Maryland Bar Exam Accommodations: A Complete Guide for Law Graduates
If you have ADHD, a learning disability, an anxiety disorder, or another condition that affects your performance under timed testing conditions, you may be entitled to accommodations on the Maryland Bar Exam. But Maryland's process is more procedurally detailed than most states, and the documentation requirements are extensive. Submitting an incomplete or underprepared request is one of the most common reasons applicants are denied or delayed.
As a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for high-stakes exams, I work with law graduates across Maryland, Virginia, DC, and PSYPACT states to build the documentation needed to support strong accommodation requests. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Maryland process: who qualifies, what to submit, critical deadlines, and what a psychological evaluation must include.
Who Administers Maryland Bar Exam Accommodations?
In Maryland, accommodation requests for the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) are handled by the State Board of Law Examiners (SBLE). As of December 22, 2025, all requests must be submitted electronically through the applicant's eBar account. Maryland no longer accepts paper-only submissions.
Maryland administers the UBE twice per year, in February and July.
Important 2026 update: Maryland is adopting the NextGen UBE beginning with the July 2026 exam. The NextGen exam is a 1.5-day computer-based format. Candidates with disabilities will continue to be entitled to approved accommodations, including non-digital formats if needed. If you are planning to sit for the July 2026 exam or later, confirm NextGen-specific accommodation procedures directly with SBLE as policies may evolve.
What Accommodations Are Available on the Maryland Bar Exam?
Maryland defines reasonable accommodations as modifications that can be implemented without fundamentally altering the exam, imposing undue burden on SBLE, or providing an unfair advantage. Common accommodations include:
Extended testing time (50% or 100% additional time are most common)
Separate, reduced-distraction testing room
Additional or extended breaks
Assistive technology (screen readers, magnification software)
Use of a reader or scribe
Special seating or ergonomic equipment
Permission to bring medical supplies or devices
All accommodations are provided at no cost to the applicant. Accommodation status is confidential and does not appear on your score report or bar record.
Who Qualifies for Maryland Bar Exam Accommodations?
To qualify, you must demonstrate that you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity such as seeing, hearing, learning, reading, concentrating, or thinking as compared to most people in the general population.
Conditions that commonly support accommodation requests include:
ADHD (all presentations — combined, inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive)
Specific Learning Disorders — dyslexia, dysgraphia, processing speed disorders
Anxiety Disorders — generalized anxiety, panic disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Depression and Mood Disorders
Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion History
Chronic Medical Conditions affecting stamina, concentration, or physical functioning
Visual or Hearing Impairments
Having a diagnosis alone is not sufficient. Maryland's SBLE, like Virginia's VBBE, requires objective documentation demonstrating that the condition substantially limits your ability to function under standard exam conditions. Critically, a request based solely on an applicant's self-reported symptoms, without further objective support, will be rejected as incomplete.
A Landmark Maryland Case: What Chavis v. SBLE Means for Your Request
In 2023, the Supreme Court of Maryland decided In the Matter of Antavis Chavis, a case that directly shapes how Maryland now evaluates accommodation requests. Chavis, a recent law school graduate with ADHD, was denied accommodations by SBLE after submitting a verification form from his treating physician. The Board's independent reviewer rejected the request because there was no objective diagnostic data. The diagnosis rested almost entirely on self-report.
The Supreme Court of Maryland ultimately reversed the denial, establishing a two-step framework and holding that past law school accommodations must be given "considerable weight" in evaluating bar exam requests.
What this means for applicants:
Prior accommodations in law school matter. If you received extended time or other accommodations in law school, document them thoroughly. SBLE is required to treat that history as significant evidence.
Objective data is still essential. The Court's ruling did not eliminate the need for comprehensive evaluation. It reinforced that documentation must include objective diagnostic testing, not just clinical opinion or self-report.
A physician's letter or verification form is rarely enough. This is the lesson of Chavis. A treating doctor's brief letter may establish a diagnosis, but it will not typically satisfy Maryland's standard for demonstrating functional impairment in an exam context. A full neuropsychological evaluation report provides the objective data that a letter cannot.
How to Apply: Maryland's Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Indicate Your Intent in eBar
When filing your Notice of Intent to take the Maryland UBE, indicate that you are requesting ADA test accommodations. This flags your application in the system and initiates the accommodation process.
Step 2: Complete the Accommodations Request Form
Download the Accommodations Request Form from the SBLE website (available as PDF or Word). Your request must be specific. If requesting extended time, you must state the exact amount or percentage. Vague requests will be rejected without review.
Step 3: Gather All Required Documents
Maryland has one of the most detailed documentation checklists of any state bar. Your complete submission must include all of the following (or a satisfactory explanation for any missing item):
1. Evaluation Report from your treating health professional This is the most critical document in your packet (see full requirements below).
