Bar Admission Agency
South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
| Phone | (605) 773-4898 |
| Fax | (605) 773-8479 |
| Website | Visit Website |
Bar Exam Eligibility, Deadlines, and Fees
| ABA-Approved Law School J.D. Required | ✓ Yes |
| Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility | ✓ Yes |
| July 2025: First filing deadline | May 1 |
| July 2025: Late filing deadline | — |
| February 2026: First filing deadline | Nov. 1 |
| February 2026: Late filing deadline | — |
| Bar Exam Application Filing Deadlines | |
| Bar Exam Application Filing Fees |
South Dakota Fee Schedule
This information is for reference only. Your assigned fee and payment options are specified after submission of your online application.
Fee Categories
| Category II | Your first law degree (JD or LLB) is anticipated to be awarded within one year or less and you have not been authorized to practice law. | $395 |
| Category III | Your first law degree (JD or LLB) was obtained in the United States and awarded more than one year ago, or you have been authorized to practice law only in the United States. | $550 |
| Category IV | Your first law degree (JD or LLB) was not obtained in the United States, regardless of whether a subsequent US law degree was conferred, or you have ever been authorized to practice law in a foreign country. | $925 |
Supplemental Conditions
You may be eligible for a reduced fee if NCBE has completed a character report for you in the last four years. Completion of a new application is required.
| Category V | A complete Category I, II, or III report was prepared by NCBE for a different jurisdiction. | $250 |
| Category VI | A complete Category I, II, or III report was prepared by NCBE for the same jurisdiction. | $120 |
| Category VII | A complete Category IV report was prepared by NCBE for any jurisdiction. | $450 |
In addition to the processing fee, NCBE reserves the right to pass along the cost of obtaining records in conjunction with this application.
If you request a refund for any reason after submitting your payment, an administrative fee will be retained. Refund of payment may be granted only in limited circumstances. Once NCBE has generated correspondence on your application, the entire fee payment is non-refundable.
Score Portability
| Accepts Legacy UBE Score | ✕ No |
| Accepts NextGen UBE Score | ✓ Yes |
| Minimum NextGen UBE Score | 620 |
| Date First Acceptance NextGen UBE Score | July 2026 |
| Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement (Score Transfer) | ✕ No |
| Accepts Transferred MBE Scores | ✓ Yes |
Character & Fitness Investigations
NCBE conducts investigations for some application types.
MPRE Requirements
| MPRE Required | ✓ Yes |
| MPRE Minimum Passing Score | 85 |
| MPRE Score Time Parameters |
Admission on Motion
| Rules Provide for Admission on Motion | ✓ Yes |
| Legal Education and Reciprocity Requirements | |
| Number of Years of Practice Required | 3 of past 5 |
Bar Exam
| Legacy UBE | ✕ No |
| NextGen UBE | ✓ Yes |
| Date First Administration (NextGen UBE) | July 2027 |
| Minimum Passing Score (NextGen UBE) | TBA |
| NextGen UBE Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement | TBA |
| Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam | ✓ Yes |
| Jurisdiction-Drafted Minimum Passing Score | — |
Visit the NCBE Study Aids Store for official test prep materials.