Illinois Bar Admission Information
NextGen Exam Notice: Illinois has announced that it intends to administer the NextGen bar exam in February 2028.
Exam Information: Illinois requires the following NCBE exams: MBE, MEE, MPT, and MPRE.
Bar Admission Agency
Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
625 S. College St.
Springfield, IL 62704-2521
| Phone | (217) 522-5917 |
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| Fax | (217) 522-3728 |
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| Website | https://www.ilbaradmissions.org |
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Bar Exam Eligibility, Deadlines, and Fees
| ABA-Approved Law School J.D. Required | Yes |
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| Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility | Yes |
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| July 2025: First filing deadline | Feb. 15 |
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| July 2025: Late filing deadline | April 30 |
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| February 2026: First filing deadline | Sept. 15 |
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| February 2026: Late filing deadline | Nov. 30 |
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| Bar Exam Application Filing Fees | Details available from the jurisdiction. |
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Score Portability
| Accepts Legacy UBE Score | Yes |
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| Minimum Legacy UBE Score | 266 |
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| Accepts NextGen UBE Score | Yes |
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| Minimum NextGen UBE Score | TBA |
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| Date First Acceptance NextGen UBE Score | TBA |
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| Maximum Score Age | 4 years |
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| Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement | No |
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| Accepts Transferred MBE Scores | No |
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Character & Fitness Investigations
This jurisdiction does not use NCBE's character and fitness services; please contact Illinois for filing instructions.
MPRE Requirements
| MPRE Required | Yes |
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| MPRE Minimum Passing Score | 80 |
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Admission on Motion
| Rules Provide for Admission on Motion | Yes |
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| Number of Years of Practice Required | 3 of past 5 |
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Bar Exam
| Legacy UBE | Yes |
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| Date Final Administration | July 2027 |
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| Legacy UBE Minimum Passing Score | 266 |
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| NextGen UBE | Yes |
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| Date First Administration | February 2028 |
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| NextGen UBE Minimum Passing Score | TBA |
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| NextGen UBE Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement | No |
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| Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam | No |
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Disclaimer: Since jurisdiction rules and policies change, NCBE strongly advises consulting the jurisdiction's bar admission agency directly for the most current information.