Law Students: Bar Admission Application Timing In Arizona

Law students in Arizona typically apply to take the bar exam in July after graduation, though some students take the test in February before graduating. The bar exam is a requirement for law students to gain admission to practice law in Arizona. The application process involves creating an NCBE account, supplying supporting documents and information, and providing a notarized signature on the applicant's declaration. Arizona is a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) state, meaning that students who take the bar exam in Arizona can transfer their score to seek admission in other UBE jurisdictions.

Application deadlines

The deadlines for applying to the Arizona Bar depend on the month in which you plan to take the exam.

If you are taking the exam in July, the application window is between January 15 and March 30. A late fee of $100 applies to applications submitted between April 1 and April 30. Applications close on April 30.

If you are taking the exam in February, the application window is between August 15 and October 31. A late fee of $100 applies to applications submitted between November 1 and November 30. Applications close on November 30.

The Arizona Bar Examination is also offered in other months, with different application deadlines. For instance, the deadline for evidence of graduation for graduates of law school in the previous semester only is February 1 for the July exam and June 15 for the February exam.

The Arizona Bar also offers a laptop registration window for examinees who wish to type their exam. For the July exam, laptop registration opens on June 15 and closes on June 30. For the February exam, laptop registration opens on January 15 and closes on January 31.

Required documents

To apply for bar admission in Arizona, you must submit a range of supporting documents and information. Here is a detailed list of the required documents:

• A passport-style photo. This must be a full-face, front-facing, neutral expression headshot, taken against a plain white background. The photo should be no older than six months and must meet specific size requirements.
• Fingerprints. You will need to obtain a fingerprint card from the Arizona Supreme Court and have your fingerprints taken through local law enforcement agencies. The completed card must be mailed to the Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions office.
• Notarised signature on the applicant declaration. This can be done through a Notary Public at your law school or through banks and credit unions that often provide free notary services.
• Evidence of graduation. You must provide proof of your Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). If you are still awaiting graduation, you may be eligible to apply early under certain criteria.
• Examination fee. You must pay the required examination fee as established by the Arizona Supreme Court.
• Application fee. In addition to the examination fee, there is a separate application fee that must be paid.
• Valid MPRE Score. You must achieve a minimum passing score of 85 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
• Completion of the Arizona Law Course. Before being admitted to the Arizona Bar, you must complete an online course on Arizona-specific law.

It is important to note that the Arizona Bar application process has specific deadlines and requirements. Be sure to review the Arizona Supreme Court Rules Governing Admission to the Bar and the corresponding websites for detailed information on application procedures and timelines.

Arizona Bar Exam fees

Aspiring lawyers in Arizona must take the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), which is administered twice a year in February and July. The exam is divided into two parts: the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) and the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) on the first day, and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) on the second day. The Arizona Bar Exam costs $1800, which includes the application fee and the exam fee.

The Arizona Bar Examination has specific filing deadlines. From August 15 to October 31, applications are accepted without a late fee. A $100 late fee is charged for applications submitted between November 1 and November 30. The final deadline for applications and supporting documentation, including accommodation requests, is November 30. For graduates of law school in the previous semester only, the deadline for evidence of graduation is February 1.

In addition to the Arizona Bar Examination fee, there are other costs associated with the bar admission process in Arizona. Applicants must also pay for a Course on Arizona Law, which can be taken online or in person. The cost of the online course is included in the administrative fee, while there is an additional fee for in-person attendance.

Furthermore, applicants are required to submit various supporting documents, such as fingerprints, passport-style photos, and notarized signatures, which may incur additional charges. It is important to note that fingerprinting can be done through local law enforcement agencies, and photo requirements should be reviewed on the Supreme Court's FAQ page.

Additionally, applicants who wish to use a laptop for the written portions of the test may need to register and pay a separate laptop registration fee. The laptop registration period for the February exam is from January 15 to January 31, while for the July exam, it is from June 15 to June 30.

Transferring your Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) score

To become a lawyer in Arizona, you must pass the Arizona Bar Exam. The state of Arizona uses the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) for aspiring lawyers. The Arizona Bar Exam takes place over two days, with the first day consisting of the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) and Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), and the second day consisting of the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

Arizona recognises the UBE as a valid indicator of legal knowledge and allows eligible applicants to transfer a valid UBE score earned in a recognised UBE jurisdiction to satisfy the educational component of Arizona admission.

To transfer your UBE score to Arizona, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law school.
• Have passed a UBE, administered in a recognised UBE jurisdiction, on a recognised UBE test date.
• Have achieved a minimum UBE score of 273 prior to the July 2023 test administration, or a minimum score of 270 from the July 2023 test administration onwards.

In addition to the above requirements, all applicants for admission must also undergo a thorough background investigation and complete the Course on Arizona Law.

To apply for a UBE score transfer, you must submit an online application with payment. The UBE Score Transfer application includes all certification and character investigation questions; do not submit a separate Character Report.

Arizona Bar Exam preparation

The Arizona Bar Exam is a 2-day Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). To be admitted to the Arizona State Bar, you must pass the UBE and meet other requirements. The UBE is offered in February and July. The deadline to apply for the July exam is April 30th, and the deadline for the February exam is November 30th. There is a $100 late fee for applications submitted after the deadline.

The exam consists of the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE). The MEE and MPT are on the first day, and the MBE is on the second day. The MEE consists of six 30-minute questions in the morning, and the MPT consists of two 90-minute questions in the afternoon. The MBE is a 200-question, multiple-choice exam, with 100 questions in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. The MBE is weighted as half (50%) of your total score, the MEE is weighted as one-third (30%), and the MPT is weighted as one-fifth (20%).

The subjects tested on the Arizona Bar Exam include Arizona Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Community Property, Corporations, Partnerships, and other Business Organizations, Professional Responsibility, Trusts, Wills, UCC (Articles 2, 3, & 9), Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

To pass the Arizona Bar Exam, you need a minimum score of 273. A scaled score of 85 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is also required for admission. This score must be earned within two years before or five years after passing the bar exam.

In addition to passing the bar exam and the MPRE, there are other requirements for admission to the Arizona State Bar. These include completing a Course on Arizona Law, providing various supporting documents, and meeting character and fitness requirements. The entire application process is handled by the Arizona Supreme Court, and more information can be found on their website.

Frequently asked questions