Reciprocity Based On Test Scores
Eligibility:
Individuals may be eligible to apply for admission by motion by test score to the North Dakota Bar provided the applicant:
- Is 18 years of age and has received a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from a law school approved, or provisionally approved, for accreditation by the American Bar Association.
AND
- has received a scaled score of 260 or above on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) given in another jurisdiction,
OR
- has received a scaled score of 150 or above on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) taken as a part of and at the same time as the essay or other written bar examination given by another jurisdiction that did not use the UBE on the date of the applicant’s examination; and applicant has been admitted to the bar of the jurisdiction in which the MBE exam was written.
Deadline:
Proof of the UBE or MBE score and a completed application must be received at the offices of the Board within:
- Two years from the date of the examination in the jurisdiction where the examination was written, if the applicant has not been actively engaged in the practice of law,
OR
- Five years from the date of licensure if the applicant has been actively engaged in the practice of law, to an extent deemed by the Board to demonstrate competency, and
- The application must be accompanied by verification of 12 hours of approved or approvable course work in Continuing Legal Education, one hour of which shall be in the area of ethics or course work commonly considered professional responsibility, within the 36-month period immediately preceding the application for admission.
- An applicant who fails to achieve a passing score after taking six UBE or MBE bar examinations may not be admitted based on eligibility by test score.
Procedure:
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 application fee are required to be filed directly with the State Board of Law Examiners. Your application is not considered received until the application fee and the 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.
- Application based on test score - Instructions/Fees/Checklist
- Application
- Motion Petition
- State Board of Law Examiner's Release form
- Rule 7(B), Admission to Practice Rules
- MBE Score Transfer Requests
- UBE Score Transfer Requests
- MPRE Score Transfer Requests
Mail to:
State Board of Law Examiners
600 E. Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58505-0530