Wisconsin administered its first Uniform Bar Examination July 28-29, putting into practice a new approach intended to make it easier for qualified attorneys to begin or continue their careers in the state.
A total of 122 applicants registered for the two-day examination. The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved the move to the Uniform Bar Examination, or UBE, in March amid concerns about the availability of attorneys in communities across Wisconsin.
“Without attorneys the courthouse doors are closed for too many Wisconsinites,” Chief Justice Jill J. Karofsky said. “The UBE addresses the attorney shortage problem head-on by bringing more attorneys into the state. This is a crucial step in ensuring every person in this state has access to justice.”
The most notable change is the portability of exam scores. An applicant who earns a qualifying UBE score in another participating jurisdiction may use that score to apply for admission in Wisconsin without taking a separate Wisconsin bar exam. Applicants who take the UBE in Wisconsin may likewise transfer their scores when seeking admission elsewhere, subject to each jurisdiction’s requirements.
To qualify for admission in Wisconsin using a transferred score, an applicant must earn a scaled score of at least 260 and apply within 36 months of taking the qualifying examination. All applicants must also meet Wisconsin’s other admission requirements.
Wisconsin-specific legal education remains part of the process. Before admission, UBE applicants must complete a 21-hour Wisconsin law and practice educational component. The component must be completed no later than 12 months after notice of a passing score or, for applicants transferring a score from another jurisdiction, within 12 months of applying for admission.
Developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the two-day UBE includes performance tasks, essays, and multiple-choice questions designed to measure the knowledge and skills considered necessary for entry-level legal practice.
Wisconsin’s diploma privilege remains unchanged. Eligible graduates of the University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University Law School may continue to seek admission to the Wisconsin bar without taking the bar examination.
More information is available on the Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners website.
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