When to apply for NY bar?
Asked by: Albert Simonis | Last update: June 6, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (14 votes)
You apply for the New York Bar during specific monthly windows: March 1-31 for the July exam and October 1-31 for the February exam, with no late filings allowed. You must also pass the MPRE and NYLE, and complete character & fitness reviews, with application deadlines being strict and requiring early preparation, especially for the Certificate of Attendance, according to Fordham Law School.
When to register for the New York bar exam?
For a July bar exam (UBE), the Application Filing Period is March 1 - 31st. For a February bar exam (UBE), the Application Filing Period is October 1 - 31st.
When should you apply for the bar?
We recommend that you start the state bar admissions process at least a year or more in advance of your anticipated bar exam date.
How many times did Michelle Obama take the bar?
Michelle Obama took the Illinois bar exam twice, failing the first time but passing on her second attempt, a fact she openly discussed in her memoir, Becoming, noting it as a humbling but ultimately insignificant setback. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1991 after this success.
Can ChatGPT pass the bar exam?
Yes, the AI model GPT-4 (the basis for later ChatGPT versions) passed the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), scoring near the 90th percentile with a combined score around 298, surpassing many jurisdictions' passing thresholds and outperforming the average human test-taker on the multiple-choice portion. While impressive and showing AI's potential to boost lawyer efficiency and access to justice, it's a demonstration of information recall and pattern recognition, not necessarily human-level legal judgment, requiring a "human in the loop" for real practice.
7 Questions to Answer Before Your Bar Exam Application (Success Tips)
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?
No, Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the full California Bar Exam; she failed the July 2025 exam and publicly shared her results in November 2025, vowing to keep studying, though she previously passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in 2021. She's said she came "so close" and is determined to pass, viewing the setback as motivation for future attempts.
Did Joe Biden pass a bar exam?
Yes, Joe Biden earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968 and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, indicating he passed the bar exam required for practice, despite graduating in the lower half of his class.
How many times has Kim Kardashian taken in the bar?
Kim Kardashian has taken the official California Bar Exam once, in July 2025, and did not pass, but she did pass the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after failing it three times. She plans to retake the main bar exam, as there's no limit on retakes in California.
Who tops the bar exam in 2025?
UP has topped the 2025 Bar Examinations. The Supreme Court released the good news on Jan. 7, citing Jhenroniel Rhey T. Sanchez of the UP College of Law (UP Law), placing first of all Bar passers, with a 92.7% rating.
Is a 3.3 GPA too low for law school?
A 3.3 GPA isn't necessarily "bad," but it makes getting into top-tier (T14/T20) law schools very difficult, though not impossible, requiring a very high LSAT score and strong essays; it's more feasible for mid-tier (Top 50) or lower-ranked schools, where a strong LSAT, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and work experience can significantly boost your chances, even securing scholarships. The key is balancing it with your LSAT score and the specific school's median stats, as many schools have medians above 3.7 for their entering classes.
Is it better to take the bar in February or July?
The February administration of the bar exam generally receives lower passing rates when compared to the July exam. One of the primary reasons for this has to do with the number of test-takers when compared to the July exam.
Can you work as a lawyer without passing the bar?
Yes! There are many legal careers besides being a lawyer. Some of the highest-paying jobs for J.D.s who do not practice law are compliance officer, corporate counsel, intellectual property manager, risk manager, legal consultant, mediator, or arbitrator.
Which states have reciprocity with NY bar?
New York has reciprocity for admission without examination (admission on motion) with many states, including Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and others in the UBE (Uniform Bar Examination) family, but criteria like practice years (often 3-5+) and MPRE scores apply, with specific requirements varying by jurisdiction. You must meet New York's criteria, typically requiring active practice in a reciprocal state and passing the MPRE, to qualify for admission on motion.
How much does the NYS bar exam cost?
The application fee for the NYS bar examination is $250. If you choose to file the on-line application the only acceptable form of payment is a credit card (Visa and Master Card only). Debits cards are not accepted. The Board cannot accept credit card payment by mail or phone.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
Did Michelle Obama ever pass a bar exam?
Yes, Michelle Obama failed the Illinois bar exam on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School, but she retook it, passed, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1989, going on to have a successful legal career. She is one of several prominent figures, including Hillary Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who initially failed the bar exam before achieving great success.
What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?
Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
Did JFK ever pass the bar exam?
Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He then failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third try in July 1990. After failing the exam for a second time, Kennedy vowed that he would continue to take it until he was 95 years old or passed.
Is Kamala Harris a lawyer?
Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She began her law career in the office of the district attorney of Alameda County.
Who has passed the bar without going to law school?
Yes, people have passed the bar exam without going to law school, but only in a few specific states (California, Vermont, Virginia, Washington) through a structured legal apprenticeship program, which is rare, difficult, and has significantly lower pass rates than law school graduates. While historical figures like Abraham Lincoln did it, today it's much harder, with low pass rates (around 27% for apprentices vs. 80% for law grads) and potential limitations in job prospects and interstate practice.
What law school has the lowest bar passage rate?
Cooley Law School, which has campuses in Michigan and Florida, had the lowest first-time pass rate last year at 37.25%. It was followed by Florida A&M University College of Law at 40.20% and Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law at 45.45%.
Is it normal to fail the bar the first time?
Most states have higher than 50% pass rates. Remember those numbers when stress starts setting in. Just remember that it will all be over in mere weeks. With the right bar exam prep, you'll never have to go through it again.
Is bar harder than lsat?
Most people find the Bar Exam significantly harder than the LSAT because the Bar tests vast memorized legal knowledge and application over several days, whereas the LSAT tests raw reasoning skills without prior knowledge, though high LSAT scores for top law schools can require near-perfect performance. The LSAT is a skills test for law school entry, while the Bar is a knowledge test for legal licensure, making the Bar a more brutal hurdle after years of legal study, acting as the public's final defense against incompetence.