Admission to the Rhode Island Bar

​The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) creates the elements of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), hosts the NCBE application​ portion of the Petition for Admission, conducts character investigations, and is the entity from whom UBE and Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) scores are transferred.​​

The duty is on an applicant seeking admission pursuant to Article II, Rule 1B to determine the date by which the applicant must apply.

Petitions filed pursuant to Rule 1B are accepted on a rolling basis. However, the date by which the petition is filed impacts when an applicant is eligible for admission.

Applicants who file a petition by January 2 are eligible for admission in April.

Applicants who file a petition by June 2 are eligible for admission in September.

Applicants who file petitions after these dates are held for the next admission cycle. Eligible applicants must have a complete file, have been approved by the Board of Bar Examiners, and have been recommended for admission by the Committee on Character and Fitness.

There is no provision for late filing.​​

​The date of the release of the bar examination results will be announced at the examination. A list of passing applicants will be posted on the Judiciary's website under the "News" link or you can click on “Announcements” under Quick Links on this page.

Applicants will also be notified of the results on RISCAP accounts through a change of Application Status (pending to pass or fail) setting and by official results letters mailed to the address previously provided by applicants in their application. Only official results letters will include scoring information. 

Applicants are asked to refer to the official results letter before contacting the Clerk's Office with questions about the results.

​​In-person, formal group swearing-in ceremonies are conducted in the Supreme Court courtroom located at the Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, 7th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island.  

Specific dates and times assigned to eligible applicants will be posted on the Judiciary's website on results release day under the “News" link or you can click on “Announcements” under Quick Links on this page.  The dates and times assigned to applicants are firm.  

Applicants are asked to report to the Supreme Court Clerk's Office fifteen (15) minutes prior to the assigned swearing-in time to sign in for the ceremony and be provided further instructions.  Please bring photo identification. 

Ceremonies are open to the public. Seating in the courtroom is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. There are parking garages and street parking (fee and non-fee) near and around the courthouse.