2. Academic transcripts from college and law school Certified copies are required. If you previously submitted transcripts to SBLE for your bar application, note that on the checklist. You may not need to resubmit.
3. Standardized test score reports Maryland specifically requires score reports for the SAT and/or ACT, LSAT, and MPRE. If you took these tests more than 12 years ago and did not request accommodations, note that on the checklist. If you cannot obtain official score reports, SBLE will accept a printed screenshot that clearly identifies you.
4. Evidence of prior accommodation decisions in college and law school This means formal letters or documents from each institution, on official letterhead, covering each academic semester or year. If your school issued one letter per semester, include every letter. If you are missing records for any term, request a Certification of ADA Accommodations History form from the school. If you never requested accommodations in school, state that explicitly on the checklist.
5. Evidence of prior accommodation decisions for other bar exams, LSAT, ACT, SAT, and/or MPRE Whether accommodations were granted or denied. SBLE wants the full history.
6. Any other materials you consider relevant
Step 4: Submit Everything Electronically via eBar
Log into your eBar account, locate the ADA accommodations link on the landing page, complete the webform, upload all documents (as a single PDF or separate PDFs), and submit. Your specific accommodation request must be typed directly into the webform, identical to what appears on your Accommodations Request Form.
Step 5: Await SBLE's Decision
SBLE will review your packet for completeness first. If it is complete, they will review it on the merits, potentially sending it to one or more outside expert reviewers. SBLE will notify you if additional documentation or an independent evaluation is required.
If approved, you will receive written notice of your specific accommodations before the exam. If denied, you have the right to appeal to the Accommodations Review Committee under Maryland Rule 19-208.
Maryland Bar Exam Accommodation Deadlines
Maryland's deadlines are hard cutoffs Late requests are rejected as untimely and do not receive a merits review. There is no late filing period equivalent to Virginia's February 1 / July 1 backstop.
July UBE: Accommodations request must be received by May 1
February UBE: Accommodations request must be received by December 1
If the deadline falls on a weekend or court holiday, it moves to the next business day.
File early. SBLE explicitly warns that applicants with no prior accommodation history should submit well in advance of the deadline, as their requests may be sent to outside consultants, and this is a process that takes additional time. Filing at the last minute with a first-time request is a significant risk.
What Must the Evaluation Report Include?
Maryland's Accommodations Request Form (pages 4–5) sets out specific requirements for the health professional's evaluation report. SBLE will reject a report that is inadequate in any of the following ways:
Based solely on self-reporting without objective supporting data
Lacks a specific recommendation for accommodations on the UBE
Does not describe the diagnostic criteria, tests used, test results, and interpretation
Does not describe the candidate's functional limitations arising from the disability
Is not based on recent evaluation and testing
For psychological and neurodevelopmental conditions, a strong evaluation report from a licensed psychologist typically includes:
For ADHD:
Comprehensive diagnostic interview incorporating third-party historical sources (school records, IEPs, 504 plans, parent/teacher rating scales, transcripts, report cards)
Standardized behavioral rating scales (e.g., CAARS, Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale, BRIEF-A)
Cognitive testing using adult norms (e.g., WAIS-5) including processing speed and working memory indices
Academic achievement testing under timed conditions (e.g., Woodcock-Johnson IV)
Continuous performance testing (e.g., TOVA or Conners' CPT)
Validity indicators confirming reliability of results
Discussion of medication use and whether it fully remediates symptoms
Explicit analysis of how ADHD limits performance on a multi-hour, timed professional exam
For Learning Disabilities:
Full cognitive battery using adult normative scales
Academic achievement testing (reading fluency, reading comprehension, written expression)
Phonological processing and rapid naming measures
Processing speed assessment
Functional impact analysis specific to exam conditions
For Anxiety and Psychiatric Conditions:
Evaluation by a licensed mental health professional within the past year
Diagnosis tied to current functional limitations
Explanation of how the condition specifically impairs performance on timed, high-stakes exams
Treatment history
For Medical Conditions:
Documentation from a treating physician
Specific explanation of how the condition limits participation in a two-day exam
Can You Reuse a Prior Evaluation Report?
Maryland has a limited exception worth knowing: if you previously submitted an evaluation report to a law school to support an accommodation request that was approved within the past five years, and you are requesting substantially the same accommodations for the Maryland UBE, you may submit that report in lieu of a fully updated evaluation.
However, if the accommodations you are now requesting differ in any meaningful way (i.e., different extended time percentage, additional accommodation types) you must provide an updated evaluation explaining the basis for the change.
Additionally, if your existing report is more than five years old, a new evaluation will be required regardless.
