Ky. Sup. Ct. Order 2025-43 SCR 2.010

Rule 2.010 shall read:

All applicants for admission to the Bar of this Commonwealth must meet

certain basic requirements regardless of whether admission is sought by

examination (SCR 2.022), by transferred bar examination score (SCR 2.090),

without examination (SCR 2.110), for a limited certificate (SCR 2.111), or as an

attorney participant in a defender or legal services program (SCR 2.112). Those

requirements are set forth in the following sections SCR 2.011 through SCR

2.017.

CR 2.080 Bar examinations

Rule 2.080 shall read:

(1) The Board of Bar Examiners shall examine such applicants as are certified

to it as provided in SCR 2.040. The examination shall cover a period of two (2)

days and may cover the subjects and skills tested on the Uniform Bar

Examination (UBE), as published on the website of the National Conference of

Bar Examiners at www.ncbex.org.

(2) Beginning with the February 2021 Bar examination and continuing through

the February 2027 Bar examination, the Board shall administer the UBE (also

referenced and what will henceforth be referred to as the Legacy UBE) as

prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Beginning with the

July 2027 Bar examination, the Board shall administer what will henceforth be

referred to as the NextGen UBE, as will be prepared by the National Conference

of Bar Examiners.

(3) The Board of Bar Examiners shall, thirty (30) days before each examination,

report to the Supreme Court information regarding the examination, including,

but not limited to, its location, number of applicants, special accommodations,

and any other relevant information as determined by the Board.

(4) To pass the bar examination in Kentucky, an applicant must achieve a total

score equal to or greater than 266 for the Legacy UBE and equal to or greater

than 616 for the NextGen UBE. The National Conference of Bar Examiners will

calculate scaled scores by the methodology NCBE uses for all UBE

jurisdictions. Applicants must sit for all portions of the bar examination in the

same administration in order to qualify for admission in Kentucky and earn a

portable Legacy UBE score or NextGen UBE score that may be transferred to

other UBE jurisdictions. Applicants who fail to earn the score required by the

Board in five (5) or fewer attempts on the Kentucky Bar Examination, including

attempts on the Legacy UBE or NextGen UBE taken in Kentucky or any

other jurisdiction in February 2021 or after, shall not be permitted to sit for the

Kentucky Bar Examination.

(5) For any applicant who completes the examination in written form, the

papers containing the questions and answers given by the applicants to the

written portion of the examination will be preserved by OBA Staff for a period of

one (1) year from the time that the application for admission has been passed

upon by the Supreme Court, and longer if so ordered by the Court.

(6) Upon recommendation of the Board, the Supreme Court may appoint

qualified members of the Kentucky Bar, to be known as Bar Examination

Graders, to assist the Board in the grading of examination papers. Persons so

appointed shall hold those positions for terms of one (1) year and until the

appointment of their successors.

SCR 2.085 Approval of certificate of admission to practice law

Rule 2.085 shall read:

(1) When an applicant has passed an examination as provided by Rule 2.080,

the Board of Bar Examiners shall certify that fact to the Supreme Court

together with a recommendation that the applicant be admitted to practice law.

The Court may approve or disapprove the recommendations and, if approved,

shall authorize the Clerk of the Court to issue a certificate of admission.

(2) When the Character and Fitness Committee determines that an applicant is

eligible for admission to the Kentucky Bar without examination as provided by

Rule 2.110 or for admission by transferred bar examination score as provided

by Rule 2.090, the Committee's recommendation as provided for in Rule

2.040(6) shall be certified to the Supreme Court, and the recommendation for

admission to the practice of law shall be considered as set forth in paragraph

(1)of this rule.

(3) When the Supreme Court has granted approval for the issuance of a

certificate of admission based upon the recommendation submitted under

paragraph (1) or (2), the applicant must be admitted to the Kentucky Bar

within two (2) years of the Supreme Court’s approval date. If an applicant

fails to be admitted within that two-year period, the applicant must make

a new application for admission.