Allows an applicant with four or more unsuccessful attempts on the New York bar examination to file an application for re-examination for the February or July administration of the bar examination, provided such applicant successfully graduated from a law school located in and accredited by the state of New York.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9094
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
September 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT in relation to New York bar exam applicants
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The intent of this legislation is to
restore fairness and flexibility for New York law school graduates who
are seeking to retake the New York State Bar Examination after four or
more unsuccessful attempts. Under recent changes to the Rules of the
State Board of Law Examiners, applicants are restricted to sitting for
the examination only in February. This limitation creates barriers,
particularly for candidates who may require additional preparation time,
who balance family and work obligations, or who otherwise find the July
administration more accessible.
§ 2. Notwithstanding section 6000.4(c) of the Rules of the State Board
of Law Examiners, an applicant with four or more unsuccessful attempts
on the New York bar examination may file an application for re-examina-
tion for the February or July administration of the bar examination,
provided such applicant successfully graduated from a law school located
in and accredited by the state of New York.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13540-02-5
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