Admission to the Bar - Frequently Asked Questions

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Whom do I contact for questions about the Rhode Island bar examination?
Bar Admissions staff in the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office located at Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, 7th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. The Clerk’s Office may be reached by telephone at (401) 222-3272, by facsimile at (401) 222-3599, or by email at ribarexam@courts.ri.gov.
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Which Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules apply to the Rhode Island bar examination?
Article II, Rules 1 through 9 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules and the Board of Bar Examiners Rules of Practice Governing Admission on Examination (Board of Bar Examiners Rules).
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How do I apply to take the Rhode Island bar examination?
Rhode Island has a mandatory electronic bar application process which consists primarily of three (3) steps:
Applicants must first complete the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) Character Report Application (NCBE Application) available electronically on the NCBE website following all NCBE and Rhode Island Specific instructions and checklists;
Applicants must arrange with the NCBE to have the official Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) Score Transcript and/or official Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) Score Report, if applicable, forwarded to the Clerk of the Supreme Court prior to submittal of the Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar (Petition); and
Applicants must then submit the Petition (along with the NCBE Application and supplements) electronically on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Attorney Portal (RISCAP) by the application deadline.
Please note that the completed NCBE Application (and any supplemental materials provided in response to questions) must be submitted as part of the Petition. See the Instructions on How to Apply for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar for detailed information on how to file these documents electronically.
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What is the UBE?
Per the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ (NCBE) website: “The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is coordinated by NCBE and is composed of the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) tasks, and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions and results in a portable score that can be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. The UBE is administered over two days, with the MBE given on the last Wednesday of February and July and the MEE and MPT given on the Tuesday prior to that.” For more information on the UBE, please refer to the NCBE website.
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Does Rhode Island have reciprocity agreement with other jurisdictions?
No. Rhode Island does, however, allow out-of-state attorneys who have been engaged in the full-time active practice of law or full-time teaching of law at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, for at least five (5) out of the last ten (10) years immediately preceding the deadline for filing the Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar, to take only the essay portion of the examination. Please see Article II, Rule 2(a) and Board of Bar Examiners Rule 4(b)(i)(2).
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What is the difference between the bar examination administered to Rule 1 and Rule 2(a) applicants?
Rule 1 applicants are required to take both days of the two-day Rhode Island Bar Examination. Generally, Rule 1 applicants are recent law school graduates or attorneys licensed in another jurisdiction who do not meet the requirements of Rules 1B or 2(a).

Rule 2(a) applicants only attend day one (1) of the two-day Rhode Island Bar Examination. Rule 2(a) applicants are attorney admission applicants who have been engaged in the full-time active practice of law or teaching of law for at least five (5) years of the last ten (10) years preceding the application deadline for filing the application.
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Does Rhode Island accept applications for admission on transferred UBE scores?
Yes, Rhode Island began accepting UBE transfer applications as of February 28, 2019. Please see Article II, Rule 1B and Board Rule 3.
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Who is qualified to transfer a UBE score to Rhode Island?
Upon a timely filed petition, and provided all eligibility requirements are met, Rhode Island will accept UBE score transfers from applicants who earned a UBE score of 276 or higher in an administration before February 2021, and a UBE score of 270 or higher earned during the February 2021 administration and thereafter.
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Are foreign educated applicants eligible to take the bar examination?
Yes, but only as a Rule 2(a) applicant. Applicants who have not graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (including foreign law school graduates) may seek admission under Article II, Rule 2(a).
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When is the filing deadline for Rule 1 and Rule 2(a) petitions?
Rule 1 applicants must submit the Petition between October 1 and December 1 for the February examination and between March 1 and May 1 for the July examination.

Rule 2(a) applicants must submit the Petition between July 1 and September 1 for the February examination and December 1 and February 1 for the July examination.

If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or State of Rhode Island holiday, the deadline is the following Monday or business day.

