Virginia Bar Exam Information

Fees:

• Original application fee: $575
• Character and fitness questionnaire fee: $575
• Admission without examination (motion) fee: $2,500
• Laptop program fee: $125

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners has transitioned to a new online application system available in January 2026.

Applicants may transfer a scaled MBE score of 133 or greater, taken within the preceding 3 years, to qualify to sit for only the Virginia essay portion of the exam.

For attorney applicants who hold an active license to practice law, are in good standing, and passed the bar exam in a jurisdiction other than Virginia, no MBE score is required. These applicants take only the essay portion of the exam and need a minimum of 64 raw points (out of 100) to pass.

Virginia requires a Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) scaled score of 85 or higher, achieved at any time before taking the Virginia bar exam or prior to the expiration of a passing Virginia bar exam score. Passing Virginia bar exam scores are valid for 5 years from the date of the examination.

NCBE will discontinue the MBE after the February 2028 administration. In July 2028, the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners will replace the MBE with the NextGen UBE while retaining a Virginia-specific component to test state law.

The NextGen UBE will be a 9-hour exam administered over 1.5 days (6 hours on day one, 3 hours on day two). The Virginia law component (3 hours or less) will be administered on the afternoon of day two.

The Virginia law component will retain an essay format and will test the following subjects: Domestic Relations, Evidence, Torts, Virginia Civil Procedure, Virginia Criminal Law & Procedure, and Wills, Trusts & Estates.

Applicants who take the NextGen UBE in another jurisdiction before July 2028 will be able to transfer their NextGen UBE score to Virginia (subject to forthcoming Board rule revisions). Applicants must still take the Virginia law component to be licensed by examination in Virginia.

Admission on motion (without examination) is available for attorneys who have been engaged in the active practice of law for at least 3 of the past 5 years. Application fee: $2,500.

Applicants are permitted up to 5 attempts at the Virginia Bar Exam. After 5 unsuccessful attempts, special permission is required for further attempts.

Virginia Board of Bar Examiners

2201 W. Broad Street, Suite 101

Richmond, VA 23220-2022

Phone: (804) 367-0412

Fax: (804) 367-0416

Website: https://barexam.virginia.gov/