I recently found out, a change is on the horizon. Nebraska will adopt the UBE (Universal Bar Exam) starting in 2013. Well luckily for me, I graduate in May 2013 (hopefully!) and will be the first class to experience the exam.
Why is this good? Well other states have adopted the UBE as well- these states according to wikipedia (Yes, I'm a law student, trained in legal research, and wiki is still my best friend)
Alabama (July 2011)
Arizona (July 2012)
Colorado (February 2012)
Idaho (February 2012)
Missouri (February 2011)
Montana (conditional approval)
Nebraska (conditional approval)
North Dakota (February 2011)
Washington (July 2013)
Normally if you take the bar exam in Nebraska....you can just practice in....Nebraska (downer) Yes, you can jump through hoops to be able to be certified to practice law in another state, but that all sounds like a mess.
The pros: There is now flexibility! That is, assuming I get a high enough score, to pass in Nebraska, and the score required in the other states to practice there as well!
The cons: The Nebraska test wasn't as difficult as some bar exams before, (but I really had very little intention on taking it here) so now it will be more difficult.
*if any of this information is incorrect, I apologize. This is from my very limited knowledge, research, and short questioning of our dean on the matter*
4 comments:
I took the UBE for Missouri in July and am now studying to take Kansas next month. I liked the UBE more because at least for me, in most classes we didn't discuss a lot of state specific law anyway. It is way less confusing to not have to remember state specific rules. I considered getting licensed in other states just because I could but didn't want to pay bar fees and deal with CLE requirements for places I would never practice. But if you would use your license in one of the other states, do it, because studying for a second exam (even if it is only the essay part) is worse than studying for the first one!
I am so frustrated more states haven't adopted it yet! I really need/want OK/TX area to adopt it too! Here's to hoping it gets adopted before 2014! Glad that Nebraska is at least now an option other than MO where I am currently anyway!
Soooo jealous! Can you tell Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and TN to join that list???
Okay, I've had this window open forever and keep meaning to comment. I think this is the most awesome, amazing thing ever. I am SO EXCITED. It's a bummer you're losing an easier bar, but the ability to practice in other states is PHENOMENAL. I'm even more excited that CO is on this list! If I go back to law school, I would want to go to University of Denver... this means I would take the UBE too! So exciting!
But I don't know if I'll do that. I don't know! I just don't know what i am supposed to do in life. It's so confusing.
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