The Arkansas bar application requires a Juris Doctor from an ABA-approved law school, a $1,000 non-refundable filing fee, a passing Uniform Bar Examination score of 270, a passing MPRE score of 85, and clearance through a character and fitness investigation run by the State Board of Law Examiners. Arkansas has no residency requirement. Attorneys already licensed in another state can skip the exam through admission on motion for a $1,500 fee if they meet the practice-history threshold.
Who Can Apply
Every exam applicant must hold a J.D. from a law school approved by the American Bar Association. There is no exception for graduates of unaccredited or state-accredited programs. You do not need to live in Arkansas or plan to practice there to sit for the exam.
Deadlines and How to File
Arkansas does not accept late applications. The deadline for the February 2026 exam was November 17, 2025. The deadline for the July 2026 exam is April 1, 2026.1National Conference of Bar Examiners. Uniform Bar Examination Jurisdictions – Bar Examination Information and Dates
Your application must physically arrive at the Office of Professional Programs by the deadline. A postmark on the deadline does not count.2Arkansas Judiciary. Arkansas Bar Examination Application Filing Instructions and Information Only original applications go through; copies and scans are rejected.
Fees and Payment
The application fee is $1,000 and non-refundable. Payment must be made by cashier’s check or money order payable to the Arkansas State Board of Law Examiners. The Board does not accept cash, personal checks, business checks, or credit cards.2Arkansas Judiciary. Arkansas Bar Examination Application Filing Instructions and Information
Budget separately for the MPRE registration fee set by NCBE, and for the laptop software fee if you plan to type the exam. Together these can add a few hundred dollars.
What the Application Asks For
The form is more invasive than most applicants expect. You will account for your complete residential and employment history going back to age eighteen, with specific dates, addresses, and explanations for any gaps. Every stretch of time needs coverage, including unemployment and travel.
You will provide a full financial disclosure of outstanding debts, including student loans, mortgages, and judgments. The Board is less concerned with the size of your debt than with whether you are managing it. Loans in repayment, deferment, or forbearance are generally fine. Loans in default can trigger additional scrutiny or delay admission.
You will list personal and professional references who can speak to your character, and you will disclose and explain any past legal or academic issues, including traffic citations, lawsuits, academic discipline, and financial delinquencies. Full honesty matters more than a clean record. The Board routinely finds omissions during its investigation, and an undisclosed parking ticket can cause more trouble than a disclosed misdemeanor.
Character and Fitness Investigation
Arkansas runs its own character and fitness review rather than outsourcing to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Investigators independently verify your academic records, employment history, credit history, and any legal or disciplinary matters you reported. You will sign authorizations granting the Board access to confidential records.
If anything in your file raises a question, the Board may request additional documentation or schedule an in-person interview. Processing usually takes several weeks, and complex cases run longer. Responding quickly to follow-up requests is the single best thing you can do to protect your timeline. Arkansas does not ask about mental health history as part of this review.3American Bar Association. Mental Health Character and Fitness Questions for Bar Admission
Exams You Must Pass
Uniform Bar Examination
Arkansas administers the UBE, a two-day test combining the Multistate Bar Examination, the Multistate Essay Examination, and the Multistate Performance Test. You need a combined score of at least 270 to pass.4National Conference of Bar Examiners. Arkansas Bar Application Requirements and Process
Because the UBE is portable, a qualifying score earned in another state can transfer to Arkansas without any additional jurisdiction-specific coursework.5National Conference of Bar Examiners. Uniform Bar Examination Jurisdictions – Admission by Examination or by Transferred UBE Score If you failed an Arkansas-administered bar exam within the past five years, you cannot use a transferred score to work around that result.
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
You must also pass the MPRE with a scaled score of at least 85.4National Conference of Bar Examiners. Arkansas Bar Application Requirements and Process It is a two-hour, multiple-choice ethics exam offered three times a year and can be taken before or after the UBE.
Admission on Motion for Attorneys Already Licensed
If you already hold an active law license in another state, you may be able to skip the Arkansas bar exam. Admission on motion requires a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and active practice of law for at least three of the five years immediately before you apply.6National Conference of Bar Examiners. Admission on Motion – Years of Practice and Definition of Practice of Law You must be in good standing in every jurisdiction where you are licensed.
The filing fee is $1,500, non-refundable.6National Conference of Bar Examiners. Admission on Motion – Years of Practice and Definition of Practice of Law One hard disqualifier applies: if you failed an Arkansas-administered bar exam within the past five years, you are not eligible for this path.
After You Pass
Passing the exams and clearing character and fitness does not automatically license you. You must take the oath of admission, swearing to support the constitutions of the United States and the State of Arkansas and to faithfully carry out your duties as an attorney.7Justia Law. Arkansas Code 16-22-205 – Oath
Once admitted, you owe an annual license fee to the Bar of Arkansas. Starting in 2026, attorneys licensed for three or more years pay $250, newer lawyers pay $175, and attorneys 65 or older pay $25.8Justia Law. In Re Bar of Arkansas Annual License Fees (Per Curiam) You must also complete 12 hours of continuing legal education each year, including at least one hour of ethics, to keep your license active.