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Admissions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the basic requirements for admission?
Admission by Examination
- Passing scores on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), and the Wyoming Essay Examination
- Good moral character and fitness to practice law
- J.D. from an ABA-approved law school
Admission on Motion
- Active practice for five of the seven years immediately preceding application date in a reciprocal jurisdiction
- 45 hours of CLE earned during the three years immediately preceding application date
- Good moral character and fitness to practice law
- J.D. or LLB from an ABA-accredited law school
What are the educational requirements to apply for admission to the Wyoming State Bar?
ALL applicants, whether student or attorney, must have a degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Even if you are admitted to practice in another jurisdiction, you are not eligible to apply unless you have a degree from an ABA-approved law school. A list of ABA-approved law schools can be found on the following website: www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/alpha.html.
There are no provisions for foreign-educated applicants.
- Is there any reciprocity or admission on motion?
You may apply for admission on motion if you meet the requirements of Section III (Admission on Motion) of the Rules and Procedures Governing Admission to the Practice of Law. These rules may be found on the following website: www.courts.state.wy.us/CourtRules_Entities.aspx?RulesPage=PracticeOfLawAdmission.xml.
Is my jurisdiction reciprocal?
Please read your jurisdiction's rules for admission on motion carefully. If your jurisdiction does not allow admission on motion, then you must apply to take the Wyoming Bar Examination. If your jurisdiction will grant admission on motion to a Wyoming-licensed attorney without requiring additional examination (including but not limited to the MPRE), then your jurisdiction may be reciprocal.
If you apply for admission on motion, and it is determined that your jurisdiction is not reciprocal, you may choose to sit for the bar examination without additional application fee. If your jurisdiction is not reciprocal, and you choose not to sit for the bar examination, your application fee is non-refundable.
- When is the deadline to apply?
All applicants have the same deadline; motion applicants are considered in conjunction with the administration of the bar examination. The deadline for the July exam is April 15. The deadline for the February exam is November 15 of the previous year. Your completed application must be filed with (received by) the Clerk of the Wyoming Supreme Court by or before the deadline. Applications postmarked on or after the deadline will be returned to you. There is no late filing deadline.
How soon will I find out my exam results?
When your file is complete (including scores for the essay, MBE and MPRE), your application must first be reviewed by the Character and Fitness Committee, and then by the Board of Law Examiners (BLE.) The BLE then makes its report to the Wyoming Supreme Court, who will notify you with your results. The BLE expects to make its report to the Wyoming Supreme Court approximately eight to ten weeks after the bar exam. If you are transferring a MBE score from another jurisdiction, your results will be delayed until we receive your score. Additionally, if you delay taking the MPRE, your results cannot be reported to the Supreme Court before we receive that score.
What if I applied on motion?
All applicants are reviewed concurrently. Expect to receive notice from the Supreme Court approximately eight to ten weeks after the bar exam.
- How much is the application fee?
$450 for all applicants, plus the appropriate fee payable to the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE.)
These fees are non-refundable and must be submitted when your application is filed with the Wyoming Supreme Court. The Wyoming Supreme Court will accept payment by personal check or money order. The NCBE will accept payment by personal check, money order or credit card.
- How can I obtain an application packet?
Our admissions forms are available on this website. Put your mouse over "Admissions" up above and either select "Admission By Exam" or "Admission By Motion" to be taken to the appropriate forms. Or, you may send a written request and a $15 check to have an application packet mailed to you. Send your request and payment to:
Wyoming State Bar
Admissions Director
P.O. Box 109
Cheyenne, WY 82003-0109
- What documents are required to complete the application?
There are many required supporting documents. The required documents are outlined in the application checklist. Copies and faxes of official or notarized documents (certificate of good standing, certificate of judge, Dean's Certificate, etc.) are not acceptable.
May I submit supporting documents in advance of my application?
You are welcome to have score transfers, certificates of good standing from other jurisdictions, and your Dean's Certificate sent directly to the State Bar. As long as they have your name on them, we will hold them until we receive your application.
What if I can't provide all the supporting documents by the application deadline?
The completed application (including the NCBE Request for Preparation of a Character Report) and application fee must be filed with the Clerk of the Wyoming Supreme Court by the specified deadline (either April 15 or November 15, see above). All supporting documents should be sent with your application as well. Some documents, such as the Dean's Certificate or a certificate of good standing, must be sent directly from the certifying agency, and cannot be accepted from the applicant.
It is strongly suggested that applicants begin the process early in order to allow ample time to obtain the required documents. Certified copies of court documents and military discharge forms (DD-214) often require several weeks to arrive. You will not be allowed to sit for the examination unless all supporting documents have been received by the State Bar and/or the NCBE.
- What are my obligations once I submit an application?
