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Bar Exam Application

POLICY - JULY 2020 BAR EXAM

The North Dakota State Board of Law Examiners (BLE) presently intends to administer the July Bar Exam at the Bismarck Event Center on July 28-29, 2020.  If the July exam cannot be administered, the BLE intends to administer an exam on September 9-10, 2020.  If the July exam can be administered, no exam will be administered in September.

The number of examinees for the July 2020 exam will currently be limited to 85 examinees.  Priority will be given as follows:

  1. Individuals already registered as of April 1, 2020. Individuals whose applications were accepted and payment of the required fees were received as of April 1, 2020 have a seat for the July exam.  Nothing further is required from these applicants at this time to secure a seat.
  1. University of North Dakota graduates. Graduates of the University of North Dakota whose application and required fees are timely submitted will be considered next. UND graduates wanting to test in North Dakota in July are encouraged to get their applications in as soon as possible.  This will enable us to better prepare for the July exam.  The late filing deadline of April 15, 2020 and the final late filing deadline of May 15, 2020 remain in effect. Applications must be received in the Board office by these dates and must have the correct fees in order to be considered valid and timely for the July exam. Please carefully follow the instruction sheets/checklists provided on this webpage and note that the postmark date will not be used at this time as a determination of priority. 
  1. Other applicants. If there are seats remaining, other applicants whose application and required fees are received in the Board office by May 15, 2020 will be processed until the limit set by the Board has been reached. These applications will be processed based on the date received in the Board office.  Applications received after May 15 will be summarily returned. 

The BLE may have to limit the number of examinees to less than 85 examinees.  If the BLE is forced to do so, the priority above will remain the same.  Priority 2, the University of North Dakota graduates, will be prioritized based on the date the application and required fees are received in the Board office. Other applications, if there are seats remaining, will be prioritized as well by the date received.

To help with timely filings and comply with social distancing regulations, we have replaced any requirement for notarized documentation with an unsworn declaration in the format set out by N.D.C.C. 31-15-05.

The BLE recognizes the changing and stressful dynamic in which we all currently operate.  Be assured the BLE is continually monitoring public health information and government requirements and recommendations related to large gatherings. We will ultimately follow such requirements and recommendations for administration of any exam.

Additional information can be found at: 

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: http://www.ncbex.org/about-ncbe-exams/ube/.

Administration of the February exam is dependent on ten or more applicants. Applications for the February exam must be postmarked by November 1 prior to the February exam for which application is made. Applications postmarked later than November 1, but by December 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 ten 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 later than March 15, but by May 15 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 at the NCBE website; however, all materials are required to be mailed to the State Board of Law Examiners. Please carefully follow the instructions and checklists below.

Mail to:

State Board of Law Examiners
Judicial Wing, 1st Floor
600 E. Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58505-0530