Maine bar exam requirements
Maine gives the legacy Uniform Bar Exam until February 2028, with a passing score of 270, and switches to the NextGen UBE in July 2028 with a passing score of 620. The exam fee is $800 ($900 for lawyers admitted elsewhere for a year or more), with applications due in December for February and May 20 for July. Maine no longer allows courtesy seating.
Sources: Maine Board of Bar Examiners, Maine Supreme Judicial Court rule amendments and NCBE’s Comprehensive Guide, checked October 11, 2026. Check the Board’s current notice for exact deadlines and any late-filing option.
Deadlines and fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| February exam | Due in December; for February 2026, late fees of $150 / $300 applied in the two weeks before a final December 20 cutoff |
| July exam | Due May 20 (NCBE) |
| Exam fee | $800; $900 if admitted elsewhere for 1+ year (plus NCBE fee) |
| UBE score transfer | $900 / $1,000 plus NCBE fee; legacy 270+ or NextGen 620+, up to 3 years old |
| Payment | Personal, cashier’s or treasurer’s check, or money order to the Board |
Source: Maine Board of Bar Examiners; Maine bar admission rules (fees from March 15, 2025); NCBE.
Requirements
- MPRE: 80 or higher, within 15 years before admission; it isn’t needed to apply or sit.
- No courtesy seating: applicants must be seeking admission in Maine.
- Concurrent applications: Maine accepts applicants sitting the UBE in another state at the same administration.
- Education: foreign law graduates may be eligible, per NCBE.
Official source & community discussion
Maine Board of Bar Examiners: exam information (official) →
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