PREPARING FOR THE CA STATE BAR
Helpful FREE Book: Professor Bakhshian, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Bar Programs, has also prepared a really great resource called A Guide to the Bar Exam which is available for download on LLS’s Bar Exam Resources course on Brightspace*.
Step 1: Register as a Law Student with the CBE
Students who wish to practice in California must register with the Committee of Bar Examiners. This must be completed before any other forms are filed with the State Bar and it is recommended that students complete this during their first year of law school.
Application available at: https://www.calbarxap.com/applications/calbar/California_Bar_Registration/
Application cost: $119
Step 2: Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
The MPRE is a 2 hour, 60 question multiple choice exam given 3 times a year (March, August, and November) at PearsonVUE test centers. There is no set deadline to take the MPRE although you cannot be admitted to the bar until you have successfully completed the exam.
Students typically take the exam during 2L or 3L year, concurrently with or after taking Ethical Lawyering.
Application available at: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpre/registration/
Application Cost: $160.
Step 3: Moral Character Application
This is a separate evaluation of the student’s moral character. The application requires you to list all prior residences within the past 8 years, all legal jobs you have held since age 18, and any non-legal jobs you have held for more than 6 months since age 18.
Moral Character Applications can take up to 10 months to process. It is best to file this during the fall of 3L and should absolutely be completed by February of your final semester. This is not a pre-requisite to take the bar exam, but is required for admittance to the CA bar. You do not want to have to postpone your swearing in because your moral character application is not complete.
Note: If you have any academic discipline, criminal records to explain, lived outside of the US, or have an out of state driver’s license, you should file no later than August of 3L as it takes longer to acquire the applicable documents.
Application available at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions/moral-character
Application cost: $725.
Step 3.5 – Fingerprinting
Within 90 days of submitting your moral character application, you must submit fingerprints. Live Scan fingerprinting is available at many locations across the state and county. A comprehensive list of where LiveScan services are available in Los Angeles is located here: https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations?county=Los%20Angeles&order=field_livescan_rolling_fee&sort=asc
Varies but cost is typically $30-$80.
Step 4: Register for the CA Bar Exam
Applications typically open on March 1st for the July Bar Exam. Testing locations fill up quickly, so be ready to sign up on the first day the application is available. See the Bar Exam website each year for the schedule. The application must be filed by April of 3L, but signing up earlier will give you a better chance at your preferred testing location.
Application available at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination
Note that when the application goes live, the link to start the form is at the very bottom of the page. Also, have your NCBE number handy (the number you received when you signed up for the MPRE).
Registration Fee: $850 (late fee: $50; late fee if if filed between the last business day of April and the final filing deadline for the July bar exam, and the last business day of November and the final filing deadline for the February bar exam: $250)
Laptop Fee (required for remote exam): $153 (to use your computer; late fee: $15 if filed after regular filing deadline)
Total Fee: $1003 – if paying via credit/debit card, a 2.5% charge is added bringing the total to $1028.08