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Illinois

Verified

Imported 2026-09-27 — not yet reviewed; confirm with the admitting authority.

How to apply

Admitting agencyIllinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
Application portalApply online
Character & fitnessApplication process managed by the jurisdiction's bar admission agency; many jurisdictions use NCBE's Character & Fitness application/investigation as part of the exam application (timing: filed together with or shortly after the bar exam application). Verify exact process/timing per jurisdiction at the agency_url.

Exam & score rules

Exam typeUBE; transitioning to NextGen UBE (first administration: February 2028)
UBE min score266
MPRE requiredyes (min: 80)
Education requirementABA-approved J.D. required; no alternative domestic legal-education pathway reported. Foreign-law graduates may be eligible (see jurisdiction rules).

Other required components

Local law componentNone identified beyond standard UBE components.
Other pathsNo diploma privilege or supervised-practice pathway identified.

Transfer options

Accepts transferred UBEyes, max score age 4 years
UBE transfer acceptedyes
Score age limit4 years

Admission on motion

Allows AOMyes
Reciprocal onlyno
Years of practice3 of past 5
AOM fee$1,500
Other requirementsMPRE required; ABA-approved JD required; not limited to reciprocal states; diploma-privilege admittees ARE eligible. Rule 705 = AOM; Rule 704A = UBE score transfer (separate, easier path).
Official AOM source

Essays & sample answers

Publishes past essaysyes
Years availableIndividual exam pages found from February 2011 through July 2018 (e.g., feb-2011, july-2012, feb-2013, feb-2014, july-2015, july-2017-scoring-memo)
Sample answersno clear sample/model answers found — pages contain question text and scoring memos, not applicant sample answers
Exam typeUBE (Illinois Essay Exam (IEE) + MEE + MPT — IEE retained as local component)
Terms of useNot stated on pages found
Essay archive / sample answers

Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar site hosts individual past-exam pages (question sets + 'Understanding Your Score' scoring memos) but no evidence of posted model/sample answers.

Fees & deadlines

Feesfirst_time_applicant: $1,200–$1,875; attorney_applicant: $1,200–$1,875; repeater: $650 – $1,125; laptop_fee: $135; admission_on_motion_fee: $1,500
Application deadlinesjuly_2026_regular: Feb. 15; july_2026_late: April 30; february_2027_regular: Sept. 15; february_2027_late: Nov. 30
Next exam datesjuly_2026: Scheduled (standard UBE/local administration); february_2027: Scheduled (standard UBE/local administration); nextgen_first_administration: February 2028; legacy_ube_final_administration: July 2027

Possible multi-bar pathways

Researched examples that name Illinois. Discovery content only — not eligibility approval.

UBE score transfer: IL + IN + MI (Midwest UBE cluster)

All three are UBE jurisdictions with 'no reciprocal-only' restriction on AOM and identical 3-of-past-5-years practice requirements — a candidate who qualifies for AOM in one typically qualifies to apply in the others as well, and/or can transfer a single UBE score to all three within their respective windows.

Arkansas' explicit reciprocal list (partial capture)

Arkansas' Board of Law Examiners maintains and publishes a formal 'Recognized Reciprocal Jurisdictions' list; being admitted in one of these lets an attorney apply for Arkansas AOM (3 of past 5 years practice).

Official sources

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 Source 5 Source 6 Source 7 Source 8 Source 9
UBE; Illinois has announced intent to administer NextGen UBE in February 2028 (confirmed via NCBE ncbex.org/jurisdictions/IL banner).

VerdictUp is a study aid and does not provide legal advice or guarantee admission. Confirm with the admitting authority.