Rules for the Board of Law Examiners 

Table of Contents 

Rule 1.  General Requirements. ............................................................................... 2 

Rule 2.  Admission by Examination. ........................................................................ 2 

Rule 3.  Examination Administration. ..................................................................... 3 

Rule 3a.  Michigan Law Component. ....................................................................... 4 

Rule 4.  Post-Examination Procedures; Appeal; Application for Re-Examination. 4 

Rule 4a.  Admission by Transferred UBE Score. ..................................................... 4 

Rule 5.  Admission Without Examination................................................................ 5 

Rule 6.  Fees. ............................................................................................................. 8 

Rule 7.  Exceptions. ................................................................................................... 9 

Rule 8.  Recertification. ............................................................................................. 9 

 

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RULES FOR THE BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS 

Rule 1.  General Requirements. 

An applicant for admission to the practice of law must 

(A) be 18 years old or older; 

(B) possess good moral character; and 

(C)  have  completed,  before  entering  law  school,  at  least  60  semester  hours  or  90 
quarter  hours  toward  an  undergraduate  degree  from  an  accredited  school  or  while 
attending an accredited junior or community college. 

Rule 2.  Admission by Examination. 

(A)  An  application  must  be  filed  by  November  1  for  the  February  examination,  or 
March  1  for  the  July  examination.    Late  applications  will  be  accepted  until 
December  15  for  the  February  examination,  or  May  15  for  the  July  examination.  
An application must be accompanied by payment of the fee.  All materials filed are 
confidential. 

(B)  Before  taking  the  examination,  an  applicant  must  obtain  a  JD  degree  from  a 
reputable and qualified law school that 

(1)  is  incorporated  in  the  United  States,  its  territories,  or  the  District  of 
Columbia; and 

(2)  requires  for  graduation  3  school years  of  study  for  full-time students,  and  4 
school years of study for part-time or night students.  A school year must be at 
least 30 weeks.  

A law school approved by the American Bar Association is reputable and qualified.  
Other schools may ask the Board to approve the school as reputable and qualified.  
In  the  event  the  law school  has  ceased  operations  since  an  applicant’s  graduation, 
the  request  for  approval  may  be  made  by  the  applicant.    The  Board  may  in  its 
discretion permit applicants who do not possess a JD degree from an ABA-approved 
law school to take the examination based upon factors including, but not limited to, 
relevant legal education, such as an LLM degree from a reputable and qualified law 
school,  and  experience  that  otherwise  qualifies  the  applicant  to  take  the 
examination. 

(C) The State Bar character and fitness committee will investigate each applicant.  
The  applicant  must  disclose  any  criminal  conviction  which  carries  a  possible 
penalty of incarceration in jail or prison that has not been reversed or vacated and 
comply with the committee’s requirements and requests.  The committee will report 
the results of its investigation to the Board.  If the committee report shows that an 
applicant  lacks  the  necessary  character  and  fitness,  the  Board  will  review  the 
application,  record,  and  report.    If  the  Board  accepts  the  report,  the  applicant  is 
entitled  to  a  hearing  before  the  Board  and  may  use  the  Board’s  subpoena  power.  

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The  Board  may  permit  an  applicant  to  take  the  examination  before  the  character 
and  fitness  committee  reports.    The  Board  will  release  the  applicant’s  grade  if 
character and fitness committee approval is obtained. 

(D)  Every  applicant  for  admission  must  achieve  a  passing  score,  as  determined  by 
the  board,  on  the  Multistate  Professional  Responsibility  Examination  (MPRE) 
prepared and administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. 

(E)  The  Board  may  permit  an  applicant  entering  the  armed  forces  before  the 
examination immediately following graduation to take an earlier examination.  The 
applicant  must  have completed,  before  the  examination,  21/2  years  full-time  or  31/2 
years part-time study.  The Board will release the applicant’s grade when the school 
certifies the applicant’s graduation.  

(F) The  applicant 
for  meeting  all  requirements  before  the 
examination.    The  Board  may  act  on  information  about  an  applicant’s  character 
whenever the information is received. 

is  responsible 

Rule 3.  Examination Administration. 

(A) The examination shall be the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) as prepared and 
defined  by  the  NCBE  and  administered  on  dates  and  under  regulations  set  by 
NCBE.  The UBE consists of: 

(1) The Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) 

(2) The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) 

(3) Two Multistate Performance Test items (MPT) 

(B)  The  NCBE  will  grade  the  MBE.    The  Board  or  its  agents  will  grade  the  MEE 
and  the  MPT,  with  the  Board  having  final  responsibility.    The  Board  will  adopt 
policies for grading that are consistent with the sound testing practices followed by 
all jurisdictions that administer the UBE.  The policies shall include a provision for 
the NCBE to convert the raw scores on the written portion of the examination to the 
MBE  scale  by  the  methodology  used  for  UBE  jurisdictions.    The  Board  will 
determine a method for selecting a passing score.  

