California State Bar Information - Admission Application Requirements and Bar Exam Scope

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

California State Bar Information summarizes admission responsibilities and compliance expectations for students seeking to register for the California Bar and, in many cases, bar examinations in other jurisdictions. It explains how to submit registration and examination applications via the bar admissions website, lists required law-school applications and associated fees, and outlines moral character determination timing. It also describes first-year registration timing, MPRE application access, character and fitness expectations, and the structure and subject scope of the California General Bar Examination.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Admission Application Requirements

Registration as a Law Student and First-Year Student

MPRE and Moral Character Determination

Character and Fitness

Scope of the California Bar Examination

California State Bar Information Revision history: Formerly a part of the annually revised Student Handbook. Established as a standalone policy August 2022. Related policies: [LIST POLICIES]. Scheduled Review Date: June 2024 (Academic Success and Bar Related Programs Office) Students seeking admission to the California Bar (or any state bar) must assume responsibility for complying with all requirements. Compliance with degree and certification requirements will qualify graduates for taking the California Bar Exam and bar exams in most other states, as well as the District of Columbia. Some states, such as New York, have more rigid requirements, especially with respect to limits on clinical and other non-classroom course work. Indiana, for example, prescribes a specific number of semester hours of legal ethics or professional responsibility in order take their bar exam. Students should consult admission rules for states to which they intend to apply and correspond with bar examiners of the appropriate state to ensure knowledge of the state's current requirements. Copies of the California State Bar Rules are available at [http://rules.calbar.ca.gov](http://rules.calbar.ca.gov. Questions)[. Questions](http://rules.calbar.ca.gov. Questions) and selected answers from past bar exams from 2012 on are also available on the state bar website under admissions at [http://www.calbar.ca.gov/](http://www.calbar.ca.gov/). A. California State Bar Application The California State Bar's Office of Admissions provides applicants with information regarding registration as a law student, moral character applications and California Bar Examination applications through their website at [http://www.calbar.ca.gov](http://www.calbar.ca.gov. Applicants)[. Applicants](http://www.calbar.ca.gov. Applicants)[ ](http://www.calbar.ca.gov. Applicants)[must submit their registration and/or examination applications through the bar](must submit their registration and/or examination applications through the bar) admissions section of the website. In order to prepare students for the California General Bar Examination, the following is a list of applications that must be completed during law school. The fees listed are set by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California and, for the MPRE, the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Students are urged to contact the appropriate authorities to ascertain any changes. See [http://rules.calbar.ca.gov](http://rules.calbar.ca.gov and)[ and](http://rules.calbar.ca.gov and) [http://www. ncbex.org/exams/mpre](http://www. ncbex.org/exams/mpre). 1. Registration as a Law Student ($119) 2. Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) ($135) May be taken after completing the Legal Profession course. 3. Application for Determination of Moral Character ($551) After an initial positive moral character determination, application is valid for twenty-four (24) months. A student is encouraged to file an application eight toten months prior to the date the student plans to be admitted to practice law. 4. Application to Take the California Bar Examination ($677) B. Registration as a First-Year Law Student All persons intending to practice law in California must register with the Committee of Bar Examiners within three months after commencing the study of law. Applications maybe accessed through the State Bar’s website at [http://www.calbar.ca.gov](http://www.calbar.ca.gov. Information)[. Information](http://www.calbar.ca.gov. Information)[ ](http://www.calbar.ca.gov. Information)[concerning the requirements of other jurisdictions must be secured by the individual.](concerning the requirements of other jurisdictions must be secured by the individual.) C. Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) Information for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) application may be obtained at [http://www. ncbex.org/exams/mpre](http://www. ncbex.

FAQs

What should students understand before applying for the California Bar or other state bars?

Students must assume responsibility for complying with all applicable requirements, including degree and certification requirements for eligibility to take the California Bar Exam and many other states’ bar exams.

Which applications must be completed during law school, and how are fees referenced?

The document lists required applications to prepare for the California General Bar Examination, including registration as a law student, MPRE, determination of moral character, and application to take the California Bar Examination, with fees set by the Committee of Bar Examiners and relevant bodies.

How is the California Bar Examination structured and what subjects are included?

The exam requires answering questions from multiple subjects and includes the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) as an objective six-hour exam with 200 questions across two three-hour sessions, testing seven subjects such as Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and more.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Asher