You are required to update your application to keep it current and accurate at all times during the admission process. You must notify the Bar Admissions Director in writing in the event there are any changes to your application. This includes, but is not limited to: any change in name, residence, business address, telephone number, email address, employment, or attorney membership status in any other jurisdiction. It also includes an obligation to inform the Character and Fitness Committee of any academic misconduct, disciplinary action, or any involvement in any civil or criminal proceeding (including traffic violations), or the recurrence or development of any illness or condition which would have a bearing on your fitness to practice law.
If the Bar Admissions Director or the NCBE should request more information or documentation, you are obligated to respond in a timely and truthful fashion. Failure to comply with requests for additional information in a timely manner will reflect negatively on your application.
- What if my results from another jurisdiction will not be released until after Wyoming's application deadline?
You should apply by the application deadlines stated above and state on your application that you sat for the MBE in another jurisdiction. Then you can amend your application at any time. For example, if you learn you have a qualifying MBE score in another jurisdiction (or if you find you have not passed the MBE in the other jurisdiction and wish to retake it there), you can amend your application and state your intention to transfer your score and not sit for the MBE in Wyoming. In either case, please contact the Wyoming Bar Admissions Director.
- Are my previous scores eligible for transfer?
A scaled MBE score of 130 or higher may be transferred for up to three years. For example, a valid MBE score from July 2009 could be used through the July 2012 exam.
A scaled MPRE score of 75 or higher may also be transferred for up to three years. For example, a valid MPRE score from March 2009 could be used through the February 2012 exam.
Applicants are solely responsible for having scores certified to the Bar Admissions Director.
- Where can I obtain a Wyoming Bar Examination study guide?
The Wyoming State Bar does not publish study guides, release previous exam questions, or endorse any commercially available study guides. However, the following sources may be helpful in preparing for the exam:
- Wyoming Essay Exam study guides may be purchased from BAR/BRI.
- MBE and MPRE study guides, the MBE & MPRE online practice exam may be purchased from the NCBE.
- What are the dates of the exam?
The MBE is always administered on the last Wednesday of February and July. The Wyoming Essay Examination is administered on the Thursday following the MBE.
- July 29-30, 2009 (Cheyenne)
- February 24-25, 2010 (Cheyenne)
- July 28-29, 2010 (Laramie)
The MPRE is administered in March, August and November of each year. For more information about dates and registration, visit www.ncbex.org.
- What is the format of the Wyoming Essay Examination?
The essay portion of the Wyoming Bar Examination presents eleven questions. You have a choice of answering any ten of the eleven questions. Only the first ten questions submitted will be graded. The essay is administered in one four-hour session commencing promptly at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m. The subject areas from which questions are taken for the essay portion are listed below in alphabetical order:
- Administrative Law
- Business Organization
- Civil Procedure
- Commercial Paper
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Domestic Relations
- Evidence
- Mortgages
- Oil and Gas
- Property
- Sales
- Secured Transactions
- Torts
- Trusts and Estates
- Water Law
- Can I use my laptop to take the Wyoming Bar exam?
Yes, examinees have the option to use their laptops for the essay portion of the bar exam. Wyoming uses ExamSoft's SofTest. There is a nonrefundable fee of $90, payable to ExamSoft for this option. For more information, visit www.examsoft.com/barfaq.
- What if I'm taking another jurisdiction's bar exam in the same exam administration?
You can sign up, pay for and download the software for two exams, but SofTest cannot registered under two different bar exams simultaneously. However, SofTest registration is easily modified prior to each exam.
For example, if you intend to take the Colorado Bar (COBar) Exam on Tuesday and the Wyoming Bar (WYBar) on Thursday, you would:
- Log in to the WYBar Custom Home Page using your unique WYBar ID & password and register SofTest under WYBar first.
- Log in to the COBar Custom Home Page using your unique COBar ID & password and register SofTest under COBar second.
- Take the COBar exam on Tuesday.
- After the COBar exam, launch SofTest and press the CTRL + F7 keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
- Click YES then OK when prompted to unregister SofTest.
- Double click the SofTest icon on your Windows Desktop.
- Register SofTest using your WYBar ID and password.
- Take the WYBar exam on Thursday.
- What if I sign up for the exam, but then find I need to postpone?
The rules allow an applicant to register for two consecutive examinations without additional fee.
For example, if you first registered to sit for the July 2009 examination, but had to postpone, you may register for the February 2010 examination without an additional fee. If you are then unable to appear for the February 2010 examination, you must reapply with the $450 application fee before you can sit for the bar examination.
- What if I need to know more?
This list of frequently asked questions is general in nature. It is not a substitute for reading and becoming familiar with the Rules and Procedures Governing Admission to the Practice of Law. Contact Nancy Shore, Bar Admissions Director, at (307) 632-9061 with any questions.
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