About the Bar Exam

The New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners requires that you pass the MPRE and the New Mexico bar exam, complete and return the required forms, have the Law School send an official transcript that evidences graduation, and complete fingerprinting cards and send them to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in order to be licensed to practice law in New Mexico.

Forms are available on the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners Website.

http://www.nmexam.org/application_forms.html. Completed forms should be mailed or delivered to the Board.

Important Bar Application Information

  1. The Application is an in-depth questionnaire that asks about your history in many different areas dating back as long as 10 years ago. You should review the Application as early as possible to familiarize yourself with the questions.
  2. You must state every residence you have had for the past 5 years, and the time periods you resided at each.
  3. You must state all employment you have had since age 18 or for the past 10 years, whichever is shorter. You must include the time periods you worked at each job, the exact address of each employment, the position you held and the reason for termination or leaving.
  4. You must give a detailed statement regarding any service in the armed forces.
  5. You must state any civil law suits you have been involved in, that you were a party to, or had an interest in, and any charges and arrests made regarding the violation of the law. You also have to include any fraud charges, formal or informal, and any bankruptcy proceedings you have been involved in.
  6. You must make a detailed statement regarding any reprimand or discipline by an employer or educational institution for any misconduct that is indicated in the Application.
  7. Note that questions 26 and 27 are applicable to law students. If a question is not applicable please state so.
  8. There are still many other questions that will require time and thought to answer. Do not wait until the last minute to review and begin answering the application form.

Additional Requirements

  1. Transcript from law school with evidence of graduation (do not send diploma). Your final and complete transcript from law school should indicate that you were awarded your J.D. and on what date. This will satisfy evidence of graduation requirement. If you are a recent graduate, the Board understands that your final transcript might not be available by the filing deadline. It may be added to your file at a later date but must be received prior to administration of the bar exam. The transcript must be sent to the office directly from the law school. Student or Xerox copies are not acceptable.
  2. Fingerprinting
  • FBI Identification and NM State Criminal Record. You must complete two fingerprint cards and submit them both to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety for your FBI and New Mexico criminal record.
  • Where do I get my finger prints done?
    The Career and Student Services Office set up a fingerprinting session in their office in advance of each bar exam.  The date and time will be announced. If you are unable to attend you may have your fingerprinting done by a private company.  Information is available in the Career and Student Services Office together with blank fingerprint cards.

MPRE

The MPRE only requires that you register, and does not require any corresponding applications or information sheets be filled out. You can register online for the MPRE. Plan to take the MPRE shortly after you take ethics, and in any event, before you take the bar exam, otherwise you may be delayed in being licensed.