(C)  To  earn  a  portable  UBE  score  that  is  transferable  to  other  UBE  jurisdictions, 
persons taking the UBE in Michigan shall sit for and take all components of the bar 
examination in a single administration. 

(D)  An  applicant’s  raw  bar  examination  score  shall  be  provided  to  the  NCBE  to 
calculate  scaled  scores.    Upon  request  by  an  applicant,  the  NCBE  will  certify  and 
transfer  the  applicant’s  scaled  score,  scaled  MBE  score,  and  total  UBE  score  to 
other UBE jurisdictions.  The NCBE may also release to an applicant, upon request 
by  the  applicant,  the  applicant’s  scaled  MBE  score,  scaled  written  score,  and  total 
UBE score. 

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Rule 3a.  Michigan Law Component. 

(A) Before being admitted to the practice of law in Michigan by UBE examination, 
by  transferred  UBE  score,  or  on  Application  for  Admission  Without  Examination, 
an applicant shall take any Michigan Law Component course required by the Board 
and provide proof of completion to the Board of Law Examiner’s office.  

(B) If a Michigan Law Component course is required by the Board, the course shall 
contain  relevant  Michigan-specific  topics  attorneys  licensed  in  Michigan  are 
reasonably  expected  to  know  as  determined  by  the  Board.    The  course  shall  be  in 
the form prescribed by the Board.  

(C) An applicant shall pay any fee determined by the Board that is associated with 
taking the Michigan Law Component. 

Rule 4.  Post-Examination Procedures; Appeal; Application for Re-
Examination. 

(A) Except where a mathematical or clerical error has been made, scores determined 
in  accordance  with  these  rules  shall  be  final.    In  the  unlikely  event  of  a 
mathematical or clerical error, the Board shall issue a corrected score.    

(B) The Executive Director will release examination results at the Board’s direction.  
Any blue books will be kept for 3 months after results are released. 

(C) An applicant who has failed and seeks to retake the UBE in Michigan shall file 
an Application for Reexamination.  An applicant for re-examination may obtain an 
application from the Executive Director.  The application must be filed at least sixty 
(60) days before the examination.  If the applicant’s character and fitness clearance 
is  more  than  three  (3)  years  old,  the applicant  must  be  approved  by the  State  Bar 
Committee on Character and Fitness. 

(D) A passing bar examination score is valid for three years. 

Rule 4a.  Admission by Transferred UBE Score. 

(A)  An  applicant  may  apply  for  admission  to  the  practice  of  law  in  Michigan  by 
filing an application to transfer a UBE score if all of the following apply: 

(1) The applicant earned a UBE score that meets or exceeds the minimum score 
required by the Board of Law Examiners. 

(2)  The  score  that  the  individual  elects  to  use  was  achieved  on  a  uniform  bar 
examination administered within the 3 years immediately preceding the uniform 
bar examination in this state for which the individual would otherwise sit. 

(3) The applicant has taken the MPRE prepared and administered by the NCBE 
and earned the scaled score required by the Board. 

(4)  The  applicant  has  met  all  requirements  of  these  rules,  including  successful 
completion of any Michigan Law Component. 

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(B) An applicant who desires to be admitted as a member of the Michigan bar shall 
file with the Board of Law Examiners an Application for Admission to the Practice 
of Law by Transferred UBE Score.  The application shall include the following:  

(1) An affidavit stating that the applicant has studied the Michigan Court Rules, 
the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, and the Michigan Code of Judicial 
Conduct.  

(2)  An  application  provided  for  use  by  the  State  Bar  of  Michigan  Standing 
Committee  on  Character  and  Fitness  for  the  purpose  of  conducting  a  character 
and fitness investigation of the applicant and the required fee;  

(3) An application fee as prescribed by BLE Rule 6. 

(C)  An  applicant  under  review  shall  have  a  continuing  duty  to  update  the 
information  contained  in  the  State  Bar  of  Michigan  Standing  Committee  on 
Character  and  Fitness  application  and  to  report  promptly  to  the  State  Bar  of 
Michigan Standing Committee on Character and Fitness all changes or additions to 
information  in  the  application  that  occur  prior  to  the  applicant’s  admission  to 
practice.  

(D)  An  applicant  under  this  section  shall  successfully  complete  any  required 
Michigan Law Component within the time period required by the Board. 

(E) An applicant under this section who has been approved for admission under this 
section  shall  be  entitled  to  take  the  oath  of  office  under  Rule  15,  section  3,  of  the 
Rules Concerning the State Bar of Michigan.  An applicant under this section shall 
not engage in the practice of law in Michigan before approval and administration of 
the  oath.    An  application  under  this  section  shall  be  considered  withdrawn  if  the 
applicant does not take the oath of office within three years after being approved for 
admission to the practice of law in Michigan. 

