Skills Competency and Professional Values (Rule 520.18)
In December 2015, the NY Court of Appeals adopted a Skills Competency and Professional Values Requirement ("Skills Requirement") for admission to the bar, thereby making New York the first state to require applicants to the bar to separately demonstrate that they have had essential practical skills training and gained sufficient understanding of professional values. This requirement exists to "demonstrate that the applicant possesses the skills and values necessary to provide effective, ethical and responsible legal services in this State."
This requirement applies to:
1) J.D. students commencing their studies after August 1, 2016.
2) LL.M. students commencing their studies after August 1, 2018.
This requirement can be satisfied by completing 1 of 5 Pathways, which will vary by degree earned. J.D. students will complete Pathway 1 or 3, while LL.M. students will complete Pathway 4 or 5.
NOTE: Pathway 2 (Law school certification of credit acquisition) should not be selected by any student.
J.D. Students
Pathway 1: Law school certification of competence in skills and professional values
Pathway 1 can be satisfied by completing 6 experiential credits (also referred to as skills credits). Please see our regularly updated Experiential Credits Archive located on this page for a list of courses that offer/have offered experiential credits, on a semesterly basis. To meet the experiential learning requirement, the courses on this list are primarily experiential in nature and:
- Integrate doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics, and engage students in performance of at least one of the following professional skills:
- Knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law.
- Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context.
- Exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system.
- Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession.
- Develop the concepts underlying the professional skills being taught.
- Provide multiple opportunities for performance.
- Provide opportunities for self-evaluation.
NOTE: As per ABA Interpretation 303-1, students cannot use one course to satisfy more than one requirement. For example, a course which offers experiential credits may not simultaneously offer completion of the writing requirement.
Pathway 3: Pro Bono Scholars Program
Pathway 3 can be satisfied by completing the Pro Bono Scholars Program.
LL.M. Students
Pathway 4: Apprenticeship
Pathway 4 can be satisfied either before or after LL.M. degree conferral through proving competence from a legal apprenticeship.
Pathway 5: Practice in another jurisdiction
Pathway 5 can be satisfied either before or after LL.M. degree conferral through proving competence from legal practice in the US or another jurisdiction.
Additional Information
Additional information on the Skills Competency and Professional Values requirement can be found in part 520.18, the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law.
Frequently Asked Questions have been answered by the NYS Unified Court System.