California
Admission Process
- Admitting Entity
- California Supreme Court
- Entity Managing Admissions Process
- Phone Number
- (Main Office): 415-538-2000 (LA Office): 213-765-1000
- Email Address
- Admission by Exam
- Yes
- Admission by Score Transfer
- No
- Admission by Motion
- No
- Diploma Privilege
No
Education Requirements
- Application Materials
- Prelegal Education Requirements
Yes; must complete at least 2 years of college or demonstrate equivalent intellectual achievement, including by scoring 50 or higher on the College-Level Examination Program exams
- Legal Education Requirements
Applicant must have either attend a three or four year program at a law school accredited by the ABA; four years of study at a State Bar registered, fixed-facility school; four years of study with a minimum of 864 hours of preparation at a registered unaccredited distance-learning or correspondence law school; four years of study under the supervision of a state judge or attorney; or a combination of these programs.
- Mandatory Law Student Bar Card Registration in Jurisdiction
- Yes, within 90 days of beginning the study of law.
- Mandatory Student Registration Requirements (if applicable)
Must register with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State of California and submit the moral character application.
- Mandatory Student Registration Fee (if applicable)
- $119 (not including late fees)
Bar Exam
- Universal Bar Exam
- No
- Jurisdiction-Specific Component
- N/A
- Multistate Bar Exam
- No
- Multistate Essay Exam
- No
- Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
- Yes
- Multistate Performance Test
- No
- Attempt Limit on Bar Exam
- No limit
- Minimum Passing Bar Exam Score
- 1390
- Fee(s)
$677 for first time applicants
- Laptops Allowed/Required
- Allowed for an additional fee.
- Laptop Fee
- $153
- Courtesy Seating Availability
- No.
Transfer Score
- Transferred Scores Accepted
- Potentially, depending on the state and score. Applicants can contact NCBE.
- UBE Score Required for Transfer
- Unclear depending on state.
- Score Transfer Time Limit
- Unclear.
- Score Transfer Fee
- Unclear.
Mpre
- Passing MPRE Score Required
- Yes
- Minimum Passing MPRE Score
- 86
- Time Limit on MPRE Score
- No.
- MPRE Fee
- $135
- MPRE Application Name and Gender Identification Requirements
The MPRE application requires the first and last name to match exactly as listed on valid government-issued photo identification. If the applicant indicates they have been known by a different name, they must list the first name and last name or surname and does not have the option to explain the reason for the name change. The demographic information section asks, “[w]which of the following questions best represents your gender identity?” and provides the following options: “man,” “woman,” “non-binary,” “gender not listed here (please specify),” and “I prefer not to have my response used for research purposes.”
- MPRE Testing Day Procedures
An applicant testing at a Pearson VUE testing center must present a government-issued primary ID and a secondary ID. The primary ID must include a first and last name, recent recognizable photo, and signature. The secondary ID must include at least a first and last name and signature or first and last name and recent recognizable photo. The first and last name used to register must match exactly both IDs presented on test day. Any name corrections must be submitted through the NCBE Account Dashboard at least 48 hours before the first day of the test administration. Before entering the test room, Pearson VUE will collect a digital photograph and digital signature to verify identity. The applicant must consent to the NCBE Candidate Rules Agreement, which in part requires that if the applicant uses the restroom during testing, they must use “the restroom that is closest to the testing room” and pat themselves down (arms, legs, waistline) when leaving and re-entering the testing room. Applicants must also pat themselves down before entering the test room for the first time.
Testing Day Procedures
- Bar Exam Testing Day Procedures
Yes.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Restroom Rules
Applicants testing in-person are allowed to use the restroom and to stand and stretch during the exam but the clock will continue to run.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Security Measures
Testing is done at various centers with various security measures, including presenting a government-issued ID, visual inspection of items, and potential fingerprinting.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Identification Documents
Original, valid, government-issued photo and signature bearing identification, your admittance ticket, and a badge will be provided for identification during the exam.
- Bar Exam Testing Day Seating Assignment
Applicants are seated at a table shared with other applicants (2 people per six-foot table). Seats are organized by admission ticket number.