There are important differences between the New York State bar exam eligibility requirements and other states' requirements. The New York Court of Appeals adopted the Uniform Bar Exam effective with the July 2016 administration of the New York State bar examination. The court also adopted a requirement that applicants for admission in New York be required to complete an online course on New York law and take and pass an online examination on New York law, as a requirement for admission. The court also added a skills competency requirement that can be satisfied by completing one of five pathways. For more information, visit www.nycourts.gov/ip/bar-exam.

Students are also encouraged to review the New York State Board of Law Examiners Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law.

Certification in Competence in Skills and Professional Values for Applicants for Admission to the New York Bar

JDs whose course of study began after August 1, 2016, and LLMs whose course of study began after August 1, 2018 must complete a skills competency component for admission to the New York bar under section 520.18 of the Rules of the New York Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law. 

Kline School of Law has adopted and published Institutional Learning Outcomes reflecting our mission of educating students to become knowledgeable, skilled, and engaged lawyers. We offer courses at both the required and elective level designed to support these outcomes, along with a commitment to experiential education and pro bono work for every student.

Kline School of Law will certify graduates as completing the skills competency requirement under Pathway One of section 520.18 who have successfully completed the following courses and requirements.  Successful completion of a course is achieved by receiving a passing grade or by credit if graded on a credit/no credit basis:

1. Legal Methods I
2. Legal Methods II or Contract Drafting
3. Professional Responsibility
4. A Statutory Course
5. The completion of at least one Co-op, Clinic, or Field Practicum    
6. Fifty (50) hours of pro bono work

Information for Graduates of the Classes of 2009 and 2010

Graduates of the classes of 2009 and 2010 who plan to take the New York bar examination must petition the New York Court of Appeals for a waiver of Rule 520.3(a)(1) of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law (“Bar Admission Rules”). This rule provides that an applicant who sits for the New York bar exam must have attended and graduated from a law school that at all times during the period of the applicant’s attendance was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Because the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law operated under provisional accreditation from the ABA from February 2008 through August 2011 some conditions must be met for members of the Classes of 2009 and 2010. Because of the requirements of Rule 520.3(a)(1), students in the Classes of 2009 and 2010 who were enrolled at the law school prior to the time that the school received its provisional ABA approval must secure a waiver of Rule 520.3(a)(1) in order to sit for the New York bar exam.

Rule 520.14 provides that the New York Court of Appeals may waive a provision of the Bar Admission Rules where strict compliance with the Rules will cause undue hardship. For a detailed explanation by the New York State Bar Examiners of the requirements to sit for the New York bar exam, click on the following link: http://www.nybarexam.org/JD.html. To review Rules 520.3 and 520.14, click on the following link: http://www.nybarexam.org/Rules/Rules.htm.

Each student must individually petition the New York Court of Appeals for a waiver for a specific administration of the bar exam.  There is no filing fee and no required form or format for the petition for waiver. You can submit your waiver application either by letter or affidavit. However, the letter or affidavit must be notarized. The original and one copy of the petition should be submitted to Andrew W. Klein, Clerk of the Court, New York Court of Appeals, 20 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207.

Although petitions are not automatically approved by the Court of Appeals, it is law school's understanding that the court liberally grants waiver petitions for first-time bar exam applicants. Remember, in addition to petitioning for a waiver of Rule 520.3(a)(1), you must also file a timely application with the New York State Bar Examiners to sit for the bar exam. For information about the New York bar exam and application procedure, click on the following link: http://www.nybarexam.org/ Your ticket to take the bar exam will not be issued until the Court of Appeals receives and grants your waiver petition. Therefore, you should submit your waiver petition as soon as you know that you will be taking the New York bar exam.

If you have additional questions about the waiver process, please contact Professor Kraybill, nancy.kraybill@drexel.edu. You can also contact the Office for Professional Matters, New York Court of Appeals, at (518) 455-7700.