However, he said, he changed his mind as he considered that lawyers now often relocate, or handle cases involving multiple states or countries. Judge Lippman also noted, in his remarks as prepared for the speech, given on Tuesday in Albany, that “employment prospects for recent graduates are still grim” and that law-school enrollment in New York had dropped 23 percent since 2010. The universal exam allows for better job prospects because it offers more flexibility, he said.

“We recognize it’s a global world and there has to be portability with the law license around the country,” Judge Lippman said in an interview. “We think we would be sticking our heads in the sand if we don’t realize the practice of law doesn’t stop at state lines.”

The New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, approved the change in closed session last week.

In his speech, the chief judge said adopting the uniform exam “is a huge step towards a national, uniform bar exam for the entire country,” which he characterized as “not only desirable but necessary for the mobile, interconnected society in which we live.”

To practice in New York State, new lawyers will have to pass the uniform exam, which includes questions about general principles of law. They will also be required to take an online course on New York State law, showing “hours of videotaped lectures” on the topic, and pass a shorter multiple-choice exam. “We don’t think it’s necessary to test New York law on the bar exam itself anymore,” Judge Lippman said.