BAR ADMISSIONS
ADMISSION BY TRANSFERRING UBE SCORE
The West Virginia Board of Law Examiners processes applications for admission by transferred UBE score year round. While such applications are not subject to the biannual deadlines imposed on bar examination applicants, they must be postmarked no later than the deadline set forth in Rule 3.5(a).
APPLICATION FEES | |
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WV Application fee: | $750 |
NCBE Report: | The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) requires a fee to complete a required character and fitness background investigative report. The fee varies, but typically begins at $500. See NCBE’s website for their fee schedule. |
MPRE: | The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam is a test separate from the UBE, with a separate set of administration fees. |
Other: | Fees may be assessed for transferring scores (UBE, MPRE) and requesting certificates of good standing, copies of required application supporting documents, and copies of applications previously filed in other jurisdictions. Travel expenses may be incurred for the character interview and for the admission ceremony. |
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
FIRST: Read and familiarize yourself with the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law in West Virginia. These Rules govern all applications to practice law in West Virginia, and all applicants are charged with knowledge of the Rules’ requirements. Thoroughly review the FAQs UBE Transfer Applicants, the instructions on this page, and the National Conference of Bar Examiners instructions for answers to your questions regarding the application process.
SECOND: Go to www.ncbex.org/ea — the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners — and complete the West Virginia-specific character and fitness application online. Applications which are handwritten or not completed online will be rejected. Print out one original copy of the completed NCBE application, and confirm that a bar code appears at the bottom. The application must be dated no more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of submission to our jurisdiction and the NCBE. Make a copy of the completed application and all materials you send to the WVBLE/NCBE throughout the process to keep for your records.
THIRD: Follow the NCBE’s instructions for submitting the required supporting material to the NCBE with your payment. This payment is separate from and additional to payment to the WVBLE. We will accept NCBE supplemental reports only if the original NCBE report was completed no more than three (3) years prior to the date of your application to West Virginia.
FOURTH: Mail the following materials to the West Virginia Board of Law Examiners at:
WVBLE
West Virginia Judicial Tower
4700 MacCorkle Ave. SE Ste 700B
Charleston, WV 25304
Do NOT include staples, post-it notes, and/or exhibit tabs with your application. Application materials are scanned upon receipt and using such items may cause your application to be torn or shredded during the scanning process. All materials must be submitted on paper measuring 8½” x 11”. Reproduction on both sides of the paper is permissable.
The following materials must be postmarked by the application deadline, according to Rule 3.5 (a) or your application will be rejected. If you fail to include these items you will not be given any grace period to correct the error:
- One original application. You must attach any required documents (e.g., copies of pleadings, orders, criminal complaints, military separation documents, financial, etc.), if applicable, which the application directs you to include to both the NCBE and WVBLE. If you no longer have the materials listed, contact the court(s)/issuing agency to provide copies of these documents (or provide their response, in writing, if they are unable to do so).
- One (1) completed Application Affidavit with original signatures of applicant and Notary Public, dated no more than sixty (60) days prior to your application submission.
- One (1) completed Affidavit of Authorization and Release with original signatures of applicant and Notary Public, dated no more than sixty (60) days prior to your application submission.
- UBE Official Score Transcript from the NCBE. This must come to our office directly from the NCBE, but you must include a copy of the receipt indicating you have requested it with your application. Pursuant to Rule 3.5(a), applicants must have earned a, “…combined, scaled UBE score of no less than 270 in an administration of the UBE taken within three years immediately preceding the date upon which application is made …”
- Application Filing Fee payable to the State of West Virginia. Please reference the Application Filing Fee Schedule to determine the applicable fee to include.
- Copies of bar applications you have filed in any other jurisdictions. If you did not retain a copy, contact the jurisdiction(s) and provide their response in writing if they are unable to provide a copy.
- Official transcript from the school(s) that awarded your undergraduate degree(s). Transcripts must show that your degree has been awarded and the date on which it was awarded. Although a transcript does not have to be sent directly to the Board from the college or university, it must be an official copy certified by the school; photocopies and unofficial printouts will not be accepted. If the transcript indicates that it must be in its original, sealed envelope in order to be official, send it to the Board of Law Examiners without opening the envelope. If the college or university provides transcripts via electronic service you must request melissa.menefee@courtswv.gov as the designated recipient.
- Official transcript from the school that awarded your law degree. Transcripts must show that your degree has been awarded and the date on which it was awarded. Although a transcript does not have to be sent directly to the Board from the college or university, it must be an official copy certified by the school; photocopies and unofficial printouts will not be accepted. If the transcript indicates that it must be in its original, sealed envelope in order to be official, send it to the Board of Law Examiners without opening the envelope. If the college or university provides transcripts via electronic service, you must request melissa.menefee@courtswv.gov as the designated recipient.
- An original credit report dated no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date your application is postmarked. A credit report printed from an online free annual credit reporting agency or from any website that provides detailed history on each account is acceptable. A print-out that shows only your credit score is insufficient. The report must include your full name and the date it was issued and no pages may be redacted.
- Original Certificates of Good Standing from the Clerk of the Supreme Court from each state where you have been admitted to practice, signed no more than sixty (60) days prior to your application submission.
- Official score report from the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). If you specified West Virginia as one of the reporting states when you took the exam, you must inform our office in writing of the date you took the MPRE so that we can confirm your score without the need for an official score report. Pursuant to Rule 3.5 (a), applicants for admission by transferred UBE score must achieve a scaled score of at least 80 on an exam within twenty-five months of the applicant's successful UBE administration. There will be no exceptions to or waivers of this rule. Although you may send in your application for admission prior to sitting for the MPRE, your application file will not be complete and you will not be eligible for admission until we receive your passing MPRE score.
FIFTH: Keep the West Virginia Board of Law Examiners apprised of any changes in the information provided on your application by submitting an Application Update Form when necessary. You must also inform the NCBE of changes to your application using the NCBE’s amendment forms available under your NCBE online account.