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Free Practice Questions for Rwanda Bar Entry

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Key Facts: Rwanda Bar Entry Exam

70%

Minimum mark on the entry test

RBA Internal Rules, Article 83

2 attempts in 5 years

Maximum number of entry test attempts

RBA Internal Rules, Article 83

1 year

Statutory internship, extendable by six months

Law Nº 83/2013, Article 16

RWF 350,000

Non-refundable application and processing fee

RBA call for applications, 24 July 2026

292

Applicants who sat the 2026 Admission Examination

Rwanda Bar Association, September 2026

The Rwanda Bar Association Admission Examination is a written test (plus an oral test if necessary) on legal knowledge, set by the RBA Committee on access to the profession for applicants with a law degree and the DLP. Candidates need at least 70% and may sit no more than twice in five years. Our free questions are an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation built from Law Nº 83/2013, the RBA Internal Rules and current Rwandan codes.

Sample Rwanda Bar Entry Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Rwanda Bar Entry exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Article 6 of Law Nº 83/2013 establishing the Bar Association in Rwanda, which criminal sentence bars a person from practising as an advocate (apart from the genocide-related convictions that the Article lists separately)?
A.A definitive sentence to imprisonment equal to or exceeding six months
B.Any definitive sentence to imprisonment, however short
C.A definitive sentence to imprisonment exceeding two years
D.A definitive sentence to imprisonment of five years or more
Explanation: Article 6(4º) of Law Nº 83/2013 requires that an applicant has 'not been definitively sentenced to a term of imprisonment equal to or exceeding six (6) months'. The same Article also requires Rwandan nationality (or reciprocity for foreigners), an LLB or equivalent, the ILPD certificate or its equivalence, and success in the test conducted by the Bar Association.
2Besides the six-month imprisonment rule, which convictions does Article 6 of Law Nº 83/2013 list as separate bars to practising as an advocate?
A.Convictions for corruption or embezzlement of public funds
B.Convictions for any felony punishable by more than five years
C.Convictions for genocide against the Tutsi, or for genocide ideology and related offences
D.Convictions for fraud, forgery or breach of trust committed in the course of legal practice
Explanation: Article 6(6º) and 6(7º) of Law Nº 83/2013 require that the applicant has not been convicted of the crime of genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, nor of the crime of genocide ideology and related offences. These are free-standing conditions, separate from the general six-month imprisonment rule in Article 6(4º).
3An advocate from a foreign Bar Association whose country grants reciprocity wants to handle a case in Rwanda. Under Article 7 of Law Nº 83/2013, who has the power to grant the authorisation?
A.The Council of the Bar Association
B.The Minister in charge of justice
C.The Supreme Court, at the oath ceremony
D.The President of the Bar Association
Explanation: Article 7 of Law Nº 83/2013 provides that, where national legislation provides for reciprocity and subject to international agreements, advocates from foreign Bar Associations may be granted the right to practise if they observe Rwandan professional regulations, and 'the President of the Bar Association shall have the power to grant such authorization'. Advocates from States in a regional integration agreement with Rwanda practise as that agreement provides.
4Before Principal State Attorneys, State Attorneys and lawyers from Access to Justice Bureaus are enrolled on the roll of the Bar Association, which test does Article 8 of Law Nº 83/2013 require them to undergo?
A.The relevant test prepared by their respective institutions in collaboration with the Bar Association
B.The ordinary written test set by the Bar's Committee on access to the profession, with no special arrangement
C.No test, because their public appointment replaces the Bar test
D.A test set by the Supreme Court and supervised by the Ministry of Justice
Explanation: The last paragraph of Article 8 of Law Nº 83/2013 states that these special advocates undergo 'the relevant test prepared by their respective institutions in collaboration with the Bar Association'. Article 82 of the RBA Internal Rules repeats this: their tests are organised by their institutions with the Committee on access to the profession, which takes part in preparing, supervising and correcting them.