There is no provision for late filing.
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When is the filing deadline for Rule 1B petitions?
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.
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What if I do not have all my documents in time for the filing deadline?
Contact the Bar Administrator at ribarexam@courts.ri.gov for guidance.
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Do I submit the supplemental forms with my Petition for Admission?
Yes and no.

Applicants must upload the law school documentation, Certificates of Good Moral Character, and the Employment Verification forms on RISCAP as part of the Petition after completing the top portion with the heading of “To Be Completed By Applicant.” Do not collect and submit forms completed by third parties with the Petition.

The law school documentation, Certificates of Good Moral Character, and the Employment Verification forms must be forwarded directly to the Supreme Court Clerk's Office from the third parties who complete the forms.
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How do I submit amendments to my Petition for Admission?
Applicants have an ongoing duty to update the Petition to ensure that all information included therein is current, complete, and accurate at all times. Updated information must be reported to and filed within ten (10) days of any such changes by submitting on RISCAP a fully executed Amendment to Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar along with an Acknowledgement-Oath form.
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The employment section of the NCBE electronic Application to the Bar of Rhode Island asks for a listing of all employment where I have been employed beginning after my 21st birthday. Do I include internships and clerkships?
Yes, list both paid and unpaid.
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What do I do if a question on the NCBE electronic Application to the Bar of Rhode Island is not applicable to me?
If a question is not applicable to you, please indicate as such. Do not leave answers to any questions blank.
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What if I cannot answer the question fully?
All questions in the NCBE electronic Application to the Bar of Rhode Island and the Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar must be answered fully. If you cannot answer a question fully, please provide an addendum to the question explaining why.
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If I am a male, do I have to provide my Selective Service Number?
Yes. If you do not have the number, you must obtain a number and submit that information in your NCBE Application. If you are a male and did not register under any Selective Service Act, please explain why. If you are a female and were not required to register under any Selective Service Act, please so indicate.
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If I attended two (2) or more law schools, do I need to law school documentation from all the law schools that I attended?
Yes.
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Do you require a Certificate of Good Standing from every jurisdiction where I am admitted to the bar even if I am inactive in that jurisdiction?
Yes, we require a Certificate of Good Standing from every jurisdiction and every court in a jurisdiction, if applicable. For example, Massachusetts state, Massachusetts federal, and First Circuit Court of Appeals in Massachusetts. Applicants need not be active in all jurisdictions, but must be in good standing. Accordingly, applicants must rectify administrative suspensions in order to pursue the application for admission to the Rhode Island Bar, which could include resigning in good standing from a state bar, if necessary.
Failure to provide Certificates of Good Standing may cause an applicant to be precluded from taking the bar examination.
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Do I need to provide a criminal background check for any time spent abroad?
No.
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Who can submit a Certificate of Good Moral Character on my behalf?
Certificates of Moral Character can be from any individual, not used as references in any other part of the Petition. Submissions can be from lawyers, non-lawyers, non-employers, or any combination as long as they are not related to you by blood and have not been listed as a reference in the Petition. Employers who serve as a reference to your employment are excluded.
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Do I need my handwriting sample witnessed?
Yes. Witnessing of the handwriting sample form is generally done through the Office of the Dean for Rule 1 and Rule 1B applicants. Rule 2(a) applicants need to have the handwriting sample notarized.
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Do I need to have a one-on-one interview with a member of the Character and Fitness Committee and when do applicants get interviewed?
All applicants, including Rule 1B Admission to the Rhode Island Bar on Transferred UBE Score applicants, must submit to an in-person one-on-one interview with a member of the Character and Fitness Committee. Interviews take place approximately one (1) month prior to the bar examination. Rule 1B applicants will be included in the interview schedule with those applicants sitting for the bar examination in Rhode Island. Interviews are held at the Bourcier Conference Room, Rhode Island Supreme Court, 250 Benefit Street, 7th floor, Providence, Rhode Island. The interview may result in an applicant being referred to the full Committee for a hearing.

