Vt. Sup. Ct. Promulgation Order of Apr. 7, 2026: Rulesof Admission2(l),9,13(b)and14

STATE OF VERMONT

VERMONT SUPREME COURT

APRIL TERM, 2026

Order Promulgating Amendments to Rules 2(l), 9, 13(b), and 14 of the Vermont Rules of

Admission to the Bar of the Vermont Supreme Court

Pursuant to Chapter II, § 30, of the Vermont Constitution, it is hereby ordered:

1. That Rule 2(l) of the Vermont Rules of Admission to the Bar of the Vermont Supreme Court

be amended as follows (new matter underlined; deleted matter struck through):

RULE 2. DEFINITIONS

(l) “Uniform Bar Examination” (or “UBE”) means: The bar examination prepared and

coordinated by the NCBE that is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user

jurisdictions, including Vermont, and results in a portable score. This includes the legacy

Uniform Bar Examination and the NextGen UBE Uniform Bar Examination. To the extent that

these rules refer to “bar examination,” “bar exam,” “examination,” and “exam,” those terms also

refer to the UBE.

Rule 2(l) is amended to include the NextGen UBE under the

definition of “Uniform Bar Examination,” in preparation for the

administration of the NextGen UBE in other jurisdictions prior to

Vermont’s first administration of the NextGen UBE in July 2027.

2. That Rule 9 of the Vermont Rules of Admission to the Bar of the Vermont Supreme Court be

amended as follows (new matter underlined; deleted matter struck through):

RULE 9. ADMISSION BY EXAMINATION

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(b) Examination Requirements and Passing Score.

(1) Sitting for Entire Examination. An Applicant must sit for all parts of the UBE at a

single administration of the Exam.

(2) Passing Score. To pass the UBE for admission to the Vermont Bar, an Applicant must

attain a score of 270 or higher on the legacy Uniform Bar Examination or a score of 620 or

higher on the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination.

(3) Limitation on Continued Sittings. An Applicant who has failed the bar examination four

times will not be permitted to sit for the UBE in Vermont. For the purposes of this rule, attempts

to achieve a passing score on the UBE count toward the limit of four regardless of where the

Applicant sat for the UBE. The four-attempt limitation may be waived upon a strong showing, to

the Board’s satisfaction, that the Applicant has substantially improved the Applicant’s Exam

preparation and there is good cause warranting the requested waiver.

(c) Application Process. To be eligible to take the Uniform Bar Examination, an Applicant

must file an Application with the Board. It is the Applicant’s burden of proof to establish

compliance with the Application process.

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(7) Refiling Application. An Application must be refiled if an Applicant:

(A) does not sit for the examination as previously permitted;

(B) does not achieve a passing score of 270 or higher on the UBE;

(C) withdraws the Application; or

(D) is denied admission. If the Applicant is denied admission after achieving a

passing score, the Applicant can use that passing exam score to satisfy the exam

requirement for admission by examination for up to 5 years after the date of the

administration of the exam.

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In preparation for the adoption of the NextGen bar exam, Rule

9(b)(2) is amended to set the passing score for the NextGen UBE

at 620. This score represents a direct mapping from the passing

score of 270 on the legacy UBE. The Board finds that a passing

score of 620 on the NextGen UBE is well-supported by the

procedures used by the NCBE to determine the mapping and is

also the best way to maintain stability in bar admissions as

Vermont transitions from the legacy UBE to the NextGen exam.

Rule 9(c)(7)(B) is also amended to incorporate the NextGen

UBE into the requirement for refiling an application.

3. That Rule 13(b) of the Vermont Rules of Admission to the Bar of the Vermont Supreme

Court be amended as follows (new matter underlined; deleted matter struck through):

RULE 13. ADMISSION BY TRANSFERRED UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION SCORE

(b) Age of Score. The Applicant must achieve a passing UBE score, as defined in Rule 9(b) of

270 or higher:

(1) in the administration of the UBE immediately subsequent to the date on which the

application for admission by transferred UBE score was filed; or

(2) in an administration of the UBE which occurred within 5 years before the date on

which the application for admission by transferred UBE score was filed.

In further preparation for the adoption of the NextGen bar exam,

Rule 13(b) is amended to allow for the transfer of NextGen UBE

scores prior to Vermont’s first administration of the NextGen UBE

in July 2027.

4. That Rule 14 of the Vermont Rules of Admission to the Bar of the Vermont Supreme Court

be amended as follows (new matter underlined; deleted matter struck through):

RULE 14. NECESSARY SHOWING FOR ADMISSION WITHOUT EXAMINATION;

RESTRICTION ON ELIGIBILITY

An Attorney-Applicant may seek admission to the Bar without examination by submitting an

Application on forms required by the Board and paying the required fee. An Application may be

filed at any time. An Attorney-Applicant is not eligible to seek admission under this rule if he or

she has failed the Vermont Bar Examination within the preceding 5 years or failed to earn a

passing score of 270 or higher on the Uniform Bar Examination, as defined in Rule 9(b), taken in

Vermont or another UBE jurisdiction within the preceding 5 years.

In further preparation for the adoption of the NextGen bar exam,

Rule 14 is amended to ensure that NextGen UBE scores earned

prior to Vermont’s first administration of the NextGen UBE in July

2027 are considered as part of the limitation on admission without

examination.

5. That these rules as amended are prescribed and promulgated effective July 1, 2026. The

Board’s Notes are advisory.

6. That the Chief Justice is authorized to report these amendments to the General Assembly in

accordance with the provisions of 12 V.S.A. § 1, as amended.

Dated in Chambers at Montpelier, Vermont this 7th day of April, 2026.

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Paul L. Reiber, Chief Justice

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Harold E. Eaton, Jr., Associate Justice

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Nancy J. Waples, Associate Justice

Signed by the Vermont Supreme Court

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Christina E. Nolan, Associate Justice

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Michael P. Drescher, Associate Justice