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Bar Information

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (Statement required by ABA Standard 504)

Planning for the California State Bar

Because each state has its own requirements for admission to its bar, you should investigate the rules for each state in which you think you are likely to seek admission to the bar.  The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) offers a free Comprehensive Gude to Bar Admissions Requirements, but you should also double check with the specific state authorities.

The vast majority of UCI Law students seek admission to the California State Bar.  Below is a brief summary of the key requirements for admission to the California State Bar:

First, the State Bar of California suggests that students who intend to sit for the California Bar Examination register with the Bar during the first year of law school:

  • Registration with the Bar is not the same as the application to take the California Bar Exam (see below for more info on applying to take the bar exam).
  • Students must first register with the Bar before they can apply to be certified as law student practitioners (California Practical Training of Law Students). Most of UCI Law’s clinics require PTLS certification.
  • The State Bar also requires registration before students file their Application for Determination of Moral Character.
  • The State Bar charges a registration fee. Double check the current California State Bar Admissions fee schedule here.
  • Once you register as a student, make sure you make a note of your registration number: you will use it on all subsequent applications and correspondence with the State Bar.
  • Registration Information for F-1 Visa Holders: Students with an F-1 Visa should carefully read the State Bar’s Foreign Education applicants page.  Students who do not have and who cannot obtain a Social Security number (SSN) must file a request for an exemption to submit an SSN.  To qualify for an exemption, applicants must state the reason they are unable to qualify for a Social Security number, provide an alternate identification number and attest to not being in arrears with any court-ordered child or family support obligations.  Applicants may request exemptions from the SSN requirement by completing and submitting the “Request for Social Security Number Exemption Required for Admission to Practice Law in California” form and the General Applicant/Attorney Applicant registration form.  Both forms must be submitted at the same time; otherwise, the process will be delayed.  Please contact the State Bar Office of Admissions at (213) 765-1500 to request a Social Security number exemption packet.

Other key requirements for licensure with the California State Bar include:

  • Passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), which is a 2-hour, 60-multiple-choice question exam on the rules of professional responsibility, offered three times a year typically in March, August, and October/November (students are advised to take this exam ideally during their 1L or 2L summer);
  • Passing a Moral Character Determination, which is a thorough, detailed background check requiring fingerprinting (students are advised to submit their application by no later than February of their 3L year, or earlier in 3L Fall if they have a complicated case); and
  • Passing the California Bar Exam, which is 2-day exam taken after graduation in July or February (applications typically open on March 1 or October 1, respectively).

If you are a student in need of testing accommodations for the California Bar Exam, plan to apply for accommodations well in advance of the examination date (ideally at the beginning of your third year).  Applications for testing accommodations for the MPRE are recommended by no later than four months before a given exam date.  Here are a few resources to help you prepare your applications for testing accommodations:

For more information on bar licensure requirement, visit your class’s ASP Canvas page.

Assistance with Bar Prep

  • If you have any questions relating to registering for bar licensure, applying for moral character determination, or applying for test accommodations, please contact Assistant Dean of Student Services, Kyle Jones, at kjones@law.uci.edu.
     
  • If you have any questions relating to financial assistance for bar licensure-related costs, please contact Director of Student Financial Services, Nasreen Zia, at nzia@law.uci.edu.
     
  • For help with substantive preparation or studying for the MPRE or bar exam, please contact your Academic Skills Program (ASP) professors at asp@law.uci.edu.

Character & Fitness