The State Bar of California
Apply for the Bar Examination

Welcome to the State Bar of California's Application to take the Bar Examination

An important message from the State Bar of California:

The Application for the July 2008 California Bar Examination is Available .

If you have an email spam blocker, please add admissions.la@calbar.ca.gov to your contact or safe list.  When you submit your application, you will receive an email confirmation at this email address.
Applicants who took but did not pass the February 2008 California Bar Examination may start applying for the July 2008 California Bar Examination on May 19, 2008.

 
Important Notices:
You must have a US Social Security number to apply for the California Bar Examination. Please do not use a Tax Identification Number.  Click here for details.

You MUST FIRST REGISTER as a law student or as an attorney applicant with the State Bar of California Office of Admissions.

You must have an approved Registration Application on file within 10 days of submitting your examination application; otherwise, your exam application will be terminated and your fees refunded.

Once an examination application is terminated, if you reapply, any applicable late fees will be charged.

If you are an attorney applicant who has not previously registered, this application may be used to register and apply for the California Bar Examination simultaneously.

You ONLY need to Register ONCE!

Most applicants attending California law schools registered when they first began the study of law. If you have previously taken an examination administered by the State Bar of California Office of Admissions, you are already registered.

If you are a general applicant and have NOT PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED, click the back arrow to go to the Registration Application.

A VISA or MASTERCARD credit card is required to use the online application system. Debit Cards with the VISA or MASTERCARD logo are also accepted.

The Timely Filing Deadline for applicants who did not take the February 2008 California Bar Examination was April 1, 2008.

All applications and fees, including any late fees in effect, must be received in the Office of Admissions no later than The Final Filing Deadline on June 16, 2008.

If you have not yet filed your moral character determination application, your admission to practice law may be delayed if you are successful on the bar examination. 

These applications should be filed at the beginning of your final year of law study, and should be filed no later than six months prior to the release of results, if you want to be admitted shortly after being notified that you passed the examination. 

Processing of moral character determination applications generally takes a minimum of 180 days to complete. 

Application forms are available for download from the Admissions' web pages.


Last updated: 4/10/2008 11:36:00 AM PST



Get Acrobat Reader NOTE: This application consists of one or more additional forms available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and/or print these documents (indicated by the symbol) you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you have problems with Acrobat Reader, click here for Acrobat Reader customer support.

If you have not registered with the Office of Admissions, you must first submit the Registration application.

Instructions for the Application to take the California Bar Examination

  • Examination Date and Time
  • General Bar Examination vs. Attorneys’
         Examination
  • Essay Questions
  • Multistate Bar Examination
  • Performance Test
  • Scope of the California Bar Examination
  • Registration as a Law Student/Attorney
  • Eligibility
  • Foreign Educated Applicants
  • Proof of Admission
  • Proof of Law Study
  • Laptop Computers
  • Deadlines
  • Testing Accommodations
  • Withdrawals/Absences/Ineligibles
  • Withdrawal Refund Policy
  • Fees
    		•
  • Application Abandonment
  • Completion of Application
  • Ineligible Applicants
  • Grading
  • Do Not Grade Policy
  • Admittance Cards
  • Examination Test Center Change
  • Examination Test Center Address List
  • Repeaters
  • Study Aids
  • Examination Attendance Policy
  • Late Arrival to the Test Center
  • Change of Address
  • Release of Results
  • Time Limitation for Eligibility for Certification
  • Rules Regulating Admission to Practice
         Law in California

    • Separate and distinct applications are required for the registration, moral character determination, First-Year Law Students’ Examination, California Bar Examination, and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. Please review the schedule of fees for the various application fees.

    Summary of Requirements for Admission to Practice Law in California

    Please carefully read the summary of requirements for admission to practice law in California before completing the online registration. If you wish to have a copy of the current Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California (Rules), you may request one through the Office of Admissions or you can access the Rules on the Internet by visiting the Admissions portion of the State Bar's website at www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions.

    To be admitted to practice law in California, an applicant must:

    1. Complete the necessary pre-legal education;
    2. File a registration application and be permitted to register as a law student or attorney applicant;
    3. Complete the required legal education;
    4. File an application, establish eligibility, take and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination, or establish exemption from the examination;
    5. File an application, establish eligibility, take and pass the California Bar Examination;
    6. File an application for moral character determination and receive a positive moral character determination from the Committee of Bar Examiners;
    7. File an application, take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, and achieve a scaled score of 86.00 or greater, which examination is administered and graded by the National Conference of Bar Examiners;
    8. Comply with California court-ordered child or family support obligations.

    There is no requirement of citizenship or residency, and there is no reciprocity with other states.

    How To Use The State Bar of California's Application to take the Bar Examination

    To complete the online application, simply type your answers in the corresponding fields or select your answers from the pop-up lists (where applicable).

    After you complete a screen, click the NEXT button at the bottom or on one of the sections listed on the left column to move to a different screen. Before you are allowed to jump screens, we will inspect your data on the current screen for errors or inconsistencies. If errors or omissions are found, you will be returned to the screen to correct your answer(s). Otherwise, your data will be saved and you will proceed to the requested screen. We also allow you to skip to another screen without your new data being saved. Be aware that if you use the Skip & Jump function on the left column, data on the current screen will not be saved and will have to be re-entered prior to submittal.

    Once you have completed the application, click the 'SUBMIT' button located on the left column to submit the application.

    Click here if you have any technical questions or need assistance with this online application.

    Returning users: If you have submitted your application and need to access your confirmation page again, log on with your username and password and access the application manager.


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