An advisory committee to the Maryland Court of Appeals is set to hold a public hearing to discuss the potential adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). The hearing will take place on April 13 at 1 p.m. at the Judicial College Education Conference Center in Annapolis.
The Advisory Committee, led by Judge Sally D. Adkins, was established by Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera on October 31, 2016. It consists of law school deans, judges, attorneys from various firms, and members of the State Board of Law Examiners. The committee's role is to assess whether Maryland should adopt the UBE and provide recommendations to the Court of Appeals.
Judge Adkins stated that "the Committee has focused on weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination while considering the need to maintain a rigorous, but fair, test for bar applicants."
Currently, Maryland's bar exam includes a one-day essay exam on state law and a multiple-choice exam known as the Multistate Bar Examination. The UBE aims to replace state-specific exams with a standardized test administered by jurisdictions participating in this initiative.
The committee seeks feedback from legal professionals and interested parties about adopting the UBE. Written and verbal testimonies will be accepted during this process.
For further details, contact JaCina Stanton or visit the UBE Advisory Committee’s webpage.