Admission by Exam

Criteria for Application

Prior to being allowed to sit for the bar exam, all individuals who desire to complete an application for regular admission to the Virgin Islands Bar must allege and prove, in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 204(d), the following:

The applicant is at least twenty-one years of age.

The applicant is a citizen of the United States, or resident non-United States citizens must be legal immigrants, i.e., immigrants who have lawfully been admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

The applicant is a person of good moral character who has not been disbarred, suspended or sanctioned, or who has been reinstated or exonerated, and who is not under pending disciplinary action, by any state, district, territorial, federal or foreign jurisdiction.

The applicant, who is seeking admission to the Virgin Islands Bar and is previously admitted to the bar of any other jurisdiction, is a current member in good standing of that jurisdiction.

The applicant is a graduate of an accredited law school approved by the American Bar Association.

Please note that pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 204(c)(6), no application to the Virgin Islands Bar may be filed by anyone who has been disbarred, suspended or sanctioned, without reinstatement or exoneration, or who is under pending disciplinary action by the Bar of any State, District or Territory of the United States or any foreign jurisdiction, or any Federal Court.

Composition of Examination

In accordance with VISCR 204 (e) each applicant is required to pass the following examinations.

Virgin Islands Bar Examination, consisting of the components of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE)

Virgin Islands Law Component, an online examination on the aspects of Virgin Islands law.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), a scaled score on the 75 on the MPRE is required. An MPRE score must be attained no earlier than three (3) years prior to the date of the administration of the UBE in which the applicant achieves a passing score.

Character Examination and Personal Interview

Uniform Bar Exam

The Virgin Islands administers the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) in February and July of each year. The two-day exam is held at the University of the Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas. The UBE is an exam prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). It is comprised of six (6) Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) questions, two (2) Multistate Performance Test questions (MPT), and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). A minimum passing score of 266 is required on the UBE.

In addition to the UBE applicants must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a scaled score of 75 or higher, pass the Virgin Islands Law Component, an online open book multiple choice test on unique Virgin Islands specific law and undergo a Character Examination and Personal Interview. Information about the content of the Uniform Bar Examination and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination is available on the National Conference of Bar Examiner’s Website.

Examination Dates For 2025

The bar exam is held twice annually on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July. Visit the NCBE’s website for additional information on the UBE exam. The Virgin Islands Bar Examination will be administered on the upcoming test dates:

Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)

The Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is developed by the National Conference of Bar Examination (NCBE) and consists of six 30-minute questions. The purpose of the MEE is to test the examinee's ability to (1) identify legal issues raised by a hypothetical factual situation; (2) separate material which is relevant from that which is not; (3) present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well-organized composition; and (4) demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

The Multistate Performance Test (MPT) is developed by the National Conference of Bar Examination (NCBE) and consists of two 90-minute items. The MPT is designed to test an examinee's ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation and complete a task that a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish. The MPT is not a test of substantive knowledge. Rather, it is designed to evaluate certain fundamental skills lawyers are expected to demonstrate regardless of the area of law in which the skills arise.

Transfer of MBE Score

An applicant may elect to transfer a valid MBE score pursuant to VISCR 204(g)(2).  An MBE score  obtained in another UBE jurisdiction, or from a prior administration of the Virgin Islands Bar Examination , may be accepted by the committee, provided that a scaled score of at least 133 has been achieved and provided further that the score certified is no more than three years old.

An applicant who relies upon a passing MBE score obtained in a prior administration may sit for the MEE and MPT in the Virgin Islands but shall not earn a portable UBE score. In such a case, the applicant must achieve a scaled score of 133 in the written portion of the examination. Additionally, to be eligible for admissions an applicant must: (i) obtain a scaled score of 75 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE);  (ii) pass the Virgin Islands Law Component (VILC); and (ii) undergo a Character Examination and Personal Interview.

Laptop Computer Program (LCP)

Virgin Islands bar examinees may use laptops during the MPT and MEE portions of the bar exam. If you plan to use your laptop, there is a $150.00 registration fee that is paid directly to the Committee of Bar Examiners prior to be allowed to doing so. A letter of intent to participate in the LCP is required. Participation in the LCP is completely voluntary.

Prior to admissions to the Virgin Islands Bar, all individuals desiring to practice law in the Virgin Islands Bar should familiarize themselves with the Rules of the Supreme Court, including, but not limited to the Rules that establish membership status and the mandatory continuing legal education; attorney registration and the Rules which govern professional responsibility, discipline, and the Bylaws of the Virgin Islands Bar Association.

National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) Request for Preparation of a Character Report

An applicant must complete the online version of the National Conference of Bar Examiners Character and Fitness Report Application at https://www.ncbex.org/character-and-fitness.
- Log into or create an NCBE Account to complete the NCBE online application. 
- After you complete and finalize the NCBE online application, a checklist will display with access to a PDF of your application and additional instruction for signatures and mailing. 
- The entire NCBE application must be electronically filed with the Office of Bar Admissions within twenty-four (24) hours of the acceptance of electronic filing of your Virgin Islands Bar Admission Application. 
- The original executed hard copy of the documents must also be conventionally filed with the Office of Bar Admissions within seven (7) days of the electronic submission of the e-document.