Maryland vs. Virginia: Key Differences to Know
If you are considering sitting for both the Maryland and Virginia bar exams, or if you previously applied in one state and are now applying in the other, be aware of these important procedural differences:
Filing method: Maryland is fully electronic via eBar. Virginia uses a paper-based petition system (with a new online system launched in early 2026, confirm current procedures with VBBE).
Documentation checklist: Maryland explicitly requires standardized test score reports (SAT/ACT, LSAT, MPRE) and semester-by-semester accommodation history letters. Virginia's checklist does not go to the same level of granularity on these items.
Deadlines: Maryland has hard cutoffs (May 1 / December 1) with no late filing option. Virginia allows late petitions by February 1 / July 1 for disabilities arising after the deadline, on a space-available basis.
Transferability of prior approvals: Neither state automatically honors prior approvals from the other. Each application is evaluated on its own merits.
Appeal process: Maryland has a formal Accommodations Review Committee with an established appeal path under Maryland Rules 19-205 and 19-208. Virginia notifies applicants in writing of denials approximately one month before the exam.
Prior Accommodations History: How Much Does It Matter in Maryland?
Following the Chavis decision, Maryland law is clear that prior law school accommodations must be given "considerable weight." This is a higher standard of deference than Virginia's approach, where prior accommodations are relevant but not dispositive in either direction.
That said, "considerable weight" is not automatic approval. The underlying evaluation documentation still needs to demonstrate current functional impairment. Law graduates who received accommodations in law school will have a stronger foundation for their Maryland request, but the evaluation report must still be thorough, objective, and up to date.
For applicants with no prior accommodation history, the bar is higher and early, comprehensive evaluation is especially important. SBLE acknowledges this by specifically flagging first-time requests as those most likely to be sent for outside expert review, which is exactly why filing early matters.
Working With a Psychologist for Your Maryland Bar Exam Evaluation
Maryland's documentation requirements are among the most detailed of any state bar. An evaluation report that would satisfy a law school's disability services office may not meet SBLE's standard. Bar exam accommodation evaluations require a different approach than routine clinical assessments:
The battery must be comprehensive enough to generate objective, standardized data across multiple cognitive domains
The report must be written for a legal/regulatory audience, not just a clinical one
The functional impact analysis must connect test findings to the specific demands of a two-day, timed professional licensing examination
Validity indicators must be included to demonstrate that results are reliable
I offer comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations in Richmond, Virginia, and across PSYPACT states, including Maryland. My evaluations are specifically designed to meet the documentation standards of Maryland's SBLE, Virginia's VBBE, the DC Court of Appeals Committee on Admissions, and other bar licensing boards across the country.
If you are preparing to apply for Maryland Bar Exam accommodations, start the evaluation process as early as possible, at minimum several months before the applicable filing deadline (May 1 for July; December 1 for February). This allows adequate time for the evaluation itself, report preparation, gathering of supporting documents, and any follow-up SBLE may request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Maryland Bar Exam the same as the UBE? Yes. Maryland administers the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). The legacy UBE format applies through February 2026; the NextGen UBE launches in July 2026.
Does Maryland accept accommodation approvals from other states? No. Prior approvals from Virginia, DC, or any other jurisdiction do not transfer to Maryland. Each application is evaluated independently by SBLE.
What if my request is denied? SBLE will notify you in writing, including the grounds for denial and information about your right to appeal to the Accommodations Review Committee under Maryland Rule 19-208.
What if I received accommodations in law school but not in college? Document your law school accommodations thoroughly. College accommodation history is helpful context but absence of college accommodations does not disqualify you, especially if there is a clinical explanation for why the disability wasn't identified or accommodated earlier.
Can I submit my evaluation report in a language other than English? Maryland's form requirements specify English-language documentation. Contact SBLE directly if this is a concern.
Will accommodations affect my score or bar admission record? No. Accommodation status is confidential. Your score report and bar record will not indicate whether you requested or received accommodations.
What is the passing score for the Maryland Bar Exam? Maryland requires a scaled UBE score of 266 to pass.
Key Resources
Maryland State Board of Law Examiners (SBLE): mdcourts.gov/ble
SBLE ADA Test Accommodations: mdcourts.gov/ble/testaccommodations
Accommodations Request Form: Available as PDF and Word on the SBLE website
eBar Online System: jportal.mdcourts.gov/ebarapp
NCBE MPRE Test Accommodations: ncbex.org/exams/mpre/test-accommodations
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Hurley: ericahurley.com
Dr. Erica J. Hurley, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in Richmond, Virginia, specializing in comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for high-stakes examinations including the Bar Exam, LSAT, MPRE, MCAT, and USMLE. She is PSYPACT-authorized and holds IPIC/TAP certification for travel to PSYPACT states, including Maryland. To schedule an evaluation or consultation, visit ericahurley.com/contact.
