Bar Exam General Application Instructions

Applicants must certify that they have read and understand the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of law in the State of North Carolina.

Electronic Communication

All information and announcements are posted on the Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina (NCBLE) website at https://www.ncble.org/home.

• You are expected to regularly visit the NCBLE website to review the announcements and information posted there, as well as your personal NC account
• NCBLE will communicate with you via email and by postal service. You are required to maintain a current email address (the one you can access even after graduation from law school) and mailing address on your personal NC account.
• You are expected to regularly read all mail from this office, whether sent electronically or by postal service.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that emails from NCBLE are not filtered as spam and to add noreply@ncble.org and https://www.ncble.org to your email address book.

Properly Filed Application

The Board considers an application timely “filed” when you submit the following items to the Board’s office by hand-delivery on or before the deadline, or by U.S. mail or other delivery service with sufficient postage postmarked on or before the deadline.

• Complete and submit the electronic portion of your application online.
• Click the View/Print Form button to print TWO (2) double-sided copy of your submitted electronic application. NOTE: The View/Print Form button will not appear until you have successfully submitted the electronic portion of your application
• Submit TWO (2) printed double-sided copies of your application to the NCBLE.

• Submit a money order, cashier’s check, corporate check, law firm check or personal check made payable to “North Carolina Board of Law Examiners.” Print your name on the check exactly as it appears in the application in order to ensure proper credit. Payment of cash is accepted if hand-delivering your application to NCBLE.

The following documents must be mailed or submitted with your printed application to the NCBLE.

• Handwriting Sample Page
• Signature Page - General Application - signed and notarized
• TWO (2) original properly executed Authorization & Release Forms

You must either hand-deliver or mail TWO (2) double-sided copies of your completed and submitted electronic application, the Handwriting Sample Page, the Signature Page – General Application, TWO (2) Authorization and Release Forms, and the required application fee by the deadline to the Board at the address below. If you mail these materials, it must be postmarked on or before the deadline.

Additional Documents

Many additional documents beyond those listed above are required to complete your application and admissions file. Additional documents are documents that are required based upon your answers in the application and which you typically must obtain from some third party. Examples of additional documents include your certified birth certificate, documentation of name change (if applicable), driver's license records, police reports, court records, Certificates of Good Standing), completed fingerprint cards, educational transcripts, disciplinary statement (disciplinary history), etc. The TWO (2) double-sided copy of your submitted application, TWO (2) notarized Authorization & Release Forms, Handwriting Sample Page, the Signature Page - General Application, are NOT additional documents

Additional documents can be submitted before, concurrent with, or after the filing of your application. While we do not require that the additional documents be submitted at the time the application is filed, your application will not be complete until we have received all required additional documents. Therefore, it is in your best interest to submit all required additional documents in a timely manner, preferably with the paper portions of your application.

All additional documents can be uploaded by clicking the "Upload Documents" link located on your user home page in the UPLOAD REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section.

Checklist of Requirements for Completion of Application

1. Although the Application is an electronic application, applicants must print the completed application after the online submission and mail it and a copy to the Board’s offices, with the required fee(s) and other required forms.


2. The TWO (2) printed copies of the electronic application must be submitted in double-sided format.


3. An original handwriting sample filed in duplicate (the original plus a good photocopy)


4. Attachments do not have to be filed in duplicate.


5. “Original” means bearing the applicant’s original handwritten signature plus the original notarization. The Notary must affix the proper seal or stamp, as well as his or her original signature on all documents requiring notarization.


6. Applicants are required to submit a new application each time an applicant applies for an examination. Please do not copy and resubmit a previous application, as it will not be accepted.


7. Applicants are responsible for reading the current Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in the State of North Carolina. A link to the Rules can be found on the NCBLE website.


8. An application will not be considered filed and will be returned if:
   • The Applicant fails to submit the electronic application
   • The Applicant does not send in all applicable fees
   • Any of the Applicant’s answers are indecipherable
   • The Applicant has altered the language of the application
   • The Applicant has failed to sign any document requiring the Applicant’s signature
   • The Applicant’s signature has not been attested by a notary public
   • If the required properly executed Authorization and Release Forms are not included


9. Applicants must fully answer all questions.


10. Unless otherwise indicated, every question and every part of each question must be answered, even if the answer is negative.


11. When providing references requested, please do not list any two persons that are members of the same household or are listed as employer or supervisor


12. The “Certificate of Moral Character” Forms should be completed by the four individuals listed in the application and sent directly to the Board’s office by those individuals within thirty (30) days. It is the applicant’s responsibility to furnish the Certificate of Moral Character Forms to those persons whom the applicant wishes to complete them.


13. Be certain you have taken and passed or arranged to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination as provided in the Rules.


14. The following must be submitted with the application:
    • Handwriting Sample Page
    • Signature Page – signed and notarized
    • TWO (2) original properly executed Authorization & Release Forms
    • A money order, cashier’s check, corporate check, law firm check or personal check made payable to the “North Carolina Board of Law Examiners.” Print your name on the check exactly as it appears in the application in order to ensure proper credit. Payment of cash is accepted if hand-delivering your application to NCBLE.


15. TWO (2) sets of completed North Carolina Fingerprint Cards must be mailed to the NCBLE.


16. The following should be uploaded:
    • A photograph of the Applicant, passport-sized, taken within the past six months
    • A driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles of each state in which the Applicant has ever been licensed to drive;
    • A copy of all application(s) filed by Applicant to take the bar examination in any other jurisdiction or for admission to the bar in any other jurisdiction;
    • If applicable, a Certificate of Good Standing from each Jurisdiction/Court;
    • If applicable, all relevant documents related to disbarment, suspension, reprimands, charges/complaints/pending charges, grievances, fraud and UPL;
    • Requests for Official transcripts to be sent directly to the Board by all undergraduate schools attended by Applicant;
    • For applicants that attended law school outside of North Carolina, a copy of your out-of-state application to law school;
    • If applicable, Applicant’s DD214 Form;
    • If applicable, a copy of the Order of Revocation or Suspension related to License Revocation;
    • A copy of any litigation to which the Applicant is or has been a party;
    • If applicable, upload a copy of documentation from the lender(s) showing resolution of any Student Loan Default;
    • If applicable, a copy of documentation from the lender(s) for any current payback schedules, deferred payments of any Student Loans;
    • If applicable, a copy of judgments and satisfactions related to Debt Judgments; and
    • If applicable, a copy of all bankruptcy documentation.