Per-state guide
Illinois Bar Exam Prep
Illinois bar exam (UBE): fees, deadlines, tested subjects, and recommended prep for the July 2026 and February 2027 administrations.
Key dates & fees
As of November 2, 2026. Confirm current dates and fees with the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar before filing.
February 2027 administration
Checked against board page| Exam type | UBE |
|---|---|
| Timely deadline | 2026-09-15 |
| Final deadline | 2026-11-30 |
| Late deadlines | 2026-11-30 |
| Standard fee | $1,200 through Sept. 15, 2026; $1,475 Sept. 16 to Nov. 1; $1,875 Nov. 2 to Nov. 30 |
| Attorney fee | Same tiers as first-time applicants ($1,200 to $1,875, per NCBE chart) |
| Repeater fee | $650 through Nov. 1, 2026; $1,125 Nov. 2 to Nov. 30 |
| Late fee | No separate late fee. The filing fee rises with each filing window. |
| Laptop fee | $135 |
July 2027 administration
Estimate, not yet published| Exam type | UBE |
|---|---|
| Timely deadline | 2027-02-15 |
| Final deadline | 2027-04-30 |
| Late deadlines | 2027-04-30 |
| Standard fee | $1,200 through Feb. 15, 2027; $1,475 Feb. 16 to April 1; $1,875 April 2 to April 30 |
| Attorney fee | Same tiers as first-time applicants ($1,200 to $1,875, per NCBE chart) |
| Repeater fee | $650 through April 30, 2027 |
| Late fee | No separate late fee. The filing fee rises with each filing window. |
| Laptop fee | $135 |
Illinois publishes these windows as effective January 1, 2026. Confirm with the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar before filing.
Filing fees are not refundable (Illinois Supreme Court Rule 706(j)).
Turn Illinois dates into a daily practice plan
Use the guide to plan your filing and subject coverage, then create a free account for short MBE-style reps, saved progress, and weak-area routing tied to your jurisdiction.
Tested subjects
Illinois uses the legacy Uniform Bar Exam. Subjects follow the NCBE UBE chart: MBE (7 subjects), MEE (national essays), and MPT (skills tasks).
Practice the subjects Illinois is likely to test
Use the guide to plan your filing and subject coverage, then create a free account for short MBE-style reps, saved progress, and weak-area routing tied to your jurisdiction.
National resources to pair with Illinois
Official sources
- Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, fees and deadlines
- NCBE IL UBE fees and deadlines chart
- NCBE jurisdiction indexOfficial NCBE entrypoint for jurisdiction-specific admission information.