Easiest States to Get Admitted to the Bar
"Easiest" depends on your situation — whether you have a UBE score to transfer, an existing license to waive in with, or need to take a new exam. Here's how each pathway breaks down.
See which states are easiest for you specifically
Enter your score, admissions, and experience — the calculator ranks every jurisdiction by your best available pathway.
Check My Portability →Easiest by UBE Score Transfer
If you have a UBE score, these states are the most accessible — combining low minimum scores, long validity windows, low fees, and no local component.
North Dakota
Min 260 · $200 exam / $400 transfer · No local component · 24-month score age. The lowest exam fee in the country and one of the lowest minimums. Short score age is the only catch.
Washington
Min 260 · $595 transfer · Online MC test · 40-month score age. Lowest UBE minimum tied with several others, but Washington also has the easiest motion admission (1 year), making it accessible from both pathways.
Indiana
Min 264 · $500 transfer · No local component · 60-month score age. The lowest UBE minimum among states with a 5-year validity window and no pre-admission component.
DC
Min 266 · $405 transfer · No local component · 60-month score age. Low fees, long score age, no local component. Also has the easiest motion pathway (3 years good standing, no practice requirement).
Montana
Min 266 · $155 transfer · Online course · 36-month score age. The cheapest transfer fee in the entire country at $155. You do need to complete a Montana Law Seminar.
Easiest by Admission on Motion
For licensed attorneys who want to waive in without taking another exam:
Washington
Only 1 year of practice (out of past 3) required. $970. Open to attorneys from any state. The most accessible motion requirement in the country.
DC
3 years of good standing — no active practice required. $595. You don't need to prove you practiced law, just that you've held a license for 3 years. Unique among all jurisdictions.
Oregon
2 years of practice (out of past 4). $1,750. Open motion. Second-shortest practice requirement.
North Dakota
4 years of practice (out of past 5). $400. Open motion and the lowest motion fee.
Wisconsin
3 years of practice (out of past 5). $850. Open motion, no MPRE required. If you failed the Wisconsin bar exam, you're ineligible — but otherwise it's very accessible.
Hardest States to Get Admitted To
These states have the most barriers to out-of-state attorneys:
| State | Why It's Hard |
|---|---|
| California | No UBE, no motion, no reciprocity. Must pass the California Bar Exam. Highest MPRE minimum (86). Notoriously difficult state-specific exam. |
| Florida | No UBE, no motion, no reciprocity. Must pass FL Bar Exam with Florida-specific component. Attorney exam fee scales up to $3,000 for 15+ year attorneys. |
| Louisiana | Civil law jurisdiction. No UBE, no motion. Must pass LA Bar Exam testing Louisiana Civil Code. |
| Nevada | No UBE, no motion. Must pass NV Bar Exam. |
| Delaware | No UBE (until Feb 2028), no motion. Must pass DE Bar Exam. Corporate law hub. |
Easiest by Total Cost
If you're optimizing for the cheapest path to admission:
| State | Transfer Fee | Motion Fee | Exam Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | $155 | $2,500 | $620 |
| North Dakota | $400 | $400 | $200 |
| New York | $250 | $400 | $250 |
| Indiana | $500 | $875 | $250 |
| DC | $405 | $595 | $405 |
| Michigan | $400 | $800 | $400 |
| Wisconsin | $450 | $850 | $450 |
| Texas | $490 | $1,040 | $640 |
| Vermont | $525 | $800 | $300 |
Note: most states charge additional character and fitness investigation fees on top of these amounts.
Strategy: Maximizing Your Bar Portability
If you're early in your career and want maximum geographic flexibility, here's the playbook: score a 270+ on the UBE (which opens all 42 UBE jurisdictions for transfer), score an 86 on the MPRE (clears every state), and get admitted in a state that offers open motion admission (like Texas, Illinois, or Colorado). This combination gives you access to both transfer and motion pathways in virtually every state that allows either.
Avoid getting admitted only in California, Florida, or other non-reciprocal states if portability matters to you — those admissions won't help you waive into reciprocal states later.
Run the numbers for your situation
Everyone's portability profile is different. The calculator shows your specific pathways across all 52 jurisdictions.
Check My Portability →All data verified against NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements (March 2026). Always verify with the jurisdiction's bar admissions authority before applying. This is not legal advice.
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