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Bar Examinations and Requirements
Requirements
Every state requires an individual be licensed in order to practice law. Each state has different requirements for licensure; almost all require an applicant to pass a general examination for competence, pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, and establish his or her moral character and fitness for practice.
Students planning to practice in states other than California should consult the individual admissions requirements of those states. A list of state admissions offices is available at www.ncbex.org/bar-admissions/offices or most individual state Web sites can be located by searching the Internet for “Bar Exam [state name]”.
The following information applies to those intending to practice law in California. Students should review the summary and detailed requirements for California Bar admissions at www.calbar.ca.gov under “Bar Exam.”
During the first year
All law students who plan to take the California Bar exam must register with the Committee of Bar Examiners within 90 days of beginning law study. Students who fail to register will not be allowed to sit for the bar exam. Registration forms are available on the State Bar of California Web site.
During the second year
Students transferring to SCU from a law school outside of California must register as law students with the Committee of Bar Examiners within 90 days after beginning law study. Registration forms are available on the State Bar of California Web site.
During the third year
Students should submit their applications for the moral character review early in the year. Applications for the moral character investigation process are available on the State Bar of California Web site. The moral character investigation is a separate process from the bar examination (separate forms, fees, and deadlines). Students should file the application by January of their final year of law school, ideally, in the fall semester to allow time for follow up, if any is required.
Exams
Students must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) to be admitted to most state bars, including California. The MPRE is given every March, August, and November, with long lead times for timely registration. We recommend planning to take this exam after completion of the Legal Profession course in their second or third year. Applications are available from the National Conference of Bar Examiners at www.ncbex.org.
Students should also apply to take the state bar exam. The California Bar Exam is administered over a three-day period the last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of February and July. Applications are due approximately four months before each test date, and are available on the State Bar of California Web site. Students may not take the bar exam until they have graduated from the School of Law. Any student who, before satisfactorily completing all requirements for the J.D. degree, takes any bar examination will not be permitted to graduate.
For More Information
Questions concerning admission to the California Bar not answered on the State Bar of California Web site, www.calbar.ca.gov, should be directed to the Committee of Bar Examiners at 415-538-2300.
The law school’s Academic & Professional Development Department (APD) and the Heafey Law Library have many resources and practice tests for bar preparation. APD maintains current lists of contacts for commercial bar preparation courses and private tutors, contract information for companies’ campus representatives, sample preparation materials, and a TWEN site for announcements and discussion about bar preparation. The Assistant Dean of APD also advises on resources and counsels repeat takers. Finally, APD sponsors informational programs throughout the final year of study, including a multi-week series on bar preparation for law students in their final spring semester. DVD’s of past programs are available for check out from library circulation.
