Opinion
972
12-27-2023
IN RE: STANDARDS FOR PASSING THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR EXAMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF BAR ADMISSION RULE 206
SUPREME COURT RULES DOCKET
ORDER
PER CURIAM
AND NOW, this 27th day of December, 2023, pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, IT IS ORDERED that:
Beginning with the February 2024 administration of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), the minimum scaled score required to constitute satisfactory completion of the UBE for purposes of Pennsylvania bar admission shall be 270.
For applications that rely upon administrations of the UBE in any jurisdiction prior to the February 2024 administration, the minimum scaled score for purposes of Pennsylvania bar admission shall remain 272.
Rule 206 of the Pennsylvania Bar Admission Rules, "Admission by Bar Examination Score Transfer," is amended in the attached form. To the extent that notice of proposed rulemaking would otherwise be required by Pa.R.J.A. 103, the immediate promulgation of the amended and adopted rule is found to be in the interest of efficient administration.
The prior order of this Court dated January 4, 2022, regarding standards for passing the Pennsylvania bar examination, is rescinded to the extent it is inconsistent with this Order.
This ORDER shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(b), and shall be effective immediately.
Rule 206. Admission by Bar Examination Score Transfer
Applicants may apply for admission to the bar of the courts of this Commonwealth using a Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) score earned in another jurisdiction provided that the applicant meets the requirements below.
(a) Score Requirements.
1. The UBE score must meet or exceed that established by the Court as the minimum passing score for applicants sitting for the bar exam at the time of the UBE that resulted in the score the applicant [files an] seeks to transfer [application for admission under this rule]; and
2. No more than 30 months have passed from the first day of the UBE that resulted in the score the applicant seeks to transfer.