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.
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.
The State Bar of California's Committee of Bar Examiners on Friday voted 8-3 to allow bar takers to sit for the exam remotely or in test centers located in other states or countries—provided they take it at the same time as those in California to reduce the risk of cheating.
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.
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.
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.
If your question is not addressed in the above FAQs, please email admissions@calbar.ca or call 213-765-1000 or 415-538-2300. You may also submit a general request in the Applicant Portal.
What states have reciprocity with California? Arizona. Colorado. Delaware. Hawaii. Louisiana. Maine. Maryland. Massachusetts.