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Seeking Admission to the Bar in Massachusetts

To become a licensed attorney in Massachusetts by Examination or by Motion, you must meet the requirements and the qualifications established by the Supreme Judicial Court.

A Petition for Admission to the Massachusetts bar by Examination or by Motion must be filed with the Supreme Judicial Court for The County of Suffolk. Completed Petitions including all filing requirements will be referred to the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) to determine whether you have the qualifications and acquirements required for admission, and whether you embody "...that degree of honesty, integrity, and discretion that the public and members of the bench and bar have the right to demand of a lawyer.”

The July 2022 UBE will be administered in-person in Massachusetts. The July 2022 filing period will open on Friday, March 25, 2022 at 8:30 AM with a deadline of Friday, May 6, 2022 at 4:30 PM. Please check the filing guides found below for more instructions.

Exam Dates: July 26-27, 2022.

Other updates regarding the July 2022 exam will be posted as they become available.

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Learn about the Admission by Examination in Massachusetts  Learn about Admission by Motion in Massachusetts   FAQs Related to Examination for Admission to the Massachusetts Bar 

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Petition for Admission by Transfer of UBE Score in Massachusetts  Guide to Filing a Petition for Admission by Examination (First-Time)  Petition for Admission by Motion to the Massachusetts bar  Guide to Filing a Petition for Admission by Re-Examination  About the Massachusetts Law Component  Apply for Nonstandard Testing Accommodations for the bar exam in Massachusetts 

What you need to know

Forms and information relating to bar admission in Massachusetts  About the Uniform Bar Exam  Foreign Educated Attorneys  Learn about Character and Fitness for the Massachusetts bar  Notice of Petitioners pending admission to the bar of Massachusetts  Letters of Recommendation Guidelines 
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Additional Resources

Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:01: Attorneys
Rules of the Board of Bar Examiners
Office of the Clerk for The County of Suffolk
Board of Bar Examiners
Forms and information relating to bar admission in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers
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