Admission to the Bar - Chapter 40 - Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979 - Qualifications Generally

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora

Admission to the bar under Wisconsin Supreme Court rules is governed by SCR Chapter 40, including historical adoption, amendments, numbering clarification, and repeal of a prior exemption rule. SCR 40.01 defines key terms such as the board of bar examiners, clerk, electronic application system, and electronic signature, and establishes an official record of approved law schools. SCR 40.02 sets general qualifications for admission, covering age of majority, legal competence via diploma privilege, bar examination, or proof of practice, character and fitness, required oath or affirmation (including remote options), and subscription to the attorney roll. SCR 40.03 explains diploma privilege competency standards and credit requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

SCR CHAPTER 40

ADMISSION TO THE BAR

Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979

SCR 40.01 Definitions; list of law schools

SCR 40.02 Qualifications generally

COMMENT

SCR 40.03 Legal competence requirement: Diploma privilege

SCR CHAPTER 40 ADMISSION TO THE BAR JUDICIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE'S NOTE, 1979: The following rules govern admissions to the state bar of Wisconsin. SCR 40.02 and 40.03 are sections 757.28 and 757.282 of the 1977 Wisconsin Statutes. SCR 40.01 and 40.04 to 40.14 were originally adopted by the supreme court on June 3, 1940, effective June 3, 1940. They were amended on January 11, 1960; March 8, 1966; December 5, 1968; May 3, 1971, and May 24, 1971. The rules were originally numbered I to XIII and have been clarified and numbered SCR 40.01 and 40.04 to 40.14 for uniformity and convenience. Former rule XII relating to exemption to these rules has been repealed as it was applicable to applicants for admission to the bar by examination who received an acceptable law degree by 1971. SCR 40.15 was derived from section 757.29(1), 1977 stats. SCR 40.16 was derived from several rules pertaining to fees. SCR 40.01 Definitions; list of law schools. (1) In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Board" means the board of bar examiners. (b) "Clerk" means the clerk of the supreme court. (c) "Electronic application system" means a web-based system established by the board of bar examiners through which individuals may electronically file an original or amended application under this chapter. (d) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronically-filed application that can be executed or adopted by the applicant with the intent to sign the application under oath or affirmation. (2) The board shall maintain a record of all law schools which are approved by the American bar association, together with the date of such approval, and those which are not so approved. The record shall constitute an official record of the supreme court and proof of the fact that the law schools therein stated as approved by the American bar association were so approved at the times therein stated. SCR 40.02 Qualifications generally. A person who meets all of the following qualifications shall be admitted to practice law in this state by order of the supreme court: (1) Has attained the age of majority under the law of this state. (2) Satisfies the legal competence requirements by diploma privilege (SCR 40.03), bar examination (SCR 40.04 or SCR 40.055) or proof of practice elsewhere (SCR 40.05) . (3) Satisfies the character and fitness requirements set forth in SCR 40.06. (4) (a) Takes the oath or affirmation prescribed in SCR 40.15 in open court before the supreme court or a justice thereof. (b) For individuals unable to appear at an in-person court ceremony and upon receipt of notification from the Board that an applicant has been certified for admission, a qualified applicant may request to take the oath or affirmation prescribed in SCR 40.15 remotely via audio-visual communications technology before the Wisconsin Supreme Court or a justice thereof. Qualified individuals may also request that they be permitted to take the oath or affirmation prescribed in SCR 40.15 before a member of the highest court of another jurisdiction or a person authorized by that jurisdiction toadminister the attorney's oath for bar admission there or before a judge of the U.S. District Court or Court of Appeals or a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Any such requests shall be sent to the Clerk of the Supreme Court. (5) Subscribes the roll of attorneys maintained by the clerk of the supreme court or has his or her name entered thereon by the clerk. COMMENT Individuals seeking to take the oath or affirmation prescribed in SCR 40.15 remotely, or before a member of the highest court of another jurisdiction or a person authorized by that jurisdiction toadminister the attorney's oath for bar admission there, or before a judge of the U.S. District Court or Court of Appeals or a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court are advised to consult this court's order, In the Petition

FAQs

What governing document and chapter controls Wisconsin admission to the bar?

SCR Chapter 40, titled “Admission to the Bar,” provides the rules governing admission to the state bar of Wisconsin.

What general qualifications must a person meet for admission to practice law in Wisconsin?

The applicant must be of majority age, satisfy legal competence requirements (diploma privilege, bar examination, or proof of practice), meet character and fitness requirements, take the required oath or affirmation, and subscribe to the roll of attorneys maintained by the clerk.

How does remote or alternative oath-taking work for qualified applicants?

Qualified applicants who cannot appear in person may request to take the oath or affirmation remotely via audio-visual communications before the Wisconsin Supreme Court or a justice thereof, and may also request administration before specified officials or courts, with requests sent to the clerk.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora