Admission to the Rhode Island Bar

As of February 28, 2019, the Rhode Island Supreme Court will begin accepting petitions for admission on a transferred Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) score. To view the Supreme Court Order dated September 7, 2018 which adopted the UBE, click here. UBE scores of 276 or higher earned in an administration of the Uniform Bar Examination before February 2021 and 270 or higher earned on a February 2021 administration of the Uniform Bar Examination and thereafter and which occurred within two (2) years of filing the petition are eligible for transfer. To view the Supreme Court Order dated March 25, 2021 changing the minimum passing score required for admission to the Rhode Island bar, click here.

Applicants are directed to Article II of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules and the Board of Bar Examiners Rules of Practice Governing Admission on Examination for information on the bar application process. The Rules of Practice are available here.

To contact the National Conference of Bar Examiners to have an official UBE Score Transcript and official MPRE Score Report transferred to the Clerk prior to the filing of a Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar on Transferred UBE Score, click here.

Petitions for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar on Transferred UBE Score are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants who file a petition by January 2 each year will be eligible for admission in April, and applicants who file by June 2 each year will be eligible for admission in September. Applicants who file petitions after these dates are held for the next admission cycle. The processing of a petition can take three (3) to six (6) months or longer, depending upon the date of submission. 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.

Applicants are directed to Article II of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules and the Board of Bar Examiners Rules of Practice Governing Admissions on Examination and by Transferred UBE Score for information on eligibility for admission and the bar application process.

Questions relating to the Rhode Island Bar application process should be directed to the Bar Admissions staff at ribarexam@courts.ri.gov.

APPLICATION

The Rhode Island Judiciary has launched an electronic bar application filing process. Filing electronically is now mandatory.

The process consists primarily of three (3) steps:

1. Applicants must first complete the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) Character Report Application;

2. Applicants must arrange for their official UBE Score Transcript and/or official MPRE Score Report, if applicable, to be forwarded to the Clerk prior to submittal of the Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island bar; and

3. Applicants must then submit the Petition for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar available electronically on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Attorney Portal (RISCAP).

Detailed instructions on how to file Petitions for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar on Transferred Uniform Bar Examination Score are available here Instructions on How to Apply for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar.

To view frequently asked questions, click here.