FAQs - U.S. BAR EXAM FOR FOREIGN LAWYERS OR GRADUATES
- Abeba Carlan
- Jan 20
- 7 min read
1) Can foreign applicants - lawyers or graduates - take the bar exam in the Unites States?
Yes, they can. Checking the rules of admission of the relevant jurisdiction is crucial as requirements may vary.
2) Do foreign applicants need to be lawyers to take the bar exam in the U.S.?
Generally, they don’t. Foreign applicants may meet admission requirements based on graduation from a foreign law school even without being lawyers and/or practicing in that foreign country.
3) Can foreign applicants take the bar exam in any U.S. jurisdiction without attending a law school in the U.S.?
No, they cannot. Not all jurisdictions allow one to take the bar exam without a law school degree issued in the U.S. As each jurisdiction has its own admission requirements, and those requirements may change over the years, bar exam applicants should check the admission rules of the specific jurisdiction(s) of interest.
For more information, check the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and the American Bar Association (ABA).
4) What are the minimum requirements for foreign applicants to take the bar in the U.S.?
Generally, foreign applicants need to:
a) Prove completion of a foreign law program which:
- is substantially equivalent to the duration of a Juris Doctor (JD) in the U.S.;
- qualifies to take the bar exam or practice law in that foreign country; and
- is based on the principles of English Common law.
b) Prove completion of an LL.M Program from an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited U.S. law school.
Note: The LL.M program must meet specific requirements which can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
c) Demonstrate good moral character and fitness.
Note: Together with the application package, some jurisdictions may require that applicants submit a Good Moral Character and Fitness Certificate signed by one or more attorneys licensed in the U.S.
Tip: Law professors are often licensed attorneys. Foreign applicants should consider asking professors of the LL.M program in the U.S. to sign the Good Moral Character and Fitness Certificate.
Some jurisdictions allow bar admission without a law degree. However, they generally require either a combination of legal education and apprenticeship or attendance of alternative programs under the supervision of licensed attorneys.
5) Can foreign applicants take the bar exam in the U.S. after an online LL.M Program?
It depends. Some States expressly require that the LL.M program be attended in person at the campus of an ABA-approved law school.
Note: Foreign applicants who become attorneys in the U.S. following an online LL.M program might not be able to waive into a jurisdiction that expressly requires an in-person LL.M program.
6) Which are the typical requirements to enroll in an LL.M Program in the U.S.?
Generally, foreign applicants need to submit:
a) Proof of completion of a foreign law program which qualifies to sit for the bar or practice law in that country.
Note: Foreign documents (certificates, diplomas, transcripts, etc.) need to be translated into English and legalized/authenticated to be valid in the U.S.
Authentication of documents issued in foreign countries:
- Members of the Hague Convention: Apostille;
- Non-members of Hague Convention: Authentication Certificate.
For information regarding the authentication process of a foreign document for use in the U.S., applicants need to check with the relevant foreign authority of the issuing country. For example, the Italian Ministry of the Interior is competent for the legalization of documents issued in Italy.
For information regarding the legalization of documents issued in the U.S. (including LL.M certificates and U.S. law school transcripts), click here.
b) Proof of English proficiency based on:
- Academic or work experience in English-speaking environments.
7) How to choose the jurisdiction in which to take the bar?
The choice may depend on multiple factors. Foreign applicants should consider the predominate goal(s) of being licensed in the U.S. There could be several, such as seeking job opportunities in the U.S.; or the need to handle cases connected to one or multiple jurisdictions. Others may be practicing federal law exclusively; living in a specific area; or working remotely.
Note: In recent years, thanks to technology and exceptional circumstances (e.g., the Covid pandemic), more jurisdictions have allowed attorneys to work remotely even when not licensed in the State of residency (called “out-of-state attorneys”). However, it is important that out-of-state attorneys check the rules of the jurisdiction where they intend to have their virtual office to avoid any form of unauthorized practice of law.
8) How does bar reciprocity within the U.S. work?
It depends on each jurisdiction. Some allow exam score importation from other jurisdictions or waiver into their bar when specific criteria are met (e.g., having obtained at least a certain exam score and/or having practiced for a certain number of years). The list of jurisdictions with bar exam portable score can be found in the NCBE website.
Note: Generally, the admission requirements of the jurisdiction into which one desires to waive need to be met as well. Hence, attorneys who qualified for the bar exam based on an online LL.M in one jurisdiction can encounter more limitations and be unable to waive into another jurisdiction that requires an LL.M program with in-person attendance.
9) How long does it take to prepare for the bar exam in the U.S.?
The average time for U.S. students is between 8 and 10 weeks, studying full time. For foreign applicants, the range is closer to 12-24 weeks, especially when English is a second language. Generally, memorizing in a foreign language takes longer. The task is even more challenging when exposure to the target language is limited.
