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 the 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 the 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. Three character and fitness statements from attorneys in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States. With this packet there are three character and fitness statement forms. You should request three attorneys that know you to complete these forms. These attorneys should be in addition to those persons listed in the body of the application, specifically in Questions 5, 6, 26 and 27. Law school professors may complete these forms provided they are attorneys in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States. Among other things, good standing means active membership in a state bar. You may collect these forms and include them with your application or have them forwarded directly to the office. In either case, they must be originals and current. Submission of these forms will satisfy the requirement for three letters of recommendation required by the rules.
3. FBI Identification and NM State Criminal Record. You will have to complete two fingerprint cards and then submit both cards to the NM Department of Public Safety with a money order or cashier's check for $40.25 made payable to the "NM Department of Public Safety". This is the charge for the FBI and the state record. Cards submitted with the incorrect amount or with personal checks will be returned to the applicants. In the "Reason Fingerprinted" block, you should write "License to Practice Law, NMSA 34-2-9". Please mail the cards and the payment to:
- Fingerprint Section
- NM Department of Public Safety
- P.O. Box 1628
- Santa Fe, NM 87504-1628
Since we can not put the fingerprint cards on the Internet, when you are ready to apply, you should contact our office either by phone, e-mail, or mail and request that the cards be mailed to you.
You can ask your local police department to fingerprint you or find a private company that does fingerprinting. You can contact:
- Fingerprint Solutions
- 2913 San Mateo NE
- Albuquerque, NM
- 505-883-0983
- Kim Fulton (mobile service)
- (505) 304-1177
- Albuquerque/ Rio Rancho
- Lisa Trujillo
- (505) 424-1571 (Santa Fe)
- (505) 872-2769 (Albuquerque)
- www.fingerprinting-nm.com
Those who have not submitted fingerprint cards and do pass the exam will be put on the list of those applicants who have not completed all their requirements for admission. Please note that it can take as long as three to four months for your record check to be completed
4. Three signed and notarized copies of the Authorization and Release Form for the National Conference of Bar Examiners. These are in addition to the authorization for the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners attached to the application.
5. Statistical Data Sheet attached to the application.
6. Application form in duplicate. You may type one and xerox it, but both copies must be signed in the original and notarized. Please take the time to make a copy for your records.
7. If you are preparing the application form from the computer disk you must run-off the completed form and sign and notarize two copies in the original. The two copies of the release form for the NM Board of Bar Examiners and the Statistical Data Form also must be submitted in hard copy form. DO NOT electronically transfer or submit the application or forms on disk.
8. Passing Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination Score (MPRE). You must have a scaled score of 75 or better on the MPRE to satisfy this requirement. If you took this exam previously for another jurisdiction, you may have that score certified here. The Board will accept the score regardless of when you took the exam. Please go to the "Instructions" page for information on certifying your score or registering for a future exam. This board does not administer that exam and you may take it in any location/state it is offered.
9. Laptop Release of Liability Form. You must submit a release of liability form to use your laptop to write the exam. Please include it with your other application forms. However, if you change your mind and choose not take the exam on laptop, submitting the form does not commit you to registering for the software.
10. Applicable filing fee in the form of a personal or business check, money order, or certified check payable to the NM Board of Bar Examiners. The Board does not accept cash payments or credit card charges.
11. Test Accommodation Request. Please see instructions for accommodation requests.
12. Applications must be mailed or delivered to
The NM Board of Bar Examiners
9420 Indian School Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
There is a mail drop in the office door, so you can drop off your application at any time.
