Registrar
Quick Tips for the California Bar
All bar forms are available on the California Bar website. http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp
First Year Students
If you intend to practice law in the state of California, you must register with the California State Bar during the first 90 days of the fall semester. Every general applicant for admission to practice law in California shall register with the Committee not later than 90 days after he or she begins the study of law and shall pay the required fee. Every general applicant who registers later than 90 days after beginning the study of law shall pay a late fee in addition to the regular registration fee. Registration required by this Section shall consist of the filing of a form that may inquire into the applicant's age, addresses, general education and legal education. The registration form must be completed under penalty of perjury.
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
In addition to passing the California Bar Examination, applicants for admission to practice law in California must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in accordance with Rule VIII of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California. Applicants may take the examination anytime after completing their first year of study and after registering with the Committee of Bar Examiners (Committee). The required minimum score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination in California is an ungrounded, scaled score of 79.00. A separate application must be filed for the MPRE.
Moral Character Applications
California Bar Moral Character Requirements
Moral character clearance can take up to 8 months to complete. You will be permitted to take the Bar exam without clearance; however, you will not be certified to practice until your clearance has been completed. This could pose undue hardship to you in your job placement. If you have any reason to doubt your ability to be granted clearance, the earlier you apply, the better off you are likely to be. If something negative is reported during clearance, the Committee will try to provide alternatives for clearance rather than deny admission. Few people are barred from taking the Bar exam.
Bar Examination
Bar applications for the February bar are available on line beginning October 1 each year.
Bar applications for the July bar are available on line beginning March 1 each year.
Fingerprinting
Available in Davis at PDQ. No appointment necessary. PDQ carries necessary forms for fingerprinting for Bar applications.
FingerPrinTech is a provider in the Sacramento area.