10) Which is the pass rate at the bar exam in the U.S.?
After each bar exam session, the NCBE publishes statistics on pass rates. For more information, click here.
Jurisdictions also publish their internal statistics. Some include passing rate of foreign-trained examinees as well. See breakdown data for Washington State and New York State in July 2025.
11) How is the bar exam score calculated in the U.S.?
The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) score is scaled. This means that the raw results are adjusted based on a statistical method to make the level of difficulty basically the same regardless of the session (February or July) in which the exam is administered.
12) Do all jurisdictions administer the UBE?
No, they don’t. In January 2026, 41 jurisdictions will administer the UBE, which is developed by the NCBE. Those that have not adopted the UBE administer their own bar exam.
Starting from July 2026, few jurisdictions will adopt the NextGen Bar Exam; more jurisdictions have planned to switch to the new format in following sessions. After February 2028 the UBE will no longer be administered.
13) Which are the main differences between the UBE and the NextGen Bar Exam?
The (traditional) Legacy UBE is comprised of 3 portions, administered in 2 days:
Day 1, 3-hour session in the morning:
1) MPT (Multistate Performance Test): 2 ninety-minute testing exam takers’ ability to spot and analyze legal issues from provided material for each case file and library. This portion count for 20% of the total score.
Day 1, 3-hour session in the afternoon:
2) MEE (Multistate Essay Examination): 6 thirty-minute essays presenting 6 hypothetical scenarios. This portion counts for 30% of the final score and tests the following 12 subjects:
- Business Associations (Agency, Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations)
- Civil Procedure;
- Conflict of Laws;
- Constitutional Law;
- Contracts;
- Criminal Law and Procedure;
- Evidence;
- Family Law;
- Real Property;
- Torts;
- Trusts and Estates; and
- Secured Transactions (UCC Article 9).
Day 2, 3-hour session in the morning and 3-hour session in the afternoon:
3) MBE (Multistate Bar Examination): 200 multiple-choice questions (175 graded questions plus 25 non-graded experimental questions) administered in 2 sessions: 100 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. This portion counts for 50% of the total score.
25 questions per each of these 7 subjects (plus 25 undistinguishable non-graded experimental questions):
- Civil Procedure;
- Constitutional Law;
- Contracts ;
- Criminal Law and Procedure;
- Evidence;
- Real Property; and
- Torts.
The (new) NextGen UBE is comprised of 3 portions, administered in 1.5 days:
Day 1, 3-hour session in the morning and 3-hour session in the afternoon; and
Day 2, 3-hour session in the morning.
In each session, there is a combination of:
1) Standalone MCQ (Multiple-Choice Questions): 40 questions per each session to be answered in approximately 72 minutes. These questions have a structure like those in the MBE portion of the Legacy UBE. This portion counts for 49% of the total score. 20 undesignable questions (Pretest Questions) within the 120 total MCQs are not considered in the final score.
2) Integrated Question Sets (IQS): 2 sets per each session. These sets present hypothetical scenarios (like the MEE in the Legacy UBE) to be analyzed in approximately 48 minutes. This portion counts for 21% of the total score.
3) Performance Task: one task per session to be completed in 60 minutes. There are 2 formats: the Standard Performance Task and the Legal research Performance Task. This portion counts for 30% of the total score.
The NextGen UBE tests the following subjects:
- Business Associations;
- Civil Procedure;
- Constitutional Law;
- Contract Law;
- Criminal Law and Procedure;
- Evidence;
- Family Law: Starting from July 2028;
- Professional Responsibility. Note: rules of professional conduct are not tested as standalone concepts but in connection with foundational skills.
- Real Property; and
- Torts.
14) Is memorization crucial to pass the bar?
Yes, it is. Memorization is crucial for both the Legacy UBE and the NextGen UBE.
For the NextGen UBE (1st session in July 2026), the NCBE has indicated with a star symbol topics examinees need to have memorized, as no legal resources will be provided. Yet, the NCBE has specified that topics which are not marked with the star symbol may also be tested without legal resources, and “recalled knowledge” will be necessary.
Note: As examinees will not know in advance which topics will be provided with legal resources, we recommend that all topics within the outlines be studied and memorized.
To support bar exam applicants, we offer visually organized outlines which enhance the memorization process, increasing success rate. For more information on our products, click here.
15) What is the MPRE?
The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is a 2-hour exam. It is comprised of 60 multiple-choice questions (including 10 undistinguishable unscored pretest questions) which test the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC).
The exam is developed by the NCBE and administered 3 times a year in approved testing centers.
In most jurisdiction, passing the MPRE is a requirement for bar admission.
