NYS Board of Law Examiners Foreign Evaluation

Besides completing the Online Foreign Evaluation Form, part of the process requires you to submit official transcripts of the law schools you have attended to the BOLE.   We recommend that you begin the Evaluation Process before you arrive in Arizona.  Therefore, you should request all documentation while you are in your home country, since it will be easier and more convenient for you. 
 
The information below is directly from the website of the New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) Online Request for Foreign Evaluation of Academic Credentials, which can be found at https://www.nybarapply.org/feval/. 

Please carefully review all of the following information before proceeding to the Online Foreign Evaluation Form.

Please Note: It will take at least six months from the date of the Board’s receipt of ALL of the necessary foreign documentation for a decision to be made. 

YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION IN ITS ENTIRETY PRIOR TO SUBMITTING ANY DOCUMENTATION TO THE NYS BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS. ALL DOCUMENTATION MUST INCLUDE YOUR BOLE ID NUMBER.
  1. Who should complete the Online Foreign Evaluation Form? The Online Foreign Evaluation Form should be completed by all foreign-educated applicants seeking to qualify to sit for the New York bar examination under Section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals and who have not previously submitted an application to sit for the New York bar examination. If you previously submitted a Request for Evaluation by mail but you have not yet applied to sit for the bar examination, you must complete the Online Foreign Evaluation Form before applying to sit for the examination. If you are a Re-Applicant and you already have a Board Identification Number (BOLE ID) you may proceed to the Online Bar Exam Application any time during the application filing period for the exam you wish to take.
  2. When should the Online Foreign Evaluation Form be Submitted? The evaluation must be submitted before you may submit an application to sit for the bar examination. If an applicant will require an LL.M. degree or 20-credit program of study in order to qualify to sit for the bar examination, we encourage the applicant to request early evaluation of their foreign educational credentials and their anticipated course of American law school study at least one year in advance of their application filing period for the examination to sit for the bar examination.
  3. When should The Bar Exam Application be Filed? We strongly advise you to wait until you have received a determination on your Request for Evaluation before submitting an application to sit for the examination and paying the $750 application fee. Application filing dates are noted below in paragraph 5. Note that if you submit an application to sit for the bar examination prior to receiving an advance determination of your eligibility from the Board you do so at the risk of being found ineligible to sit for the examination. The $750 application fee will not be refunded or credited if it is later determined that an applicant is not eligible to sit for the bar examination.
  4. Section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law [22 NYCRR 520.6]  contains the eligibility requirements for applicants who wish to qualify for the New York State bar examination based on the study of law in a foreign country. Compliance with the requirements of the Rules of the Court of Appeals must be proven to the satisfaction of the Board before an applicant may be permitted to sit for the bar examination. You should carefully review the Rules of the Court of Appeals, the Rules of the State Board of Law Examiners and the section on Foreign Legal Education  which are located on the Board’s website prior to completing the Foreign Evaluation Form.
  5. Note that submission of the Foreign Evaluation Form does not constitute an application to sit for the bar examination. You will subsequently be required to complete the Online Bar Exam Application and pay the $750 application fee during the month of April for the July exam or November for the February exam.
  6. Before completing the Foreign Evaluation Form you will be required to create an account using a valid email address. Upon creation of the account you will be assigned a unique BOLE Identification Number (BOLE ID). Please save your BOLE ID in a safe and accessible location as you will be required to use the BOLE ID on all future correspondence with the Board. You will also need the BOLE ID along with your email address in order to submit an application for the bar examination.
  7. There is no fee for the request for a Foreign Evaluation. However, you will be required to pay a $750 non-refundable fee at the time of application to sit for the bar examination.
  8. In order to complete the Foreign Evaluation Form you will also need the name and address of each law school attended, the dates of attendance for each semester or term attended, and the type and date of degree awarded. Therefore, you should have this information available when you complete the Foreign Evaluation Form.
  9. Upon submission of your completed Online Foreign Evaluation Form, you should promptly receive an auto-generated email confirming the Board’s receipt of your submission. If you do not receive the confirmation email, then you should first check your spam folder before contacting the Board.
  10. After submission of your Online Foreign Evaluation Form, you must submit the supporting documentation listed in the Foreign Legal Education section of the Board’s website. Please note that the documentation must consist of originals submitted directly to the Board by the issuing institution. Faxed copies, photocopies certified by a notary public or like official, and photocopies certified by anyone other than an authorized official at the issuing institution will not be accepted. All documents submitted become the property of the Board and will not be returned.
The Board will not commence a review of your Foreign Evaluation Form until all of the required supporting documentation is received by the Board. Due to the volume of requests for evaluation which are received by the Board, it may take at least six months from the date of our receipt of your supporting documentation to make a determination on your file. The decision will be sent to you by email. You will also be contacted by email should the Board have questions regarding your Foreign Evaluation Form or the documentation submitted.