Rule 5.  Admission Without Examination. 

(A) An applicant for admission without examination must 

(1) qualify under Rules 1 and 2(B); 

(2) be licensed to practice law in the United States, its territories, or the District 
of Columbia; 

(3) be a member in good standing of the Bar where admitted; 

(4)  intend  to  practice  law  in  Michigan,  or  to  be  a  full-time  instructor  in  a 
reputable and qualified Michigan law school; and 

(5) have, after being licensed and for 3 of the 5 years preceding the application, 

(a)  actively  practiced  law  as  a  principal  business  or  occupation  in  a 
jurisdiction  where  admitted  (the  practice  of  law  under  a  special  certificate 
pursuant to Rule 5[D] or as a special legal consultant pursuant to Rule 5[E] 
does not qualify as the practice of law required by this rule); 

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(b)  been  employed  as  a  full-time  instructor  in  a  reputable  and  qualified  law 
school in the United States, its districts, or its territories; or 

(c) been on active duty (other than for training or reserve duty) in the United 
States armed forces as a judge advocate, legal specialist, or legal officer.  The 
judge advocate general (or a comparable officer) or delegate must certify the 
assignment and the inclusive dates. 

The  Board  may,  for  good  cause,  increase  the  5-year  period.    Active  duty  in  the 
United  States  armed  forces  not  satisfying  Rule  5(A)(5)(c)  may  be  excluded  when 
computing the 5-year period. 

(6) Complete any Michigan Law Component requirement set out in Rule 3a. 

(B)  An  applicant  must  submit  the  National  Conference  of  Bar Examiners’  Request 
for  Preparation  of  a  Character  Report  along  with  other  material  required  by  the 
Board and payment of the fees. 

(C) An applicant not satisfying Rule 5(A) will be notified and given an opportunity 
to appear before the Board.  The applicant may use the Board’s subpoena power. 

(D)  An  applicant  for  whom  a  certificate  of  admission  is  issued  must  take  the  oath 
and become a member of the State Bar of Michigan within three years of the date 
the certificate is issued.  Otherwise, the applicant must reapply. 

(E) An attorney 

(1)  ineligible  for  admission  without  examination  because  of  the  inability  to 
satisfy Rule 5(A)(5); and 

(2)  practicing  law  in  an  institutional  setting,  e.g.,  counsel  to  a  corporation  or 
instructor  in  a  law  school,  may  apply  to  the  Board  for  a  special  certificate  of 
qualification  to  practice  law.    The  applicant  must  satisfy  Rule  5(A)(1)-(3),  and 
comply with Rule 5(B).  The Board may then issue the special certificate, which 
will entitle the attorney to continue current employment if the attorney becomes 
an  active  member  of  the  State  Bar.    The  special  certificate  permits  attorneys 
teaching  or  supervising  law  students  in  a  clinical  program  to  represent  the 
clients of that clinical program.  If the attorney leaves the current employment, 
the special certificate automatically expires; if the attorney’s new employment is 
also institutional, the attorney may reapply for another special certificate. 

(F) Special Legal Consultants. 

(a)  To  qualify  for  admission  without  examination  to  practice  as  a  special  legal 
consultant one must: 

(1) be admitted to practice in a foreign country and have actually practiced, and 
be in good standing, as an attorney or counselor at law or the equivalent in such 
foreign  country  for  at  least  3  of  the  5  years  immediately  preceding  the 
application; and 

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(2) possess the good moral character and general fitness requisite for a member 
of the bar of this state; and 

(3) fulfill the requirements of MCL 600.934 and 600.937; and 

(4)  be  a  resident  of  this  or  another  state  of  the  United  States,  its  territories  or 
the  District  of  Columbia and  maintain  an office  in  this  state  for  the  practice  of 
law; and 

(5) be over 18 years of age.  

(b) In considering whether to license an applicant to practice pursuant to Rule 5(E), 
the  Board  may  in  its  discretion  take  into  account  whether  a  member  of  the  bar  of 
this  state  would  have  a  reasonable and  practical  opportunity  to  establish  an  office 
for  the  giving  of  legal  advice  to  clients  in  the  applicant’s  country  of  admission  (as 
referred to in Rule 5[E][a][1]), if there is pending with the Board a request to take 
this  factor  into  account  from  a  member  of  the  bar  of  this  state  actively  seeking  to 
establish  such  an  office  in  that  country  which  raises  a  serious  question  as  to  the 
adequacy of the opportunity for such a member to establish such an office. 