5Under Article 9 of Law Nº 83/2013, by when must the annual roll of the Bar Association be drawn up, and how is it made public?
A.Not later than 31 December each year; it is published only in the Official Gazette of the Republic
B.Not later than 31 January; the Council publishes it and posts it at every court
C.Within 30 days after each oath ceremony; it is kept only at the Bar Secretariat
D.Not later than 1 November each year; it is sent only to the Supreme Court
Explanation: Article 9 of Law Nº 83/2013 requires the roll of the Bar Association and Interns, made up of the roll of Advocates and the list of interns, to be drawn up not later than 31 January each year. The Council of the Bar publishes it and it is posted on the notice board of every court.
6An applicant for the list of interns cannot find an advocate willing to supervise her. What does Article 11 of Law Nº 83/2013 provide?
A.The application is inadmissible until she finds a supervisor herself
B.She may complete the internship without a supervisor
C.The President of the Bar Association assigns a supervisor to her
D.The Minister in charge of justice designates a supervisor from among State attorneys
Explanation: Article 11 of Law Nº 83/2013 requires the application to include a certificate from an advocate who has agreed to supervise the intern, but adds that 'the President of the Bar Association shall assign supervisor in case the intern fails to get one'. Article 89 of the RBA Internal Rules likewise allows the supervisor to be chosen by the intern or designated by the Committee on access to the profession.
7The Council of the Bar refuses an application for the list of interns. Under Article 13 of Law Nº 83/2013, what may the dissatisfied applicant do?
A.Appeal directly to the Supreme Court within 15 days
B.Ask the Minister in charge of justice to overturn the decision
C.Only reapply in the next annual admission cycle, because the Law provides no remedy against a refusal decision
D.Submit a complaint to the Council of the Bar Association, then refer the matter to the competent court
Explanation: Article 13 of Law Nº 83/2013 provides that, in case of dissatisfaction with a decision granting or refusing an application, 'the concerned party may refer the matter to the competent court after submitting his complaint to the Council of the Bar Association'. The Internal Rules (Article 85) set the internal appeal time limits.
8Under Article 14 of Law Nº 83/2013, before which body does a successful applicant take the advocate's oath?
A.The Supreme Court, in a panel of at least three judges
B.The High Court, sitting with a single judge, at the request of the Minister of Justice
C.The General Assembly of the Bar Association
D.The Court of Appeal, sitting in a panel of five judges
Explanation: Article 14 of Law Nº 83/2013 requires the oath to be taken before the Supreme Court upon request by the President of the Bar Association, and states that the oath 'shall be received by the Supreme Court in a panel of at least three (3) judges'. The Court issues a certificate of oath and its registrar records the proceedings.
9An intern makes a procedural error in a file that her supervisor assigned to her. Under Article 15 of Law Nº 83/2013 and Article 94 of the RBA Internal Rules, who is accountable?
A.Only the intern, because interns are enrolled on the list of interns and act in their own name
B.The supervisor, on whose behalf the intern acts in assigned files
C.The President of the Bar Association, who answers for all interns
D.Nobody, because interns cannot incur professional liability
Explanation: Article 15 of Law Nº 83/2013 states that the intern carries out activities on behalf of the supervisor, 'who is also held accountable for the mistakes made by the intern'. Article 94 of the Internal Rules makes the supervisor liable for files he or she assigned; for the intern's own clients, the supervisor is liable only if he or she expressly approved the related conclusions and acts.
10An intern has not fulfilled her internship obligations when her internship period ends. What does Article 16 of Law Nº 83/2013 allow?
A.Automatic extension by another full year
B.Immediate removal, because no extension is possible
C.A six-month extension approved by the Council, failing which the intern is removed
D.An extension of up to two years, decided by her supervisor after a report to the Committee
Explanation: Article 16 of Law Nº 83/2013 fixes the internship at one year; where the intern fails to fulfil the obligations, the period 'may be extended for another six (6) months on approval by the Council', and an intern who still fails is removed. Article 88 of the Internal Rules adds that the extension follows a written, justified request by the intern and the supervisor's report.

