What do you need to pass the bar exam in New York?
Asked by: Prof. Cecile Willms Sr. | Last update: October 4, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (18 votes)
New York Bar Exam Scoring and Grading New York's minimum passing score is 266. Since the UBE is divided into 2 equally weighted sections — writing (MPT/MEE) and the MBE — you should aim for a 133 on each section. However, you do not need to score 133 on each section to pass the New York Bar Exam.
What do I need to pass the NY bar exam?
In order to pass the New York Bar Exam, which is the New York Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), a you must achieve a passing score of at least 266 on a 400 point scale.
What score do you need to pass the New York Bar exam?
A passing score for the New York bar exam is a 266 on a 400 point scale, once it switches to the UBE. It looks like New York will follow traditional UBE grading in scoring its bar exam. To see the breakdown of how the UBE is graded, please read this post on “what does my UBE score report mean“.
Can you pass the bar in NY without law school?
Can I Take the Bar Without Going To Law School In New York? In New York, a person must complete a year of law school and three years of study in a law office under New York Bar Admission Rules Section 520.4. Once all that is completed, an applicant can take the bar exam.
Who is eligible for the New York Bar exam?
Earn an LLM degree within 24 months of matriculation. Take a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in courses requiring classroom instruction. A maximum of four credits may be earned in summer courses. Coursework must be completed physically at the campus of the ABA-approved law school in the US.
How I Passed the New York Bar Exam and How You Can Do It Too
How hard is the New York bar exam?
Nonetheless, the New York Bar Exam still qualifies as a moderately difficult bar exam. An applicant must score 266 on a 400 point scale in order to pass the New York Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
How long is law school in NY?
Law school is typically a three-year program, and most law schools require full-time attendance. One can attend any law school in the United States and apply to practice in NYS, as long as the law school is approved by the American Bar Association, also known as the ABA.
What state has the easiest bar exam?
Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.
How much is the New York bar exam?
Apply online November 1-30 for the February exam and April 1-30 for the July exam. The fee is $250 (online payment only). Applicants must take and complete an online course in New York-specific law known as the New York Law Course (NYLC) and must take and pass an online exam known as the New York Law Exam (NYLE).
Are you a lawyer if you don't pass the bar?
Attorneys, lawyers, and counsel have all been educated and trained in law. As explained above, attorneys must pass the bar exam and practice law in court. Lawyers have also taken the bar exam, and may or may not practice law. Counsels provide legal advice, and often work for an organization or corporation.
Is the New York Bar exam open book?
After watching all of the videos and completing the NYLC, you will have unlimited access to re- watch the NYLC videos, without the embedded questions, through your BOLE account. 44. What is the New York Law Exam (NYLE)? The NYLE is a 50-item, two-hour, open-book, multiple-choice test administered online.
How many times can you fail the NY bar exam?
The good news is that you can take the New York bar exam an unlimited amount of times if you do not pass. New York does not place a limit or a restriction on the number of times you may attempt to pass the bar exam.
What is the hardest bar exam to pass?
Is The California Bar Exam Hard? Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.
Is 300 a good bar exam score?
A 300 is approximately the 90th percentile. A 280 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 270 is approximately the 58th percentile. A 260 is approximately the 44th percentile.
What happens if you fail the Nyle?
The score required to pass the NYLE is 30. An applicant who fails to achieve the required passing score may re-take the NYLE without limitation, but must repeat the NYLC each time before re-taking the NYLE.
Can you self study for the bar exam?
Even though it is rarely advised, it is possible to self-study for the bar exam, as long as you have the right resources and proper work ethic. Keeping yourself on schedule will be crucial in order to make sure you've adequately practiced everything. But with a lot of dedication and commitment, you can succeed!
How hard is it to pass the bar in NY?
On a scale of 260-280 of UBE passage rates, New York strikes a happy balance and requires a score of 266 to pass.
Can you take the New York bar exam online?
In addition to the UBE, all applicants to the New York Bar must complete the “New York Law Course” (NYLC), an online course of study covering New York specific law, and take an open book, online test known as the New York Law Exam (NYLE).
How many times can you take the bar exam?
There is no limit to the number of times you can take the bar exam in the state of California. While it may come as a relief to many students who are planning to take the bar exam in California that there are no limits, California's bar exam is known for being one of the hardest exams in the U.S.
Is bar exam harder than law school?
Generally, the bar exam is considered harder than the LSAT. The LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension for law school admission, while the bar exam requires extensive legal knowledge and practical skills to obtain a license to practice law.
What is the hardest state to become a lawyer?
Florida and California are the most challenging states to become a lawyer in terms of passing the bar exam. Their bar exams are considered the most difficult to pass. Those two states do not have reciprocity with other states regarding honoring those who have passed the bar exam in other states.
What state can you take the bar without a law degree?
Before you can practice law, you will need to choose a state that will allow you to take the bar exam without completing law school. Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
Is law school harder than med school?
Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.
Can you be a lawyer in NY without going to law school?
It is also possible to become a lawyer in New York without obtaining a law degree, if you complete some study at a law school and then work as an apprentice at a law office for four years. Lawyers in New York are regulated by the Courts.