Admission to the Bar

As soon as possible after deciding to study law, a student is urged to investigate the rules governing admission to the bar in the state in which he or she intends to practice. The rules of many states require registration upon beginning the study of law. Compliance with bar admission requirements is the sole responsibility of the student.

There are generally multiple steps for admission to the bar in any US jurisdiction, including, but not limited to: graduation from an accredited law school, taking and passing a Bar Examination, submitting to and passing a Character and Fitness Inquiry, and taking a course or test over law specific to that jurisdiction.

To learn more about the requirements in each US jurisdiction, refer to the NCBE Bar Admission Guide, found at https://reports.ncbex.org/comp-guide/.

Most jurisdictions also require the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) for admission. Students should be familiar with the timing and passing score requirements for jurisdictions where they might apply.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides information about the MPRE and bar exam on their website: https://ncbex.org/.

Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law in Kentucky are set forth in Kentucky Supreme Court Rule 2. These Rules, and additional information about the Kentucky Bar Exam and Admissions process, can be found on the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions website, https://www.kyoba.org/.

For specific questions about applying for bar admission, character and fitness, and bar exam study, see the Director of Academic and Bar Success.