The Board of Law Examiners has implemented a new policy regarding items that may be brought into the examination room and/or testing area, effective with the giving of the February 2006 bar examination.
Applicants are not permitted to bring any items into the examination room other than a clear plastic food storage type bag (maximum size one gallon), which may only contain:
- Admission Certificate
- Government Issued Photo I.D.
- Wallet
- Keys
- Earplugs (not the big earphone/headphone type)
- Pens, pencils, erasers
- Medication and medical items
- Facial tissue
- Non-digital watch or timepiece
- One clear plastic bottle of water/juice/soda per exam session
The following items are strictly prohibited and will not be permitted in the exam room or the testing area, which includes the examination room, rest rooms, and hallway:
- Handbags
- Purses
- Hats, hoods or any other headgear (except items of religious apparel)
- Backpacks
- Duffle bags
- Briefcases
- Tote bags
- Notes
- Scratch paper
- Books, magazines, newspapers, or any other reading material
- Bar review or other study material in any format or media
- Electronic devices such as cell phones, calculators, pagers, cameras, radios, recording devices, hand-held computers, any type of personal digital assistant, wireless e-mail devices, etc.
- iPods or similar devices
- Headphones or headsets
- Imaging devices
- Any type of wireless communication device
- Weapons of any kind, regardless of whether you have a permit to carry
- Any other item not specifically allowed
Be prepared to demonstrate that your clothing does not contain prohibited items.
It is best not to even bring the prohibited items to the examination site because they will not be permitted into the examination room and there is no place to store them. The Board will not be responsible for the loss or damage to personal property, so it is strongly recommended that any such items be left at home, in your hotel room, or in your car.
Possession of a prohibited device or item at the examination will be treated as a cheating incident and you may be immediately DISQUALIFIED AND EJECTED from the examination.
Bar Exam Conduct Policy
It is the policy of the Michigan Board of Law Examiners that the bar examination and related conduct of bar applicants be beyond reproach. Applicants are at all times to maintain a professional attitude toward other applicants, proctors, and other examination personnel. Conduct that results in a violation of security or disrupts the administration of the examination may result in immediate disqualification and ejection from the examination. Such conduct includes violation of the Board's Security Policy, cheating, failing to follow all rules and instructions governing the administration of the examination, or otherwise compromising the security or integrity of the bar examination.