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 sample (PDF:20KB) of how to complete the form is available.) A copy of the form will automatically be sent to the Office of Records and Registration.

  • In addition to the sample above, a 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.

By Last Day of the NYU Spring Exam Period

• 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.

By May 31

• 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:
  Attention: Bar Forms Processor
  Office of Records & Registration
  New York University School of Law
  245 Sullivan Street, Suite 400
  New York, NY 10012

After July Results Released

• Complete the Skills Competency and Professional Values Requirement Form.

  • Applicable to students commencing the JD in August 2016 or later  - use Pathway 1

  • Applicable to students commencing the LLM in August 2018 or later - use Pathway 4 or Pathway 5

• Complete the Character and Fitness Form.

• For various forms visit the New York Bar Admissions Information Site.

Mailed forms should be sent to:
         Attention: Bar Forms Processor
         Office of Records & Registration
         New York University School of Law
         245 Sullivan Street, Suite 400
         New York, NY 10012