Maine Board of Bar Examiners

CONTACT
telephone: 207-623-2464
fax: 207-622-0059
address: P.O. Box 140, Augusta, ME 04332
execdir@mainebarexaminers.org

Posted: August 14, 2020
The Maine Supreme Court has issued a statement regarding the in-person bar examination being held next month. Please click here to read the statement.

Posted: August 12, 2020

The Maine Board of Bar Examiners, in coordination with the Maine Supreme Court and the Maine Center for Disease Control, have developed additional safety precautions for the upcoming September 30, 2020 – October 1, 2020 Maine Bar Examination. Please click here for the Safety Precautions.

The following documents will need to be signed by applicants in order to gain entry to the examination on exam day:

1. Applicant Agreement and Declaration

2. Maine Visitors Certificate of Compliance

Posted: July 17, 2020

The Maine Board of Bar Examiners requires that all applicants who are sitting for the September 30, 2020 – October 1, 2020 Maine Bar Examination adhere to the Governor’s COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

For up-to-date information regarding the quarantine requirements, please click here.

Posted: June 4, 2020

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has signed an emergency order to allow the refund of fees paid to the Maine Board of Bar Examiners for the upcoming exam under certain circumstances. Please click here for the Court Order.

Posted: June 3, 2020

ALL SEATS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2020-OCTOBER 1, 2020 MAINE BAR EXAMINATIONS ARE TAKEN

As of June 3, 2020, the Maine Board of Bar Examiners has filled all available seats for the September 30-October 1, 2020 bar exam. A wait list will be available for those seeking admission to the Maine bar until the end of the Tier 2 period, June 15, 2020.

Courtesy seat applications and fees arriving after June 3, 2020 will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant. All exam applications and fees for the Fall exam arriving after June 15, 2020 will be returned.

EXECUTIVE ORDER TEMPORARILY MODIFYING CERTAIN IN-PERSON NOTARIZATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

On April 8, 2020, Governor Janet Mills issued an Executive Order
temporarily modifying certain in-person notarization and acknowledgement requirements.

Notaries outside of the State of Maine should follow their state’s requirements for remote notarization.

This Executive Order applies to all Maine Board of Bar Examiners applications.

Please click here for the Court Order.

JULY 2020 MAINE BAR EXAMINATION RESCHEDULED

On April 15, 2020, the Maine Supreme Court issued an Emergency Order stating that, due to COVID-19, the July 2020 Maine Bar Examination has been cancelled. The examination is rescheduled to Wednesday, September 30 and Thursday, October 1, 2020. The deadline to submit applications for this examination is Friday, July 17, 2020.

Please click here for the Court Order.

OFFICE CLOSURE DUE TO COVID-19

The office of the Maine Board of Bar Examiners is currently closed to the public during this time. We strongly encourage applicants to use the United States Postal Service to mail applications and documentation to our P.O. Box, since FedEx and UPS are not able to access our building for hand deliveries at this time.

Please continue to monitor this website for updated information. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

CHANGE IN MAINE UBE CUT SCORE

In accordance with Maine Bar Admissions Rule 10(c)(3), the Maine Board of Bar Examiners, at its January 2020 Board meeting, set the passing scaled score for future bar examinations at 270. This new passing score will be effective starting with the February 2020 Bar Examination. This change is prospective only.

MAINE BAR APPLICATIONS

When applying for admission to the Maine Bar through examination, Admission by Motion or UBE Score Transfer, please make sure to submit the most recent application. Older versions of applications will not be accepted.

COURTESY SEAT APPLICATIONS

The Maine Board of Bar Examiners provides the opportunity for examinees to apply for a COURTESY SEAT in order to obtain a UBE Score, but not seek admission to the Maine Bar. Please note there is a separate application for courtesy seating. Please click here for the Courtesy Seat Application.

Maine will accept concurrent applications from examinees sitting for the UBE in another jurisdiction. Applicants must still apply as if taking the Maine bar exam, but do not have to sit in Maine if sitting for an exam in another UBE jurisdiction (for the same exam administration). In order to apply concurrently with another UBE jurisdiction, please click here for the Exam Application.

Welcome to the web site of the Maine Board of Bar Examiners. The Board designed this site to facilitate access to information about the Maine bar examination. Relevant documents are available to read on-line and to download.


To begin the application process, applicants need the following documents:

If you do not wish to download the forms, you may write to us at the address below and we will mail you a copy of the Maine Bar Admission Rules, the Application Procedures, and a Request for Application Form. Unfortunately, due to our staffing limitations, the Board does not accept telephone requests for forms or copies of the Rules.

Applications are available from March to May for the July exam and from October to December for the February exam. Applicants who do not download an application form from this web site must write to the Board and request and complete a Request for Application Form to receive an application.

The information on this website is to assist persons who are potential general or comity applicants. It is of necessity abbreviated at times. If there is any conflict between any language on this website and the Maine Bar Admission Rules (“Rules”) promulgated by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, then the Rules prevail.

Files available to download are in PDF format. If your browser does not have a PDF reader, click on the icon below to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Maine State Bar Association provides services to attorneys, such as CLE seminars, and services to the public, such as the Lawyer Referral Services. To contact the Maine State Bar Association, click here.

Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar registers Maine attorneys, handles complaints about Maine attorneys, and administers the mandatory CLE requirement in Maine. To contact the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, click here.