Uniform Bar Exam Frequently Asked Questions
Effective June 1, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ohio has adopted the rules governing the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), the transfer of UBE scores and the expansion of the practice pending admission rule.
- How many days is the UBE?
- What will be different about the Ohio Bar Examination once the UBE is adopted?
- When will Ohio use the UBE?
- What is a passing UBE score for admission in Ohio?
- Will there be an automatic regrade for applicants who were unsuccessful on the bar examination?
- Will Ohio allow for courtesy seating?
- How long will Ohio recognize acceptable UBE scores from other UBE states?
- Will Ohio accept UBE scores earned prior to the July 2020 exam?
- When will the Office of Bar Admissions begin accepting transfer applications?
- Will there be an Ohio-specific component?
- When must applicants complete the Ohio Law Component
- When will applicants be eligible to take the Ohio Law Component?
- If I am already admitted to practice in another jurisdiction, can I start practicing law in Ohio before I am admitted in Ohio?
- How will the individual portions of the UBE be weighted?
- Will there be a character count limit on written portions of the exam?
1. How many days is the UBE?
The UBE is a two-day test comprised of three components prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Ohio is already using two of the three components of the UBE, the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). Ohio will now use the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) in place of the Ohio essay questions.
2. What will be different about the Ohio Bar Examination once the UBE is adopted?
Prior to July 2020, the Ohio Bar Examination consists of two MPT items given in two ninety-minute sessions, 12 Ohio essay questions given in two three-hour sessions, and the MBE. The UBE will consist of two MPT items given in one three-hour session, six MEE items given in one three-hour session, and the Multistate Bar Examination.
3. When will Ohio use the UBE?
Ohio’s first administration of the National Conference of Bar Examiner’s Uniform Bar Exam is summer or fall of 2020.
5. Will there be an automatic regrade for applicants who were unsuccessful on the bar examination?
Prior to the administration of the UBE, the rule allowed for a regrading of the written portion of the examination for any applicant whose total examination score after scaling falls within one point below the minimum passing score. Upon administration of the UBE, the rule will allow an automatic regrade for any applicant whose total examination score after scaling falls within two points below the minimum passing score. There is absolutely no regrade for any applicant whose total examination score does not fall within two points of 270, for example, a 267.90.
6. Will Ohio allow for courtesy seating?
In Ohio, all applicants must receive final character and fitness approval from the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness prior to sitting for the bar examination. The rules do not allow an applicant to sit for an examination, in Ohio, by way of courtesy seating, as they would not have gone through the character and fitness process and received final character and fitness approval.
7. How long will Ohio recognize acceptable UBE scores from other UBE states?
Ohio will recognize acceptable UBE scores from other UBE states for five years post-examination. After five years, an attorney from another state, if eligible, may apply for admission without examination.
The chart below explains the furthest date the Office of Bar Admissions will accept a UBE transfer score.
| Current Administration | UBE Score Obtained |
|---|---|
| July 2020 | February 2016 |
| February 2021 | February 2016 |
| July 2021 | July 2016 |
| February 2022 | February 2017 |
8. Will Ohio accept UBE scores earned prior to the July 2020 exam?
Yes. The five-year limit will include exams administered prior to July 2020. The earliest administration acceptable for transfer will be February 2016 per the chart in FAQ 7.
9. When will the Office of Bar Admissions begin accepting transfer applications?
The Office of Bar Admissions will have the UBE transfer score application on their website on June 1, 2020. Prior to June 1, 2020, applicants can submit the Application to Register as a Candidate in order to start the character and fitness process that is required of all applicants.
10. Will there be an Ohio-specific component?
Yes. The Ohio Component will consist of outlines and an online, open-book, multiple choice exam covering relevant Ohio-specific components. An applicant must earn a score of 80 percent or higher to pass the Ohio Component. Both those sitting in Ohio and those transferring in a UBE score will be required to complete the Ohio Component. The Board of Bar Examiners will prepare and maintain the outlines and develop the questions on the Ohio Component.
11. When must applicants complete the Ohio Law Component?
The Ohio Law Component is a pre-admission requirement. A passing score must be achieved prior to being sworn in.
12. When will applicants be eligible to take the Ohio Law Component?
Applicants sitting for a UBE administration in Ohio will be granted access following the Wednesday of the exam and they will be notified via email that the Ohio Component is open to them. Applicants transferring in a qualifying UBE score will be granted access once the Office of Bar Admissions determines their transfer application is complete.
13. If I am already admitted to practice in another jurisdiction, can I start practicing law in Ohio before I am admitted in Ohio?
Practice Pending Admission (PPA) will be extended to allow individuals that are licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction to practice law in Ohio while their application is pending under Gov. Bar R. I, Sec. 19. Applicants who are applying to sit for the UBE, and applicants that are applying for a UBE transfer will be permitted to apply for PPA, if admitted and in good standing in another jurisdiction. This application must be submitted to the Office of Bar Admissions within 90 days of providing legal services in Ohio.
14. How will the individual portions of the UBE be weighted?
The UBE score will be calculated using the applicant’s scores on each section. The MEE is worth 30 percent of the overall score, the MPT is worth 20 percent of the overall score, and the MBE is worth 50 percent of the overall score.
15. Will there be a character count limit on written portions of the exam?
Beginning with the first administration of the UBE, there will be no character limit on the written portions of the exam.