New Mexico - Admission, Eligibility, Deadlines, Fees and Scores

Updated January 16, 2026 18:46

Jurisdiction information summary for the New Mexico bar admission process.

NextGen Exam Notice: New Mexico has announced that it intends to administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2027. Visit https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen to learn more about the new exam.

Exam Information: New Mexico requires the following NCBE exams: MBE, MEE, MPT, and MPRE. Visit the NCBE Study Aids Store to purchase the Bar Exam Everything Value Pack which includes MBE, MEE, and MPT study aids; and MPRE study aids to help prepare for New Mexico exams.

Bar Admission Agency

New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners

2440 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Ste. 280
Albuquerque, NM 87110

Phone: (505) 271-9706
Fax: (505) 271-9768

Visit Website

Bar Exam Eligibility, Deadlines, and Fees

ABA-Approved Law School J.D. Required	No (Details)
Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility	Yes (Details)
Bar Exam Application Filing Deadlines	Details July 2025: First filing deadline – May 1 July 2025: Late filing deadline – June 1 February 2026: First filing deadline – Nov. 1 February 2026: Late filing deadline – Jan. 1
Bar Exam Application Filing Fees	Details

Score Portability

Accepts Legacy UBE Score	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	260
Accepts NextGen UBE Score	Yes
Minimum NextGen UBE Score	TBA
Date First Acceptance NextGen UBE Score	TBA
Maximum Score Age	60 months (Details)
Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement	Yes
Accepts Transferred MBE Scores	No

Character & Fitness Investigations

NCBE hosts the character and fitness application but does not conduct investigations for this jurisdiction. Before proceeding, review the jurisdiction website for additional requirements and specific filing instructions. Completing and submitting a character and fitness application is only part of the bar application process.

The non-refundable NCBE service fee is $30 for each NCBE character and fitness application completed online. Additional fees, assessed by the jurisdiction, will also apply. Log into your NCBE Account to complete the NCBE character and fitness application.

MPRE Requirements

MPRE Required	Yes
MPRE Minimum Passing Score	80
MPRE Score Time Parameters	Details

Admission on Motion

Rules Provide for Admission on Motion	Yes (Details)
Legal Education and Reciprocity Requirements	Details
Number of Years of Practice Required	5 of past 7

Bar Exam

Legacy UBE	Yes
Date Final Administration (Legacy UBE)	February 2027
Minimum Passing Score (Legacy UBE)	260
Legacy UBE Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement	Yes (Details)
NextGen UBE	Yes
Date First Administration (NextGen UBE)	July 2027
Minimum Passing Score (NextGen UBE)	TBA
NextGen UBE Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement	Yes (Details)
Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam	No

Visit the NCBE Study Aids Store for official test prep materials.

Disclaimer: Since jurisdiction rules and policies change, NCBE strongly advises consulting the jurisdiction's bar admission agency directly for the most current information.