For more information about the UBE and portability of scores, please visit: https://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube.

Administration of the February exam is dependent on 17 or more applicants. Applications for the February exam must be postmarked by October 1 prior to the February exam for which application is made. Applications postmarked after October 1, but on or before November 1 prior to the February exam for which application is made, shall be permitted upon payment of a late filing fee. Fees paid, excluding the investigative fee, will be refunded only in the event of less than 17 applicants. The investigative fee is not refundable.

Applications to write the July exam must be postmarked by March 15 prior to the July exam for which application is made, and applications postmarked after March 15, but on or before May 1 prior to the July exam for which application is made, shall be permitted upon payment of a late filing fee. Fees paid for the July exam are not refundable.

The Board of Law Examiners uses the services of the National Conference of Bar Examiners to assist in conducting an applicant's character and fitness investigation.  The application form is completed online through the NCBE website.  However, additional documents and an exam fee are required to be filed directly with the State Board of Law Examiners. Your application is not considered received until the exam fee, applicable late fees, and core documents listed in the instructions are timely received at the Board’s office.  Please carefully follow the instructions or your application may be rejected.

• February Bar Examination Instructions/Fees/Checklist
• July Bar Examination Instructions/Fees/Checklist
• Third Year Law Students-Instructions/Fees/Checklist
• Retakes-Instructions/Fees/Checklist
• Application
• Affidavit Updating Previous Application
• Exam Petition
• State Board of Law Examiners' Release Form
• Admission to Practice Rules
• Sample Application

Mail to:

State Board of Law Examiners
600 E. Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58505-0530