Proposal to support Uniform Bar Exam goes to ISBA Assembly

An ISBA committee is recommending to the ISBA Assembly that it support adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination in Illinois. At its October meeting the ISBA Board of Governors approved the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Competence that Illinois adopt the UBE. The Assembly will consider the committee’s report and recommendations at its December 10 meeting in Chicago.

The report, available here, finds that adopting the UBE will improve the market for job seekers and employers, lower the cost of bar admission, and help produce practice-ready lawyers. It concludes that because the UBE allows jurisdictions to incorporate state-specific requirements for bar admission, adopting it will not compromise Illinois’ ability to ensure candidates are knowledgeable about Illinois law and procedure. 

The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar has recommended to the Illinois Supreme Court that it adopt the UBE, and the board is holding public hearings on the proposal this month. The UBE has been adopted by 24 states.

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