February 2021 Bar Exam: COVID-19 Jurisdiction Information
Last updated February 18, 2021, 12:17pm (EST)
Helping students is our top priority at SmartBarPrep.
That’s why we are closely monitoring how COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is impacting the Feb. 2021 bar exam, and have compiled jurisdiction specific resources to help keep you informed during these uncertain times.
For a complete list of jurisdictions that have made announcements concerning the Feb. 2021 bar exam please see below.
Texas bar exam update (concerning the severe weather conditions): The Texas Board of Law Examiners announced on February 17 that the Uniform Bar Exam will be administered in Texas as scheduled on February 23-24, with provisions available for candidates affected by this week’s severe weather.
Remote Option for February 2021 Bar Exam Announced
On October 19, 2020, The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) announced plans that will allow jurisdictions the option to provide the bar exam remotely in February 2021.
According to the NCBE, it plans to:
- “[M]ake a full set of bar exam materials available for a remote administration in February 2021 to be held on the same dates as the in-person administration (February 23–24, 2021). Each jurisdiction will select which mode it will use for its administration.”
- “[E]quate the MBE, calculate scaled scores for the written components, and provide UBE and MBE score transfer services for both the in-person and the remote administrations.”
Each jurisdiction will determine when and how to offer its bar exam.
For the NCBE’s official statements and updates click here.
February 2021 Bar Exam: Status by Jurisdiction
Map last updated January 12, 2021, 11:50am (EST)
The following map, prepared by the NCBE, shows the current status of the Feb. 2021 bar exam in each jurisdiction. Below the map is a list of jurisdiction announcements in alphabetical order.
Last updated February 18, 2021, 12:17pm (EST)
The following jurisdictions have made announcements about changes regarding the Feb. 2021 bar exam. We will continue to update this page as we receive information from the jurisdictions.
The Arizona Judicial Branch announced on December 18 that the February 2021 bar exam will be administered remotely.
The Supreme Court of California issued an order on November 19 announcing that the February 2021 bar exam will be administered remotely.
Colorado
On November 6, the Colorado Supreme Court announced that the February exam in Colorado will be administered remotely.
Connecticut
On October 20, the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee announced that the February exam in Connecticut will be administered remotely.
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia Committee on Admissions announced on October 27 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners announced on November 18 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
The Supreme Court of Georgia announced on November 9 that it will administer a remote bar exam in February 2021.
The Idaho State Bar, with the support of the Idaho Supreme Court, announced on December 8 that it will administer the February 2021 exam online.
The Illinois Supreme Court announced on November 10 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
Indiana
The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order on November 24 announcing that the Indiana bar exam will be administered remotely in February.
The Supreme Court of Iowa entered an order on December 3 directing the February 2021 exam to be administered remotely.
On November 13, the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions announced that it will administer the February 2021 bar exam remotely.
The Supreme Court of Louisiana entered an order on December 4 directing the February 2021 exam to be administered remotely.
Maine
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court announced on December 9 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
The Court of Appeals of Maryland announced on October 21 that, upon the recommendation of the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners, the February exam in Maryland will be administered remotely.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners has announced that the February exam in Massachusetts will be administered remotely.
The Supreme Court of Michigan entered an order on December 4 directing the February 2021 exam to be administered remotely
The Supreme Court of Nebraska entered an order on December 11 directing the February 2021 exam to be administered remotely.
The State Bar of Nevada announced on November 9 that the February 2021 bar exam will be administered remotely. The exam will consist of seven Nevada essay questions and two performance tests.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Office of Bar Admissions announced on October 29 that New Hampshire will administer the February bar exam remotely.
New Jersey
On November 2, the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners announced that the February 2021 bar exam in New Jersey will be administered remotely.
New York
The New York Court of Appeals, in consultation with the New York Board of Law Examiners, announced on October 21 that New York will administer a remote bar exam in February.
North Dakota
The North Dakota State Board of Law Examiners announced on December 9 that it will administer the February 2021 exam remotely.
The Supreme Court of Ohio announced on November 19 that Ohio will administer the February bar exam remotely.
The Oregon State Bar announced on November 6 that Oregon will administer the February bar exam remotely.
The Republic of Palau Supreme Court announced on October 30 that it will administer the Palau Bar Examination on February 24-26, 2021 and that the exam will not administered in July 2021.
The Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners announced on October 19 that it will administer a remote bar exam on February 22-24.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Supreme Court announced on November 30 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
Tennessee
On October 23, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order and a press release announcing that it will administer the February exam remotely.
The Texas Board of Law Examiners announced on February 17 that the Uniform Bar Exam will be administered in Texas as scheduled on February 23-24, with provisions available for candidates affected by this week’s severe weather. Please see the full announcement here for more details.
The Texas Board of Law Examiners had previously announced on January 11 that it will administer the February exam remotely.
Utah
The Utah Supreme Court announced on December 10 that it will administer the February 2021 exam remotely.
Vermont
The Vermont Supreme Court and the Vermont Board of Bar Examiners announced on November 10 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
The Virgin Islands announced on December 8 that the February 2021 exam will be administered remotely.
The Washington Supreme Court issued an order on December 3 authorizing a remote exam for the February 2021 exam administration. The Court also temporarily lowered the minimum pass score to 266.
On December 8, the Wisconsin Supreme Court approved the remote administration of the February 2021 bar exam.
