The Supreme Court announced today that, in addition to the July bar examination currently scheduled to take place July 28 - 29, 2020, the Board of Law Examiners will offer an examination on September 30 – October 1, 2020 (the “October Exam”). Applicants who previously submitted an application for the July Exam will be given the alternative to move to the October Exam. The Court’s Order filed April 2, 2020, anticipated the deployment of an additional exam, and set out a clear path for the Board and applicants to follow in that Order.
The July Exam will be given in Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville. The October Exam will be offered in Knoxville only. Those who have not yet submitted an application for the July Exam will be given the option to select one of the three locations for the July Exam or select the October Exam.
“The Board is pleased to be able to offer an option to the July Exam,” said Bill Harbison, President of the Board of Law Examiners. “Because of on-going concerns about social distancing during the examination, the addition of another exam in a very large space will give the Board and applicants the flexibility to provide maximum space between test-takers, as well as provide a safety net in the event we remain under “Safer at Home” orders or the NCBE does not deploy a July Exam.”
The initial deadline for applications is May 1 and the final deadline is May 20. Instructions for “how to apply” can be found here. Applicants for either the July Exam or the October Exam will use the application for the July Exam and must meet the current deadlines. New procedures are in place for items that were required to be mailed to the office of the Board of Law Examiners.