Timeline for the New York State Bar Exam

If you're interested in taking the New York State Bar Exam in July, you'll need to meet these deadlines.

By April 30

Fill out the online application for Bar Exam, usually available beginning April 1.
- Students who wish to use a paper application should contact The New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) office at (518) 453-5900 for further information.
- All online applications must be received through the BOLE online system between April 1 and April 30. The New York State Board of Law Examiners imposes strict deadlines for applications to take the Bar Exam.
For JD Students:
- Complete the online Certificate of Attendance-Juris Doctor. A copy will automatically be sent to the Office of Records and Registration.
- Review of Degree Progress/Audit Report may be helpful.
Additional information for LLM students taking the New York Bar:
- Complete the Online Request for Foreign Evaluation of Academic Credentials
  - You must submit your Foreign Evaluation Form and supporting foreign documentation no later than October 1st for the July bar exam.
  - BOLE recommends that candidates complete the Foreign Evaluation of Academic Credentials at least six months in advance of the application to sit for the bar.
  - BOLE advises against applying for the bar exam prior to receiving a decision on the foreign evaluation because the application fee is not refundable.
- Complete the LLM Certificate of Attendance
- View the Eligibility Requirements for LLMs.

By May 1

Students must submit papers from prior semesters to their faculty member for a grade.

Students must complete all work from their final semester by the last day of the exam period for that semester.
All grades must be entered by the University Registrar's Office before a student can be certified to take the Bar Examination.

Bring the completed Bar Authorization Form to the Office of Records & Registration, so that you can be certified for any bar that you designate.
You will be asked to provide a Handwriting Sample, which will be emailed to you after the online application period closes.
- If you are out of the state, you may have your handwriting sample notarized by a certified notary public and send it to the NYS Board of Law Examiners or to the Office of Records & Registration who can forward the sample on your behalf. Contact a member of the Office of Records & Registration to inform them that you have personally forwarded your handwriting sample to the Bar.
If you are a NYU School of Law graduate, you may send the bar certification form, along with a witnessed and notarized handwriting sample to:

Office of Records & Registration
New York University School of Law
245 Sullivan Street, Suite 400
New York, NY 10012