About the Rwanda Bar Entry Exam

The Rwanda Bar Association Admission Examination is the entry test that applicants must pass before enrolment, as required by Article 6 of Law Nº 83/2013 and organised under Articles 82–83 of the RBA Internal Rules. Applicants hold a law degree and the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice; candidates need at least 70%, and the 2026 call charged a non-refundable RWF 350,000 application fee. The RBA website still mentions two years of internship, but Article 16 of Law Nº 83/2013 and Article 88 of the Internal Rules set the internship at one year, extendable by six months. The RBA does not publish the test's item count, duration or language. This page offers an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation, not an official translation, past paper or simulation of the written or oral test.

Exam sponsor: Rwanda Bar Association (RBA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Written test and, if necessary, an oral test on legal knowledge, organised each October or in another period set by the Council of the Bar, and prepared, supervised and corrected by the Committee on access to the profession (RBA Internal Rules, Articles 82–83). A separate written and oral assessment follows at the end of the internship (Article 97).

Time Limit

Not published

Passing Score

At least 70%; no more than two attempts in five years

Exam / Certification Fees

RWF 350,000 non-refundable application and processing fee (2026 call)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Not published

Professional Conduct, Ethics & Bar Governance

Law Nº 83/2013 establishing the Bar Association and the RBA Internal Rules: admission and internship, oath, incompatibilities, rights and duties of advocates, professional secrecy, fees, escrow accounts, publicity, relations between advocates, and discipline.

Not published

Civil, Commercial & Administrative Procedure

Law Nº 22/2018 (as amended by Law Nº 25/2021 and Law Nº 007/2023) and territorial jurisdiction under Law Nº 30/2018: representation, service, pretrial conference, objections, summary and small-claim procedures, appeals, extraordinary remedies and execution.

Not published

Criminal Procedure & Investigation

Law Nº 027/2019 as amended by Law Nº 058/2023: arrest and provisional detention, flagrant offences, searches and interception, bail and release conditions, file closure, witness testimony and prescription.

Not published

Courts, Abunzi & Arbitration

Court structure and jurisdiction under Law Nº 30/2018 (Article 47 amended by Law Nº 041/2024), review of judgments vitiated by injustice, Abunzi committees under Law Nº 37/2016, and commercial arbitration and award enforcement under Law Nº 005/2008.

Not published

Substantive Private, Commercial & Criminal Law

Contracts (Law Nº 45/2011), companies (Law Nº 007/2021 as amended by Law Nº 019/2023), land (Law Nº 27/2021), persons and family (Law Nº 71/2024, which repealed Law Nº 27/2016) and general criminal law (Law Nº 68/2018).

Preparing for the Rwanda Bar Entry Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: At least 70%; no more than two attempts in five years
  • Assessment: Written test and, if necessary, an oral test on legal knowledge, organised each October or in another period set by the Council of the Bar, and prepared, supervised and corrected by the Committee on access to the profession (RBA Internal Rules, Articles 82–83). A separate written and oral assessment follows at the end of the internship (Article 97).
  • Time limit: Not published
  • Exam / certification fees: RWF 350,000 non-refundable application and processing fee (2026 call) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Rwanda Bar Entry: Suggested Study Strategy

1Read Law Nº 83/2013 article by article, especially admission and internship (Articles 6–19), incompatibilities (Article 38), rights and duties (Articles 46–57), fees (Articles 61–64) and discipline (Articles 72–80).
2Study the RBA Internal Rules on admission (Articles 79–87), internship (Articles 88–99), conduct and relations with colleagues (Articles 124–157) and escrow accounts (Articles 158–161).
3Learn the key civil procedure time limits in Law Nº 22/2018: opposition within 15 days of learning of a default judgment, appeal within one month, and third-party opposition and review within two months.
4Learn the criminal procedure limits in Law Nº 027/2019: a five-day non-extendable arrest statement, 30-day detention orders, and renewal ceilings of three months for misdemeanours and six months for felonies.
5Check amendments before relying on older notes: Law Nº 058/2023 (criminal procedure), Law Nº 019/2023 (companies), Law Nº 041/2024 (High Court jurisdiction) and Law Nº 71/2024, which replaced Law Nº 27/2016 on matrimonial regimes and successions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for the Rwanda Bar Association admission test?

Article 83 of the RBA Internal Rules requires a mark of at least 70%. Unsuccessful candidates may sit later tests on request, but no candidate may take the test more than twice in five years.

What does the test consist of?

Article 82 of the Internal Rules provides for a written test and, if necessary, an oral test on legal knowledge, prepared, supervised and corrected by the Committee on access to the profession. The RBA does not publish a syllabus, item count, duration or question format.

In what language is the test taken, and are these questions in that format?

The RBA does not publish the assessment language; Rwanda has several official languages, and the Internal Rules are published in Kinyarwanda, English and French. These questions are an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation, not an official translation or a simulation of the written or oral test.

How long is the internship after passing?

Article 16 of Law Nº 83/2013 and Article 88 of the Internal Rules set the internship at one year. If the intern does not fulfil the obligations, the Council of the Bar may extend it by six months; the RBA website's reference to two years reflects older practice.

Who may apply, and what does it cost?

The 2026 call required a law degree recognised by the Higher Education Council, the DLP or an HEC-certified equivalent, ID, a valid criminal record certificate, a signed statement of non-conviction and, for foreign applicants, proof of reciprocity. It charged a non-refundable application and processing fee of RWF 350,000, paid to the RBA's bank account.

Are these questions official RBA past papers?

No. They are independent practice materials written by OpenExamPrep from Law Nº 83/2013, the RBA Internal Rules and Rwandan procedural and substantive laws. They are not endorsed by the Rwanda Bar Association and are not official past papers.