The State Bar of California
Established by the state legislature in 1927, the State Bar of California is a public corporation within the judicial branch of government, operating as an extension of the California Supreme Court. All members of the State Bar are officers of the court. Membership in the State Bar of California grants attorneys the right and privilege to practice law in the state.
Student Registration
Law school students must register as students with the State Bar of California. The registration form must be completed accurately under penalty of perjury.
Potential students with any questions may contact the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California at:
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 (Main Office)
415-538-2000 (Main Office)
845 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515 (Branch Office)
213-765-1000 (Branch Office)
The California Bar Exam
Rules of the State Bar of California
Students who plan to sit for the California Bar Examination must comply with a complex set of rules established by the Committee of Bar Examiners. A Summary of the Requirements for Admission to Practice Law in California may be found HERE. In addition to the academic requirements established by Taft Law School, students must successfully complete the First Year Law Students’ Examination (“Baby Bar”) after their first year of study. This exam, given by the Committee of Bar Examiners each year in June and October, covers the first year subjects of Contracts/UCC, Criminal Law, and Torts. Normally, testing sites are located in both Northern and Southern California. The examination cannot be taken at any other location.
As a result of Taft Law School’s compliance with specific rules established by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California (CBE) and the California Supreme Court, graduates of the Juris Doctor-Attorney Track Program (hereinafter the JDAT℠ Program) become eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination.
Admission to Practice in a State Other Than California
Most states require graduation from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or approved or accredited by that state’s Supreme Court or examining committee as a prerequisite to taking the bar examination in that state. The School has not previously sought approval from the American Bar Association and has no plans to seek such approval in the future.
California is the only state which will accept graduation from a distance education law school as the qualifying standard for admission to their bar examination. However, some states will permit graduates from non-ABA schools to sit for their bar examination after a California attorney has practiced for a period of time (generally five years). Applicants who intend to seek admission in a state other than California should consult the admitting authority in that state to determine if study at this school will be accepted.
For admittance requirements for states outside of California, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBEX) provides a quick reference guide of other state bars. You can find this information under “Jurisdiction Information” on their website at www.ncbex.org. We do however recommend verifying the listed policies listed there with the state you are interested in practicing in to ensure the information is up to date.
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