Before they are allowed to practice law, lawyers must become members of their state's bar association. This rule applies no matter whether they want to practice personal injury law, intellectual property law, or even entertainment law. In order to become a member of the bar, applicants must pass a comprehensive exam.
The State Bar of California is a public corporation. Every person admitted and licensed to practice law in this State is and shall be a member of the State Bar except while holding office as a judge of a court of record.
Office address and telephone, or, if none, other address or telephone for State Bar purposes. If you do not have an office address at this time, please enter an address that you agree will be public. P.O. Box addresses are acceptable.
California is one of the few states that allows aspiring lawyers to take the bar exam without going to law school. They can do this by instead completing a four-year law office study program to become a legal professional. However, this path is not an easy alternative to skipping law school that many may think it is.
Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.
California Bar Examination All other attorney applicants must take the general bar exam. Please note that the State Bar does not offer reciprocity or accept bar exam scores from another jurisdiction.
All applicants for admission to practice law in California must receive a passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination and pass the California Bar Examination.
In California, qualified applicants can take the bar exam without going to law school. Most law schools require a college degree, but some may only ask for equivalent course work, and some law schools focus on your legal interest and life experiences and not on your grades or LSAT scores.
The next California bar exam is scheduled for February 25–26, 2025. The bar exam application is now available in the Applicant Portal. The State Bar will administer this exam remotely and in person. Applicants will be asked to select their preferred method for taking this exam, between remote and in person.