(c) An applicant for a license as a special legal consultant shall submit to the Board: 

(1)  a  certificate  from  the  authority  in  such  foreign  country  having  final 
jurisdiction  over  professional  discipline,  certifying  as  to  the  applicant’s 
admission  to  practice  and  the  date  thereof  and  as  to  the  good  standing  of  such 
attorney  or  counselor  at  law  or  the  equivalent,  together  with  a  duly 
authenticated English translation of such certificate if it is not in English; and 

(2) a letter of recommendation from one of the judges of the highest law court or 
intermediate  appellate  court  of  such  foreign  country,  together  with  a  duly 
authenticated English translation of such letter if it is not in English; and 

(3) the National Conference of Bar Examiners questionnaire and affidavit along 
with the payment of the requisite fee and such other evidence of the applicant’s 
educational  and  professional  qualifications,  good  moral  character  and  general 
fitness, and compliance with the requirements of Rule 5(E)(a)(1)-(5) as the Board 
may require; and 

(4) shall execute and file with the Executive Director of the State Board of Law 
Examiners, in such form and manner as the Board may prescribe, 

(i) a duly acknowledged instrument in writing setting forth the special legal 
consultant’s  address  in  the  state  of  Michigan  and  designating  the  Executive 
Director of  the  State Board  of  Law  Examiners  an  agent  upon whom  process 
may be served, with like effect as if served personally upon the special legal 
consultant, in any action or proceeding thereafter brought against the special 
legal consultant and arising out of or based upon any legal services rendered 
or offered to be rendered by the special legal consultant within or to residents 
of the state of Michigan whenever after due diligence service cannot be made 
upon  the  special legal  consultant  at  such  address  or  at  such  new  address  in 

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the  state  of  Michigan  as  the  special  legal  consultant  shall  have  filed  in  the 
office  of  the  Executive  Director  of  the  State  Board  of  Law  Examiners  by 
means of a duly acknowledged supplemental instrument in writing; and  

(ii) the special legal consultant’s commitment to notify the Executive Director 
of the State Board of Law Examiners of any resignation or revocation of the 
special  legal  consultant’s  admission  to  practice  in  the  foreign  country  of 
admission,  or  of  any  censure,  suspension  or  expulsion  in  respect  of  such 
admission.  

Service  of  process  on  the  Executive  Director  of  the  State  Board  of  Law 
Examiners  shall  be  made  by  personally  delivering  to  and  leaving  with  the 
Executive  Director,  or  with  a  deputy  or  assistant  authorized  by  the  Executive 
Director  to  receive  such  service,  at  the  Executive  Director’s  office,  duplicate 
copies of such process together with a fee of $10.00.  Service of process shall be 
complete  when  the  Executive  Director  has  been  so  served.    The  Executive 
Director shall promptly send one of such copies to the special legal consultant to 
whom  the  process  is  directed,  by  certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested, 
addressed to such special legal consultant at the address specified by the special 
legal consultant as aforesaid. 

(d) A person licensed to practice as a special legal consultant must maintain active 
membership in the State Bar of Michigan and must discharge the responsibilities of 
state bar membership and is authorized to render professional legal advice: 

(1)  on  the  law  of  the  foreign  country  where  the  legal  consultant  is  admitted  to 
practice; 

(2) may use the title “special legal consultant” either singly or in connection with 
the authorized title or firm name in the foreign country of the legal consultant’s 
admission  to  practice,  provided  that  in  each  case  the  name  of  such  foreign 
country be identified. 

Rule 6.  Fees. 

The fees are as follows: 

(A)  examination  under  the  Uniform  Bar  Exam,  $400  and  an  additional  fee  for  the 
late filing of an application or transfer of  an application for examination, $100; an 
application for re-examination, $300;  

(B) application for admission by transferred UBE score, $400; 

(C) application for recertification, $300;  

(D)  application  for  admission  without  examination,  $800  plus  the  requisite  fee  for 
the  National  Conference  of  Bar  Examiners’  character  report.    Certified  checks  or 
money  orders  must  be  payable  to  the  State  of  Michigan.    Online  bar  examination 
payments for first time takers must be paid by credit card. 

(E) Any fee for a Michigan law component as determined by the Board. 

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Rule 7.  Exceptions. 

An  applicant  may  ask  the  board  to  waive  any  requirement  except  the  payment  of 
fees and the administration of the UBE.  The applicant must demonstrate why the 
request should be granted. 

Rule 8.  Recertification. 

An applicant for recertification shall file an application and other material required 
by  the  Board.    After  a  hearing  the  Board  shall  either  recertify  the  applicant  or 
require that the applicant pass the examination described in Rule 3.  An applicant 
may  use  the  Board’s  subpoena  power  for  the  hearing.    An  applicant  who  is  an 
inactive  State  Bar  member  or  who  had  previously  voluntarily  resigned  from  the 
State Bar or who previously elected emeritus status, and who has been employed in 
another  jurisdiction  in  one  of  the  ways  listed  in  Rule  5(A)(5)  is  entitled  to 
recertification by the Board. 

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