The Character and Fitness interview schedule for each examination is posted on the Judiciary’s website under News. Applicants are notified via email of the posting. At the interview, applicants who are passed to take the bar examination will receive a ticket for admission into the examination.

Reapplication applicants who were previously interviewed by a member of the Character and Fitness Committee may not need a further interview to take a bar examination. These applicants will be notified about how to obtain a ticket for admission to the examination via email from the Bar Admissions staff.
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Do I need to bring anything with me to the Committee on Character and Fitness interview?
Yes, please report to the registration table with valid photograph identification. Please be aware that applicants who have not submitted all required information and documentation will not receive a ticket for admission to the examination.
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How will the Bar Admissions staff contact me about my application and the bar examination?
The Bar Admissions staff communicate with applicants via email. All contact with the Bar Admissions staff should be by email to ribarexam@courts.ri.gov or by telephone at (401) 222-3272.
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Where will the Rhode Island Bar Examination be held?
Typically, the bar examination is held at the Rhode Island Convention Center, One Sabin Street, Providence, Rhode Island, unless applicants are notified otherwise. The Bar Admissions staff will provide applicants with specific information about the administration of the bar examination.
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What is tested on the Rhode Island Bar Examination on Tuesday?
Tuesday is essay day. The day consists of two (2) Multistate Performance Test (MPT) questions (three (3) hours timed) and then a lunch break. The six (6) Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) questions (three (3) hours timed) will be administered in the afternoon.
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What is tested on the Rhode Island Bar Examination on Wednesday?
The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). The morning session of the MBE is three (3) hours timed followed by a lunch break. The afternoon MBE session is also three (3) hours timed.
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May I use a laptop when taking the bar examination?
All applicants are permitted to use a laptop for the essay portion of the examination (Tuesday) at no additional cost. Laptop service is strictly optional. Applicants wishing to use a laptop must register directly with ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc. by the registration deadline set by the Bar Administrator and communicated to the applicant via email. Registration typically opens one (1) month after the filing deadline and closes approximately one (1) month before the bar examination. A representative from ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc. will be onsite during the essay portion to assist laptop users. For more information, please visit the ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc. website at www.examsoft.com/ribar.
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How do I transfer my Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) score earned in Rhode Island to another jurisdiction?
To transfer your MBE score earned in Rhode Island to another jurisdiction, you must submit a Request Transfer of MBE Score through RISCAP and pay the $25.00 transfer fee.
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When are the results of the bar examinations released?
We typically release the February bar examination results at the end of April/beginning of May and the July bar examination results at the end of October/beginning of November. Applicants are notified of the results release date via email once the date is confirmed.
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When are the swearing-in ceremonies for successful applicants?
Swearing-in ceremonies for all applicants, including Rule 1B Admission to the Rhode Island Bar on Transferred UBE Score applicants, are usually held one (1) to three (3) weeks after the bar examination results are released.

Group ceremonies are held at the Rhode Island Supreme Court Courtroom located on the 7th Floor of the Licht Judicial Complex, 250 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903. Dates and times for the ceremonies are firm and seating for guests is limited.

Applicants are asked to report to the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office fifteen (15) minutes prior to their assigned swearing-in time to sign-in for the ceremony and will be provided further instructions. Please bring photograph identification.
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After I pass the examination and am sworn in, when can I begin practicing as a Rhode Island attorney? What is my admission date?
Applicants have three (3) months from their swearing-in date to register with the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Art. IV, Rule 1(a). Upon registering with the Court and obtaining a bar number, you are officially admitted as an attorney and are authorized to practice law in Rhode Island. The date you first register with the Court is your date of admission to the Rhode Island Bar.

What if I decide not to take the bar examination or pursue transfer of a UBE score after submitting my application?

If after submitting an application you decide not to sit for the bar examination, you must either defer to the next examination or withdraw your application. Applicants choosing to defer must submit a Request to Defer to the Next Bar Examination via RISCAP and pay the $300.00 fee.

