Allows an applicant with four or more unsuccessful attempts on the New York bar examination to file an application for re-examination for the February or July administration of the bar examination, provided such applicant successfully graduated from a law school located in and accredited by the state of New York.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9094
SPONSOR: Bichotte Hermelyn TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to New York bar exam applicants
PURPOSE:
To restore fairness and flexibility for New York law school graduates
who have failed the New York State Bar Examination four or more times,
by allowing them to sit for either the February or July administration
of the exam.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the legislative intent, noting that recent changes
to the Rules of the State Board of Law Examiners unfairly limit repeat
applicants to the February exam administration only.
Section 2 provides that applicants with four or more unsuccessful
attempts at the New York bar exam may reapply for either the February or
July exam, provided they graduated from a New York State-based, accred-
ited law. school.
Section 3 sets the effective date, while authorizing any necessary rule-
making to be completed before that date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current rules, bar exam candidates who have failed four or more
times are only permitted to retake the exam in February. This
restriction has created significant obstacles for law school graduates
who may need more preparation time, have family and employment obli-
gations, or for whom the July exam is more practical and accessible.
By restoring the option to take either the February or July bar exam,
this bill helps ensure that qualified graduates have a fairer chance at
licensure, reduces unnecessary barriers to entry into the legal profes-
sion, and supports diversity and inclusion in the practice of law.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9094
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT in relation to New York bar exam applicants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The intent of this legislation is to
2 restore fairness and flexibility for New York law school graduates who
3 are seeking to retake the New York State Bar Examination after four or
4 more unsuccessful attempts. Under recent changes to the Rules of the
5 State Board of Law Examiners, applicants are restricted to sitting for
6 the examination only in February. This limitation creates barriers,
7 particularly for candidates who may require additional preparation time,
8 who balance family and work obligations, or who otherwise find the July
9 administration more accessible.
10 § 2. Notwithstanding section 6000.4(c) of the Rules of the State Board
11 of Law Examiners, an applicant with four or more unsuccessful attempts
12 on the New York bar examination may file an application for re-examina-
13 tion for the February or July administration of the bar examination,
14 provided such applicant successfully graduated from a law school located
15 in and accredited by the state of New York.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
17 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
18 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
19 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
20 on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13540-02-5
