Admission to the Rhode Island Bar

Supreme Court Clerk’s Office

250 Benefit Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
(401) 222-3272 telephone
(401) 222-3599 facsimile
ribarexam@courts.ri.gov

The qualifications needed for admission of attorneys and others to practice law are set forth in Article II of the Rhode Supreme Court Rules.  Generally, admission to the Rhode Island Bar requires passing the Rhode Island Bar Examination. In Article II the Supreme Court has created limited exceptions to the requirement that only Rhode Island attorneys who have passed the Rhode Island Bar Examination can practice law in Rhode Island.

There are several types of admissions for the Rhode Island Bar:

     Admission on Examination (Article II, Rule 1)
     Admission on Transferred Uniform Bar Examination Score (Article II, Rule 1B)
     Attorney Admitted in Other States (Article II, Rule 2)
          Attorney Admission on Examination (Article II, Rule 2(a))
          Programs providing services to indigents - Law school faculty supervising clinical law
              programs (Article II, Rule 2(b) and (e)) 
          Admission while on active duty with the armed services - Judge Advocate Generals
              (Article II, Rules 2(c) and (d))
     Nonresident attorneys (Article II, Rule 9)
           Pro Hac Vice Admission
           Registration of In-house Counsel 
      Professional Service Corporations, Limited Liability Partnerships, and Limited Liability 
           Companies (Limited Liability Entities) (Article II, Rule 10)
      Legal Services Organizations (Article II, Rule 11)