New York Law Course

What the NYLC covers

The NYLC is an online course created by the New York State Board of Law Examiners. It covers New York-specific principles in Administrative Law, Business Relationships, Civil Practice and Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Matrimonial and Family Law, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Torts and Tort Damages, and Trusts, Wills and Estates.

The course and NYLE materials are designed to cover rules that differ from general principles tested on the UBE or that are particularly important for new New York practitioners. BOLE provides access through the applicant's BOLE account.

Lecture format and embedded questions

BOLE's current applicant guide describes approximately 17 hours of recorded lectures. Embedded questions appear during the course and must be answered correctly before the candidate can continue to the next segment. When a segment question is answered correctly, that segment may not be replayed until the entire course is complete. After completion, the lectures can be rewatched without embedded questions through the account.

Applicants must watch each video in its entirety at normal speed. The Board audits viewing time and prohibits advancing or speeding up. Technical problems should be reported to BOLE promptly. Sharing or copying embedded questions or answers is also prohibited.

Completion is required before NYLE registration

You cannot register for the NYLE until every NYLC segment is complete. Complete the course early enough to review the official materials and meet the NYLE's 45-day registration deadline. The NYLC itself has no fee, according to BOLE's applicant guide.

The timing rule links the NYLC to the first UBE sitting. The course can generally be completed up to one year before or after that first sitting, subject to the application deadline. If completed more than one year before the first UBE, the applicant must repeat both the NYLC and NYLE. Check this timing if your exam plans change.

How to complete it well

1. Use a computer and connection that can reliably stream the lectures.
2. Set aside enough uninterrupted time to watch each segment in full at normal speed.
3. Answer embedded questions based on the lecture rather than guessing to advance.
4. Keep notes on New York-specific rules and where each appears in the official materials.
5. After completion, revisit lectures and study the materials before the NYLE.
6. Retain the completion record and verify it appears in your BOLE account.

Treat the lectures as instruction, not a compliance hurdle. Listening for the rule, its exception and a simple example gives you a foundation for later study. Notes should be brief enough to review and specific enough to distinguish New York procedure from general bar doctrine.

Avoid misconduct problems

BOLE treats skipping, accelerating, copying or sharing protected course questions as misconduct. Potential consequences can include repeating the NYLC, nullifying NYLE registration or score, suspending the applicant from retaking and disclosure to admission authorities. Follow the current instructions and contact the Board about accessibility or technical needs.

Candidates who use a screen reader or other disability-related accommodation for written materials should contact BOLE for guidance. Do not use an unapproved searchable version of the course materials during the NYLE.

From course to exam

The NYLC helps orient candidates to the 12 subjects, but completion alone does not prepare you fully for the open-book NYLE. Study the official New York Course Materials, build a compliant index and practise with sample questions. The exam is forward-only, and BOLE warns that candidates cannot research every answer during the two-hour window.

Treat the lectures as rule instruction

The NYLC covers New York-specific rules across 12 subjects. The lecture sequence is a prerequisite, but it can also help you understand why a state rule matters and how it differs from the general law. As you watch, capture three items: the core rule, a condition or exception, and a short factual example. That note will make later work with the written materials more efficient.

For example, a lecture may explain a New York procedure that differs from the familiar federal or UBE framework. Record what triggers the state rule and where the corresponding section appears in the written course materials. A vague note such as “NY is different” does not help you recognize the issue in a multiple-choice question.

Plan uninterrupted completion time

BOLE's current guide describes roughly 17 hours of recorded lectures. Each segment must be viewed in full at normal speed, and embedded questions must be answered correctly before continuing. Plan enough time for the lectures, breaks and any technical issue. Avoid a calendar that assumes you can skip content or accelerate playback to meet a registration deadline.

If you have a full-time schedule, divide the lectures across several days and reserve a small review block after each subject. Keep track of completed segments and confirm that the account records the course as complete. If the platform behaves unexpectedly, save the date, time and error details and contact BOLE promptly.

Embedded questions and protected content

Embedded questions are part of the course process. Answer them based on the lecture and required materials; a correct answer allows progression through the course. Some segments cannot be replayed until the full course is complete after the embedded question is answered correctly. This makes attention during the first viewing valuable. Take brief notes before submitting rather than treating the question as a button to click through.

BOLE prohibits copying or sharing embedded questions and answers. Use public sample questions or original practice for extra work. If you need to revisit a concept before course completion, consult the written materials where available and your own notes rather than trying to capture protected quiz content.

Use all twelve subjects to organize later review

The subjects are Administrative Law, Business Relationships, Civil Practice and Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Matrimonial and Family Law, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Torts and Tort Damages, and Trusts, Wills and Estates. Keep notes and page references under those headings. Cross-reference a rule only where it genuinely connects two subjects.

Some areas naturally overlap. A family dispute can involve Matrimonial and Family Law, Real Property and Civil Practice. A fiduciary issue can arise in a business relationship or trust. The lecture helps identify the subject vocabulary; the written materials provide the rules and exceptions needed for NYLE study. Do not assume the lecture alone contains every tested detail.

The course completion window matters

Completion of the NYLC is tied to the applicant's first UBE sitting under BOLE's timing rules. The course generally may be completed up to one year before or after that sitting, subject to the applicable deadlines. If the timing limit is exceeded, the applicant may need to repeat both the NYLC and NYLE. Check the rule again if your UBE date changes or you delay admission.

This rule matters even when the NYLE itself has already been passed. A candidate may need to repeat the course and exam if the course completion falls outside the permitted period before certification. Keep the course date, first UBE date and NYLE result date together in the admission tracker.

From lecture notes to NYLE preparation

After completion, study the official New York Course Materials for every subject. Compare your lecture notes with the written rule, add omitted exceptions and build a concise index. Then answer sample questions with the materials closed first, followed by a targeted lookup. This sequence tests recall while showing whether your page map works.

If an embedded topic was confusing, revisit the lecture after the entire course is complete and use the written materials to resolve the point. Do not assume you must memorize every word. You should understand the rule well enough to recognize the issue, state the likely answer and locate a precise detail quickly. The NYLE's one-way format rewards that preparation.

Accessibility and technical needs

Candidates who need a screen reader or another accommodation for written materials should contact BOLE for guidance. The Board describes accessible versions and its process for candidates with disabilities. Raise the need early enough to follow the approved procedure; do not create an unapproved searchable copy as a substitute.

Reliable access to the lectures is also part of completion. Use a stable connection and current device, but follow the Board's technical instructions. If a segment does not register as complete, document what happened and contact the Board. Verify the completion status before the NYLE registration deadline rather than assuming that viewing time has synchronized.