Deferral only holds an application open to the next scheduled examination. Applicants who defer must file a Petition to Reapply by the filing deadline of the next scheduled bar examination. Please see How to Apply for instructions on the reapplication process.

Applicants that want to withdraw from the bar examination or do not wish to pursue transfer of a UBE score, must submit a Request to Withdraw Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar via RISCAP. Upon withdrawal of a petition an applicant’s bar application is closed.

Applicants should be aware of the no-show-fail policy set forth in Board of Bar Examiners Rules of Practice, Rule 2(d)(vi).
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How can I retake the Rhode Island Bar Examination after failing?
Applicants who fail the bar examination may sit for the next bar examination but must file a Petition to Reapply by the applicable filing deadline via RISCAP Information about how to reapply to take the bar examination is included in the bar results letter. Typically, applicants who fail the bar examination are afforded fourteen (14) days to reapply. Please see How to Apply for instructions on the reapplication process.

The bar application files of applicants who fail to file a timely Petition to Reapply for Admission are closed.
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How can I apply to take the Rhode Island Bar Examination or apply to transfer a UBE score after my bar application file has been closed?
Renewed Petition for Admission by the applicable application deadline using the RISCAP account. Filing a Renewed Petition for Admission is essentially the same as filing a Petition for Admission. The only difference is that payment is not submitted electronically for the Renewed Petition for Admission. Payment for a Renewed Petition for Admission is submitted by check (or money order) in the amount of $975.00 made payable to the Rhode Island Supreme Court and mailed or hand delivered to the Bar Administrator before the applicable application deadline. Further, the electronic submittal of the Renewed Petition will not be accepted electronically until the check has been received.
Please contact the Bar Administrator at ribarexam@courts.ri.gov for additional information relative to Renewed Petitions for Admission.
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What is the Rhode Island Bar Association?
The Rhode Island Bar Association is a professional organization of attorneys. All Rhode Island attorneys must join the Rhode Island Bar Association. An important distinction is that the Rhode Island Supreme Court is the licensing authority and regulates the practice of law in Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Bar Association is a professional organization which offers various services to attorneys and members of the public.
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Can my eligibility for admission be determined prior to my filing a bar application?
Eligibility is determined when an applicant files an application to take the Rhode Island bar examination or to transfer a Uniform Bar Examination score. Please note that fees are non-refundable. Please refer to Board of Bar Examiners Rule 5(d) which states that “[t]he Board does not issue advisory decisions. An applicant’s qualifications for admission pursuant to Article II, Rules 1, 1B, or 2(a) will be reviewed only upon the filing of a timely Petition submitted in accordance with the Supreme Court Rules and these Rules of Practice.”

Relatedly, the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness does not make character and fitness assessments outside of the application process and does not provide opinions on the likelihood of admission.
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What is the length of time to process Petitions for Admission on Transferred UBE?
Eligible applicants must have a complete file, been approved by the Board of Bar Examiners, and have been recommended for admission by the Committee on Character and Fitness. Typically, transfers takes three (3) to six (6) months to process.
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Who can give me guidance on answering a question?
The Bar Admissions office cannot assist applicants with answering questions in the NCBE Application or Petition. However, applicants should be over inclusive rather than under inclusive.
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Is a national criminal background check acceptable?
No. Applicants must obtain a background check from each jurisdiction where the applicant resided for six (6) months or more since turning the age of eighteen (18) in accordance with the policies in that jurisdiction. Please see the Criminal Background Report Information for instructions and a listing of criminal history record repositories.

The six (6) month time period for residing in a given jurisdiction which requires submittal of a background check need not be consecutive but in total.
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Does Rhode Island administer the UBE?
Yes, as of February 2019.
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Is Rhode Island adopting the NextGen Bar Examination?
The determination of whether to adopt NextGen has not yet been made. The Supreme Court and the Board of Bar Examiners are studying the proposed NextGen Bar Examination to be provided by the NCBE.