Jurisdiction information summary for the Virginia bar admission process.
NextGen Exam Notice:
Virginia has announced that it intends to administer the NextGen bar exam in July 2028.
Visit
https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen
to learn more about the new exam.
Exam Information:
Visit the
NCBE Study Aids Store
to learn about
MBE study aids
and
MPRE study aids
to help prepare for the MBE and MPRE exams.
Bar Admission Agency
Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
2201 W. Broad St., #101
Richmond, VA 23220-2022
Phone:
(804) 367-0412
Fax:
(804) 367-0416
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
See full deadline chart: Details
- July 2025: First filing deadline – May 10
- July 2025: Late filing deadline – —
- February 2026: First filing deadline – Dec. 15
- February 2026: Late filing deadline – —
Bar Exam Application Filing Fees
See Virginia bar exam application fee details on the jurisdiction charts: Details.
Score Portability
| Accepts Legacy UBE Score | No |
|---|---|
| Accepts NextGen UBE Score | Yes |
| Minimum NextGen UBE Score | TBA |
| Date First Acceptance NextGen UBE Score | July 2028 |
| Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement | Yes |
| Accepts Transferred MBE Scores | Yes (Details) |
Character & Fitness Investigations
NCBE conducts investigations only for those seeking to be certified as Foreign Legal Consultants (FLC) in Virginia.
Learn more and access services here: Character & Fitness Services for VA .
MPRE Requirements
| MPRE Required | Yes |
|---|---|
| MPRE Minimum Passing Score | 85 |
| 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 | 3 of past 5 (Details) |
Bar Exam
| Legacy UBE | No |
|---|---|
| NextGen UBE | Yes |
| Date First Administration (NextGen UBE) | July 2028 |
| Minimum Passing Score (NextGen UBE) | TBA |
| NextGen UBE Jurisdiction-Specific Requirement | Yes (Details) |
| Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam | Yes (Details) |
| Jurisdiction-Drafted Minimum Passing Score | 140 (Details) |
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.