Application for Admission by UBE Transfer Score

Before completing this application, please review the following:

Rule I, Sec. 11 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar

Definitions of Essential Eligibility Requirements

Supreme Court Decisions Relating to Character and Fitness

Pursuant to Gov. Bar R. I, Sec. 11, an applicant may transfer a Uniform Bar Examination (“UBE”) score if they have earned a UBE score that meets or exceeds the minimum score of 270 required by the Board of Bar Examiners. Please note that Ohio will accept a qualifying UBE score from other UBE jurisdictions as long as the score was obtained in the past five years prior to submission of an applicant’s application, but no earlier than the date of the February 2016 administration of the UBE.

Filing a Complete Application

Beginning Jan. 26, 2022, all applications for admission to the practice of law in Ohio must be filed using the Bar Admissions Portal. The Office of Bar Admissions will not accept paper applications after this date.

In order to file an Application for Admission by UBE Transfer Score, you must submit the following:

1. If applicable, Certificate(s) of Good Standing
   Certificates of good standing from all jurisdictions in which you are admitted, dated no earlier than 60 days prior to submission of the application, must be uploaded on the Bar Admissions Portal. Please find a list of official agencies that issue certificates of good standing for each jurisdiction at the link above.
2. Undergraduate Transcript
   A certified transcript of college credits evidencing that you earned a bachelor’s degree or a certificate from the dean of the law school you are attending, certifying that you are participating in a three-plus-three program must be submitted.  You may mail the original transcript to our office, or the institution may email the transcript directly to transcripts@sc.ohio.gov. NOTE: We do not require a transcript from each institution you attended, only from the institution that awarded a bachelor’s degree.
3. Law School Transcript
   A certified law school transcript or certified letter evidencing that you earned a J.D. degree from an ABA approved law school.  You may mail the original transcript to our office, or the institution may email the transcript directly to transcripts@sc.ohio.gov. NOTE: We do not require a transcript from each institution you attended, only from the institution that awarded a J.D. degree.
4. Affidavit of Applicant
   The Affidavit of Applicant must be properly executed and uploaded on the Bar Admissions Portal.
5. Applicant’s NCBE Character Questionnaire
   Before submitting an application, you must create an account with the National Conference of Bar Examinations (“NCBE”) and complete the Applicant’s Character Questionnaire. The NCBE number and barcode number are required to create an account on the Bar Admissions Portal.
6. 7A Authorization and Release Form
   The release form must be properly executed and uploaded on the Bar Admissions Portal.
7. Non-refundable registration fee in the amount of $750. The Supreme Court of Ohio is set by Gov. Bar R. I, Sec. 11.
8. If applicable, a foreign course-by-course education evaluation completed by either WES or ECE and non-refundable fee of $150.  Please refer to the Guidelines for Foreign Education Evaluation for more information. Guidelines for Foreign Education Evaluation.
9. If applicable, supplemental documentation.
10. If applicable, petition and non-refundable fee of $30.

Note: If you have previously submitted an Application to Register as a Candidate, you are not required to submit the Undergraduate Transcript and Fingerprint Identification Card.  If you previously submitted the Final Law School Certificate, you are not required to submit a law school transcript.  If it has been more than four years since you filed the Registration, you will be required to submit a new Applicant’s Character Questionnaire.  If has been less than four years since submitting a Registration Application, you may be required to submit another Applicant’s Character Questionnaire upon review of your application.

Fee Payment

Applicants must pay all Supreme Court of Ohio application fees on the Bar Admissions Portal at the time an application is submitted.  Supreme Court of Ohio fees are non-refundable or non-transferable. Applicants must pay all NCBE application fees to the NCBE directly. The fee schedule for the NCBE can be found here: Ohio Character and Fitness Investigations.

Additional Required Documents

All applicants must submit an NCBE Authorization and Release form directly to the NCBE.  If applicable, the following forms may need to be submitted to the NCBE: 7B Authorization to Release Medical Information, 7C Authorization to Release Information, and Law Enforcement Form.  If the additional forms are required, they will generate when you finalize your Applicant’s Character Questionnaire.

Failure to submit these forms to the NCBE timely will delay your investigation.

Practice Pending Admission Application

If you are admitted and in good standing in another jurisdiction, you may be eligible for practice pending admission.  If you wish to apply for practice pending admission, please submit a Practice Pending Admission Application (“PPA”) on the Bar Admissions Portal following your submission of the UBE Transfer Application.  Materials for the PPA Application.

Additional Admissions Information

The NCBE will conduct a background investigation upon receipt of a complete application. Once the NCBE submits the results of its investigation, the application and the NCBE report will be forwarded to a local bar association to conduct a personal interview. The admissions committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness concerning the applicant’s character, fitness, and moral qualifications to practice. An applicant may appeal an adverse recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness.

Applicants have a continuous reporting obligation while their application is pending, unless and until the applicant is admitted to the practice of law. The applicant is required to notify the Office of Bar Admissions in writing of any changes or updates to an application. Applicants may amend their application on the Bar Admissions Portal or by emailing baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.

Under Gov. Bar R. I, Sec. 11, you are also required to submit the following:

• Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) score of 85 or higher
• Ohio Law Component (OLC) of 80% or higher
• Qualifying UBE Score

In order to be admitted, an applicant’s character and fitness must be approved by the bar association’s admissions committee and the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact the Office of Bar Admissions at 614.387.9340 or baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.