Navigating Admission into the Practice of Law
A Message from the Director
Welcome to the Bar Program Office. Your time in law school marks a pivotal transition—from academic study to professional practice. As you prepare for this next chapter, it's important to stay informed. The bar exam landscape is evolving, and while we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, changes in content, procedures, and policies may occur. We encourage you to regularly check this website and subscribe to updates from your jurisdiction(s) of choice when available.
We are excited to share that our bar preparation services have expanded. At the heart of this transformation is a new multi-year partnership with Barbri, a leading provider of bar exam study materials. Through this partnership:
- Graduating students automatically receive a comprehensive post-graduation bar prep course tailored to their jurisdiction of choice.
- All students gain access to Barbri’s subject-matter resources throughout law school, including lectures, outlines, handouts, practice questions, and diagnostic tools.
- Graduating students are encouraged to enroll in our redesigned 2-credit in-house bar preparation course, offered in both Fall and Spring semesters. This course covers the full bar admission process—from exam preparation to character and fitness clearance—and compliments your commercial bar study after graduation.
If you have questions or need support, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Bar Program Office. We are here to guide you every step of the way and remain committed to your success—until you pass the bar and beyond.
We look forward to working with you.
Bar Program Office Contact Information
Contact Us
Please contact our office at any time. To set up an appointment, please reach out to Emily Martinez at e.martinez@law.umaryland.edu.
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Maryland Bar Examination Topic |
UM Law Course Equivalent |
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Multistate Bar Exam |
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Constitutional Law |
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Contracts/Sales |
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Criminal Law and Procedure |
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Real Property |
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Torts |
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Evidence |
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Civil Procedure |
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UBE & MD Online Law Component Topics |
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Agency, Partnerships, Associations |
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Commercial Law |
Any permitted combination of:
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Family Law |
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Maryland Civil Procedure |
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Professional Responsibility |
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Conflicts of Law |
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Trusts & Estates |
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* Elective Course with Priority Enrollment for 2nd Year Day or 3rd Year Evening students
Required Course - Courses not otherwise marked are electives with normal priority enrollment.
Demonstration of character and fitness, sometimes referred to as moral character, is among the essential elements required for bar admission in every jurisdiction. In addition to completing a detailed written application, most applicants undergo rigorous follow-ups including a personal interview or background check.
As part of your Character Questionnaire, Maryland Carey Law will receive a form titled "Certification as to Law School" or a similar document, depending on your jurisdiction. This document verifies your attendance at Maryland Carey Law and asks whether you have exhibited behavior or conduct that raises significant concerns about your character or fitness for admission to practice law.
Please send all Bar Certification forms, including those titled Dean's Certification form, to barcertification@law.umaryland.edu. If the jurisdiction's board of law examiners prefers to send the form directly to Maryland Carey Law, it should also be sent to barcertification@law.umaryland.edu. Note that the Office of Student Services processes these forms in the order they are received. Due to the high volume of requests, there is typically a turnaround time of 1-2 weeks. You will receive an email notification once your request has been processed.
If your form requires you to list a law school contact, please provide the following information:
Name: Mr. Steven Boggs
Title: Director of Registration and Enrollment
Email address: barcertification@law.umaryland.edu
Phone number: (410) 706-5235
Make sure to include your full name, DOB (mm/dd/yyyy), date of graduation, return address, due date for receipt of the form, and a contact phone number or email address in your email to barcertification@law.umaryland.edu.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at barcertification@law.umaryland.edu or call (410) 706-5235.
International LL.M. Students may be eligible to take the Maryland bar exam or certain other US bar exams after completing Maryland Carey Law's LL.M. program, depending on the courses taken.
Applying to sit for the Maryland bar exam as an International LL.M. Student
The Board has the discretion to waive the standard educational requirements for applicants receiving their first legal degree from a non-US law school AND who is admitted to practice in a non-US jurisdiction AND who also obtains an LLM from an ABA accredited law school (See MD Rule 19-201(b)(2) and Board Rule 7).
An applicant must certify that he/she has successfully completed a minimum of 26 credit hours from among the subjects tested on the UBE (Board Rule 7).
What is required in other states?
Each state sets its own bar registration and admission rules. Students must investigate the rules in any state in which they plan to live and practice, especially those associated with registration deadlines and required courses. For more information about bar admission in states other than Maryland visit The National Conference of Bar Examiners web site or the American Bar Association's website on state bar admissions.
Financial Aid While Studying for the Bar:
If you have questions concerning your financial aid options as you study for the bar examination, please contact Marilyn Jones at (410) 706-0873 or mmjones@law.umaryland.edu.