Guidelines for Seeking Waiver of the ABA-Approved Law School Degree Requirement Pursuant to Maryland Rule 19-201(b)

The Standard Educational Requirement

A candidate is eligible to take the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) in Maryland or to apply for admission to the Maryland bar by UBE Transfer only if he or she has completed the pre-legal education necessary to meet the minimum requirements for admission to an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school AND has earned a Juris Doctor degree (or its equivalent) from a law school approved by the ABA. (See Maryland Rule 19-201(a) and the Annotated Code of Maryland, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Section 10-207(d).)

Waiver of the Standard Educational Requirement

The State Board of Law Examiners (“SBLE”) has the discretion to waive the standard educational requirement for any person who has passed the bar examination of another U.S. state (as defined in Maryland Rule 19-101(l)) and is a member in good standing of the Bar of that State and, in the Board’s opinion, is qualified by reason of education, experience, or both, to take the bar examination. (See Maryland Rule 19-201(b)(1).)

SBLE also has the discretion to waive the standard educational requirement for applicants receiving their first legal degree (J.D. or equivalent) from a non-U.S. law school AND who also obtains an LL.M. or equivalent degree from an ABA accredited law school. (See Maryland Rule 19-201(b)(2) and Board Rule 7.)

Deadlines for Waiver Requests

  • For exam applicants, to allow SBLE sufficient time for review, SBLE must receive the waiver request at least 30 days prior to the filing deadline for the exam the individual wishes to take.
  • For UBE Transfer applicants, to allow SBLE sufficient time for review, SBLE must receive the waiver request at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the UBE score to be transferred.

Procedure to Seek a Waiver Pursuant to Maryland Rule 19-201(b)

  1. Create an account in SBLE’s eBar online application system.
    1. The account creation process requires the entry of personal identifying information, including a U.S. Social Security Number and an NCBE number issued by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
    2. If you do not have a U.S. Social Security number, you should contact SBLE’s administrative office for instructions before you attempt to create your eBar account.
    3. If you do not have an NCBE number or if you do not know your NCBE number, go to NCBE’s website www.NCBEX.org to create an NCBE account or retrieve your NCBE number before you attempt to create your eBar account.
    4. Select the appropriate user role “UBE – Uniform Bar Examination” or “UBT – Admission by UBE Transfer.”
  2. Log into your eBar account and, on the landing-page, locate the text: “Have you earned or will you earn a Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree from an ABA-approved U.S. law school? If "NO" then get Eligibility Waiver.” Click the “Waiver Request Form” link.
  3. Fill the REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF MARYLAND RULE 19-201(a)(2) webform and upload the following required documents.
    1. A narrative statement containing (a) a detailed description of your pre-legal education indicating the name and location of each college or university attended, the date of graduation (if any), and the degree(s) obtained (if any); (b) a detailed description of your legal education indicating the name and location of each law school(s) attended and the date of your law school graduation; and (c) a detailed description of any experience you have in the practice of law.
    2. A transcript from each undergraduate college or university attended reflecting all the courses taken, the number of semester hours of credit earned, and the degree(s) awarded, if any. For LL.M. applicants only, SBLE will accept copies of non-U.S. scholastic transcripts contained in the applicant’s LSAC file provided to the U.S. law school. (In addition to the transcripts uploaded here, you are required to cause your undergraduate college/university and law school to send OFFICIAL transcripts as required by Md. Rules 19-201(a), 19-206, and 19-207 and the Academic Transcript Requirements page of the Board's website. Academic Transcript Requirements | Maryland Courts)
    3. A transcript from each law school attended reflecting all the courses taken, the number of semester hours of credit earned, and the degree(s) awarded, if any. For LL.M. applicants only, SBLE will accept copies of non-U.S. scholastic transcripts contained in the applicant’s LSAC file provided to the U.S. law school. (In addition to the transcripts uploaded here, you are required to cause your undergraduate college/university and law school to send OFFICIAL transcripts as required by Md. Rules 19-201(a), 19-206, and 19-207 and the Academic Transcript Requirements page of the Board's website. Academic Transcript Requirements | Maryland Courts)
    4. IF THE WAIVER REQUEST IS BASED ON ADMISSION TO THE BAR OF ANOTHER U.S. STATE:
      1. A current, original Certificate of Admission/Good Standing issued by the highest court of a U.S. state. Please note that in many U.S. states the Certificate of Admission and the Certificate of Good Standing are combined in a single document.
      2. A letter from the proper authority certifying that you have taken and passed the Bar examination in the U.S. state issuing the Certificate(s) described in (a.), above.
    5. IF THE WAIVER IS BASED ON AN LL.M. DEGREE pursuant to Rule 19-201(b)(2), all the items listed in #1, #2, #3, above, plus all the documentation required by Board Rule 7.
      1. The LL.M. must meet the requirements of Board Rule 7.
      2. You must consult the law school conveying the LL.M. degree to obtain the required certifications.
      3. The certifications required by Board Rule 7(b)(1) and (b)(2) may be combined in a single certification signed by the dean, assistant dean or acting dean of the law school, or by an authorized designee within the dean’s office. You may submit that certification and the admission documents required by Rule 7(b)(3) with your Waiver Request only if the certification is printed on law school letterhead and contains the signature of the certifying official.
  4. Click the check box to acknowledge your required document submissions, type your name in the signature box and click the “Submit Request” button to finalize your request.
  5. Notification of Waiver Approval: When your waiver request file is complete, the State Board of Law Examiners will review it. After a review of the documentation accompanying your request, the State Board of Law Examiners will make its determination and notify you whether you qualify for a waiver. You must include your email address on your Waiver Request Form. When the Board decides, a letter will be emailed to you with the Board’s decision. If the waiver is granted, you will receive instructions to complete SBLE’s online electronic Bar application (“eBar”).

Duty to Retain Original Documents

Applicants must maintain in their possession the original documents of which scanned copies are uploaded to eBar. SBLE retains the absolute right to require production of original hard copy documents at its sole discretion.

Except as set forth below, all required supporting documents should accompany your waiver request form when first filed. SBLE may reject your request as incomplete if you fail to submit all required documentation with your waiver request form.