Law School for Lawyers

QUALIFYING TO SIT FOR THE BAR EXAMINATION - Applicants may qualify to sit for the New York bar Examination in four ways:

1. Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school in the United States with a juris doctor degree (Section 520.3 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals.)

2. A combination of law school study at an ABA approved law school and law office study. (Section 520.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals)

3. Graduation from an unapproved law school in the United States with a juris doctor degree and practice in a jurisdiction where admitted for 5 of the 7 years immediately preceding application to sit for the New York bar examination. (Section 520.5 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals)

4. Foreign law school study. (Section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals) (See also, "Foreign Legal Education" section of this website)

Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review the eligibility rules under Section 520 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals prior to applying to sit for the bar examination. It is the responsibility of each applicant to be aware of the eligibility requirements of the Rules of the Court of Appeals and the burden is on each applicant to demonstrate their compliance with the requirements of the Court Rules.