(a) Applicants Passing the UBE in Maryland.

(1) Report and Recommendations. As soon as practicable after each examination, the Board shall file with the Court a report containing

(A) the names of the applicants who successfully completed the bar examination and

(B) the Board's recommendation for admission.

The Board's recommendation with respect to each applicant shall be conditioned on the outcome of any character proceedings relating to that applicant and satisfaction of all other requirements of admission.

(2) Order of Ratification On receipt of the Board's report, the Court shall enter an order fixing a date at least 30 days after the filing of the report for ratification of the Board's recommendations. The order shall include the names of all applicants who are recommended for admission, including those who are conditionally recommended, The order shall state generally that all recommendations are conditioned on character approval and satisfaction of the requirements of Rules 19-212 and 19-213, but shall not identify those applicants as to whom proceedings are still pending, The order shall be posted on the Judiciary website no later than 5 days after the date of the order and remain on the website until ratification.

(3) Exceptions. Before ratification of the Board's report, any person may file with the Court exceptions relating to any relevant matter. For good cause shown, the Court may permit the filing of exceptions after ratification of the Board's report and before the applicant's admission to the Bar. The Court shall give notice of the filing of exceptions to the applicant and shall refer the exceptions to the Board for proceedings pursuant to Rule 19-204.

(4) Ratification of Board's Report. On expiration of the time fixed in the order entered pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this Rule, the Board's report and recommendations shall be ratified subject to the conditions stated in the recommendations and to any exceptions noted under subsection (a)(3) of this Rule.

(b) Applicants Transferring a Qualifying UBE Score.

(1) Report and Recommendations. As soon as practicable after the first of each month, the Board shall file with the Court a report containing

(A) the names of the applicants who transferred to Maryland a qualifying UBE score during the prior month and

(B) the Board's recommendation for admission.

The Board's recommendation with respect to each applicant shall be conditioned on the outcome of any character proceedings relating to that applicant and satisfaction of all other requirements for admission.

(2) Order of Ratification. On receipt of the Board's report, the Court shall enter an order fixing a date at least 30 days after the filing of the report for ratification of the Board's recommendations. The order shall include the names of all applicants who are recommended for admission, including those who are conditionally recommended. The order shall state generally that all recommendations are conditioned on character approval and satisfaction of the requirements of Rules 19-212 and 19-213, but shall not identify those applicants as to whom proceedings are still pending. The order shall be posted on the Judiciary website no later than 5 days after the date of the order and remain on the website until ratification.

(3) Exceptions. Before ratification of the Board's report, any person may file with the Court exceptions relating to any relevant matter. For good cause shown, the Court may permit the filing of exceptions after ratification of the Board's report and before the applicant's admission to the Bar. The Court shall give notice of the filing of exceptions to the applicant and shall refer the exceptions to the Board for proceedings pursuant to Rule 19-204.

(4) Ratification of Board's Report. On expiration of the time fixed in the order entered pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this Rule, the Board's report and recommendations shall be ratified subject to the conditions stated in the recommendations and to any exceptions noted under subsection (b)(3) of this Rule.

When the Maryland Board of Law Examiners, DC Bar Committee on Admissions, or any character committee questions your character and fitness for bar admission, bar applicants should retain an attorney to assist in disclosing information relevant to character and fitness, to guide them through the bar admissions process, and to represent applicants in character committee hearings and in hearings before the Court of Appeals to determine whether they are fit to practice law. Character and fitness concerns may arise in connection with prior criminal convictions, academic dishonesty and honor code violations, addictions, drunk driving, neglected debts, and a failure to disclose material information on law school applications or on bar applications. If you have a history of misconduct, traffic citations, crimes, arrests and other facts to disclose in response to the character portion of the Maryland Bar Application or the DC Bar's NCBE application, you should strongly consider retaining bar admissions counsel if you want to avoid denial of a law license and get a license to practice law. This is even true for applicants for admission to law schools as these applications ask similar questions about character. A failure to disclose facts material to your admission could result in a denial of bar admission.

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