The Maryland Court of Appeals has decided to adopt the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), as recommended by the Advisory Committee to Explore the Feasibility of Maryland’s Adoption of the UBE. The decision was made during a conference on November 16, with unanimous agreement among the judges. This change is set to be implemented in 2019 and will include a supplementary Maryland law component.
The Advisory Committee, which included judges, law school deans, attorneys from various firms, and members of the State Board of Law Examiners, conducted an extensive study on the potential benefits and drawbacks of replacing the traditional Maryland bar examination with the UBE. They concluded that "the benefits of a uniform, portable exam were significant and outweighed all disadvantages."
Judge Sally D. Adkins, Chair of the Advisory Committee, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision: “I am pleased with the Court’s decision to consider carefully and accept the Committee’s recommendation to adopt the Uniform Bar Examination.” She emphasized that this adoption ensures that bar applicants in Maryland will still face an examination rigorous enough to confirm their competency in practicing law.
Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera also acknowledged the committee's thorough work: “The Court is grateful for the Advisory Committee’s diligence in examining this issue.” She noted that combining the UBE with a Maryland-specific component would ensure applicants have both local knowledge and broader portability for their results across other jurisdictions adopting UBE.
To manage this transition effectively, a new committee will be established by the Court of Appeals. This committee will focus on defining content for Maryland's portion of the UBE and addressing other implementation aspects.
Further details can be found in public documents available online through links provided by Maryland Judiciary's website.