Nevada: lawyer (attorney admission) pathway
Scope
- Degree recognition
Applicants need a juris doctorate or equivalent law degree from an ABA-approved law school under Rule 51.
“Have received a juris doctorate degree, or an equivalent law degree, from a law school approved by the American Bar Association, and presents evidence of the same.”
- Program approval or accreditation
Those without a JD from an ABA-accredited school (and not currently attending one) must be approved by the Functional Equivalency Committee before applying for any component of the licensing exam.
“If you did not earn a JD from an ABA accredited law school or are not currently attending an ABA accredited law school, you must be approved by the Functional Equivalency Committee before applying for any component of the Comprehensive Licensing Exam.”
- Additional education or training
Not confirmed. Professional eligibility must be confirmed with the relevant regulator.
- Examination requirements
Nevada retired its traditional bar exam after July 2026. Applicants now complete the Nevada Comprehensive Licensing Examination: MPRE, Foundational Law Examination, Lawyering Performance Examination and a Supervised Practice Program; the MPRE passing score stated is 85.
“The Nevada Plan consists of the Foundational Law Examination, the Nevada Lawyering Performance Examination, and the Supervised Practice Program, in addition to the MPRE.”
- Supervised practice
Non-attorneys must complete both components of the Supervised Practice Program (it may begin after 42 law-school credits); licensed attorneys with over six continuous months of active practice in the last two years may be exempt.
“Non-attorneys must register for and complete both components of the SPP within the time frame.”
- Foreign qualification assessment
Foreign-educated and other non-ABA law graduates may seek a functional equivalency certification from the Committee on Functional Equivalency (SCR 51.5) in order to apply.
“Foreign-educated applicants, and other non-ABA law graduates, may seek a functional equivalency certification in order to apply to take the Nevada Bar Exam, required for admission.”
- Residency or other restrictions
Rule 51 requires applicants to be present or available to be present in Nevada until examined; Nevada states it offers no reciprocity or admission by motion.
“Nevada has NO RECIPROCITY OR ADMISSION BY MOTION of any kind.”
- Online study
Not confirmed. Professional eligibility must be confirmed with the relevant regulator.
Regulator: State Bar of Nevada - Admissions (Board of Bar Examiners) · official source for this record · last checked 1 November 2026.