The UBE (Uniform Bar Exam) was designed initially to help reduce the need for newly minted attorneys to take another bar exam to become licensed in another state or jurisdiction. The UBE permits you to transfer a score obtained in one UBE state/jurisdiction to another, subject to certain limitations. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering the UBE.
Expanded job search
With a high enough score on the UBE, you can expand your job search, faster, into all UBE states, making you more marketable to employers throughout the country. Not to mention, you provide additional value by being able to work in multiple areas or states where the firm has offices. By opening your job search to a broader geographic area, you can also target areas of the country that may have fewer incoming legal practitioners, creating a higher demand for your expertise in smaller markets.
A solid UBE score is beneficial for a student who hasn’t decided where they’d like to practice or settle down yet as well.
Passing UBE scores vary
Each UBE jurisdiction sets its own minimum passing score, which ranges from 260 to 280. Your passing score is portable to another UBE state as long as 1) you sit for the entire exam at one time in the same location and 2) you fall within the time parameters for acceptance, which typically vary between 2-5 years.
You may transfer the score to a state with a lower required passing score, even if you “fail” the bar exam in the state in which you sat. For example, if you sat in a state that required 280 to pass but received a 277, you could still use this score for admission in any state with a passing score requirement of 277 or under.
Get comprehensive information about the UBE format and scoring.
Other considerations
Keep in mind there may be other requirements to becoming licensed in a jurisdiction, aside from a passing UBE score. These may include taking the MPRE again if your score has expired (per that jurisdiction’s rules), completing a jurisdiction-specific component, providing evidence of pro bono hours or something else. There are also fees associated with transferring your score. Be sure to look at the BARBRI Bar Exam Digest to see what’s required for your potential jurisdictions.
In addition to pre-acceptance requirements, don’t forget that you’ll have to keep up with any bar dues and CLE requirements in all the states in which you are barred, which can get expensive.
So, is the UBE right for me?
If you are still looking for employment, the UBE expands your search area. If you have a job offer and it falls within one of the UBE states, that’s great! You get all the benefits of the UBE, plus the option for score portability in the immediate future.
Becoming knowledgeable about the requirements for admission in your potential jurisdiction(s) will help you make decisions about where to sit the initial exam. It will also be useful when the time comes to make decisions about supplemental jurisdictions.
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