Alabama bar exam requirements
Alabama gives the legacy Uniform Bar Exam until February 2028, with a passing score of 260, and switches to the NextGen UBE in July 2028 alongside a three-hour Alabama law essay exam. The exam fee is $575 plus a character and fitness investigation fee. Applications are due October 1 for February and February 1 for July, with no late filing.
Sources: Alabama State Bar Admissions Office and NCBE’s Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, checked October 11, 2026. Confirm with the Alabama State Bar before applying.
Deadlines and fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| February exam | Apply September 1 to October 1 |
| July exam | Apply January 1 to February 1 |
| Late filing | Not available; the Bar can’t grant exceptions |
| Exam fee | $575, plus NCBE character and fitness investigation fee |
| UBE score transfer | $875, plus investigation fee |
| Law student non-registration fee | $250 if you didn’t register as a law student |
| Postponement | $100, at least 7 days before the exam |
Source: Alabama State Bar; NCBE.
Requirements
- Education: an ABA-approved JD is not strictly required; foreign law graduates may be eligible, per NCBE.
- MPRE: 75 or higher, valid for 36 months.
- Score transfers: legacy UBE scores of 260+ up to 36 months old; NextGen scores from July 2026 at the passing score of the state where earned, until Alabama sets its own.
- From July 2028: a three-hour Alabama law essay exam alongside the NextGen UBE.
Official source & community discussion
Alabama State Bar Admissions (official) →
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