Application for Admission

​Initial Petition


Applicants who wish to submit a Petition for Admission under Article II, Rules 1, 1B, and 2(a) of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys to the Rhode Island Bar must follow the instructions available below.

Instructions on How to Apply for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar​

Petition to reapply after deferral or failure (Rules 1 and 2(a) only)

Article II, Rules 1 and Rule 2(a) of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Others to Practice Law applicants who are eligible to reapply for a bar examination pursuant to Rule 2(f) of the Board of Bar Examiners Rules of Practice Governing Admission on Examination and by Transferred Uniform Bar Examination Score must file a Petition to Reapply for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar electronically on the Rhode Island Supreme Court Attorney Portal (RISCAP) by the applicable application deadline.

The process for requesting accommodations as part of a Petition to Reapply varies. Please refer to the forms for instructions. 


​ Renewed Petition​

Applicants who have previously applied for admission to the Rhode Island Bar but whose application files were closed must file a Renewed Petition for Admission. Contact the Bar Administrator for instructions on how to file Renewed Petitions for Admission.

All applicants are subject to the Rhode Island Bar Examination Regulations and Code of Conduct. Violations may result in the applicant being ejected from the bar examination.

Deadlines
​​

 

 

February
Bar Examination		July
Bar Examination		Notes
Rule 1October 1 to December 1March 1 to May 1If deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or State of Rhode Island holiday, the deadline is the following Monday or business day. 
Rule 1BNot applicableNot applicableRolling Deadlines see Rules*
Rule 2(a)July 1 to  September 1December 1 to February 1If deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or State of Rhode Island holiday, the deadline is the following Monday or business day. 

*Article II, Rule 1B deadlines are on a rolling basis. The applicant determines the deadline for submission of the application. 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 August. Applicants who file petitions after these dates are held for the next admission cycle. 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

National Conference of Bar Examiners

​​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.​

Contact
​Bar Administrator
Rhode Island Supreme Court
250 Benefit Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
(401) 222-3272 telephone
(401) 222-3599 facsimile

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