To become licensed to practice law in Illinois, you need a Juris Doctor from an ABA-approved law school, a passing score of 266 or higher on the Uniform Bar Examination, a passing score of 80 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, clearance from the Committee on Character and Fitness, and completion of a swearing-in ceremony before the Illinois Supreme Court. The requirements for the Illinois bar exam sit inside that larger admission process, and each piece has its own deadlines and paperwork. Here is what each one demands.
Who Can Sit for the Exam
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 703 sets the education requirement: a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association.1Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 703 – Legal Educational Requirements A Master of Laws or Doctorate in Law does not count as a qualifying first professional degree on its own. You will need to have your law school send official transcripts and a Certificate of Dean confirming graduation and good standing.
Rule 701 adds two baseline requirements that apply to every applicant: you must be at least 21 years old, and you must possess good moral character and general fitness to practice law.2Supreme Court of Illinois. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 701 – General Qualifications The character piece runs on a separate track that is described further down.
Foreign-educated applicants who did not attend an ABA-approved school face additional hurdles. They may need to complete supplemental coursework or demonstrate equivalent legal training and practice experience before the Board will allow them to sit.
Application Deadlines and Fees
The exam is offered twice a year, in February and July, at venues in Chicago assigned by the Board. For 2026, the February exam falls on February 24–25 and the July exam on July 28–29.
Effective January 1, 2026, the fees for first-time applicants who have never registered for an Illinois bar exam are tiered by filing date:3Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Information For Bar Exam Applicants
- Regular deadline (September 15 for February; February 15 for July): $1,200
- Late deadline (November 1 for February; April 1 for July): $1,475
- Final late deadline (November 30 for February; April 30 for July): $1,875
Applicants who have previously registered and paid for an Illinois bar exam pay less. For the February exam, they pay $650 through the late deadline or $1,125 through the final late deadline. For the July exam, previously registered applicants pay $650 through April 30.3Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Information For Bar Exam Applicants All fees are nonrefundable.
Miss the final late deadline and you are locked out of that cycle entirely. No exceptions.
Most applicants also register for the laptop program to type the written portions. That registration opens roughly seven weeks before the exam and carries a separate $135 fee covering the software license, technical support, and administrative costs.4Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Notice The window is short, so watch the dates once you apply.
The Exam Itself
Illinois administers the Uniform Bar Examination, a two-day test with three components. A total scaled score of 266 or higher is required to pass.5Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Frequently Asked Questions
The Multistate Bar Examination is a six-hour, 200-question multiple-choice test split into morning and afternoon sessions of 100 questions each.6National Conference of Bar Examiners. MBE Bar Exam It covers civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law and procedure, evidence, real property, and torts.
The Multistate Essay Examination is six essay questions over three hours.3Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Information For Bar Exam Applicants The subject list is broader than the MBE and can include business associations, family law, and trusts and estates.
The Multistate Performance Test is two 90-minute tasks that simulate real lawyering assignments, such as drafting a client memo or a persuasive brief from a supplied file of facts and legal authorities.7The Bar Examiner. The Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
Results for the February exam are typically released in early April, and July exam results in early October. Illinois places no limit on retakes if you do not pass.
Testing Accommodations
Applicants with disabilities can request nonstandard testing accommodations for conditions such as learning disorders, visual or hearing impairments, and psychological disorders. The request requires documentation from your medical or psychological provider, plus records from any schools, testing entities, or employers that previously granted you accommodations. All NTA forms and supporting documents must be filed by the final late application deadline, November 30 for February or April 30 for July, with no exceptions.8Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Nonstandard Testing Accommodation Separate administrative accommodations exist for health issues that can be handled within the standard schedule, with a January 15 or June 15 deadline depending on the cycle.
Character and Fitness
The character and fitness review runs on a separate track from the exam, but you cannot be admitted without clearing it. The Committee on Character and Fitness operates under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 708 and evaluates whether you demonstrate the honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, and reliability the profession requires.9Supreme Court of Illinois. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 708 – Committee on Character and Fitness
The questionnaire is extensive. You will document every residence and every job you have held since turning 18, with dates, supervisor names, and contact information, and you will supply personal references. The Committee is looking for patterns of behavior that might affect your ability to practice ethically, including criminal history, substance abuse, academic misconduct, and financial irresponsibility. The essential eligibility requirements it evaluates include the ability to exercise good judgment, deal honestly in financial matters, comply with deadlines, and treat legal obligations seriously.9Supreme Court of Illinois. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 708 – Committee on Character and Fitness
A problematic record does not automatically disqualify you, but it can trigger a formal hearing where you will need to demonstrate rehabilitation and show that you currently meet the standards. Fingerprinting for state and federal background checks is required and typically costs around $67.
The MPRE
Passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination is a separate admission requirement. Illinois requires a minimum scaled score of 80.2Supreme Court of Illinois. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 701 – General Qualifications The MPRE is offered three times a year and is administered separately from the bar exam. Most applicants take it during or shortly after law school. Both scores must be on file before the Board will certify you for admission.
After You Pass
With a passing bar exam score, a passing MPRE score, and clearance from the Committee on Character and Fitness, the Board certifies your eligibility to the Illinois Supreme Court. The last step is a formal swearing-in ceremony where you take the attorney’s oath. Only after that ceremony are you enrolled as a member of the Illinois bar with authority to appear in state courts and represent clients.
One post-admission requirement often catches new lawyers by surprise. Under Rule 793, newly admitted attorneys must complete a Basic Skills Course within one year of admission, consisting of at least six hours of instruction in practice techniques, professional conduct, and professional responsibility.10Illinois Courts. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 793 – Requirement for Newly-Admitted Attorneys Missing that deadline can affect your license status.
Alternatives to Taking the Illinois Exam
If you already have qualifying credentials from another jurisdiction, you may not need to sit for the Illinois exam at all.
Under Rule 704A, you can apply to transfer a UBE score of 266 or higher earned in another state, provided the transfer happens within four years of the last day of the month when that exam was administered.11Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Rule 704A Admission By Transferred UBE Score The application fee is $1,500. You still must satisfy character and fitness and pass the MPRE.
Rule 705 allows admission on motion, without any exam, for attorneys licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction. You must show at least three years of active, continuous legal practice out of the five years preceding your application, defined as a minimum of 1,000 hours per year. You must be in good disciplinary standing everywhere you have been admitted, and if you have been licensed fewer than 15 years, you need a passing MPRE score. If you failed an Illinois bar exam within the preceding five years, you cannot use this route.12Supreme Court of Illinois. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705 – Admission on Motion The fee is $1,500.
The NextGen Change in 2028
The requirements above describe the current UBE, which remains in place through at least the July 2027 administration. Illinois has announced that it will begin administering the NextGen bar exam in February 2028.13National Conference of Bar Examiners. Illinois to Administer NextGen Bar Exam in 2028 The NextGen exam runs 1.5 days, with six hours of testing on day one and three on day two, and covers nine areas of legal doctrine along with seven foundational lawyering skills.
The Illinois passing score for NextGen has not yet been announced. Other early-adopting jurisdictions have set scores in the 610 to 620 range on the new scale, which does not translate directly to the current 266.14National Conference of Bar Examiners. NextGen Bar Exam If you are planning to sit in 2028 or later, watch the Board’s website for the updated score requirement as the transition approaches.