Rule VI(A) Board of Bar Examiners.

Rule VI(A).

Board of Bar Examiners

A. Creation of Board. In accordance with the provisions of Act No. 436 of the Legislature of Alabama of 1949, approved August 23, 1949 (§ 34-3-2, Code of Alabama 1975), there is hereby created a Board of Examiners on Admission to the Alabama State Bar, which Board shall be designated and known as the Board of Bar Examiners.

B. Composition of Board. Unless a different number is set by the Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar, the Board of Bar Examiners shall consist of no more than 25 members who are residents of the State of Alabama and who are licensed attorneys of the Bar of this State, provided that no attorney shall be permitted to serve concurrently as a member of the Board of Commissioners and as a member of the Board of Bar Examiners. One examiner shall be designated by the Board of Commissioners as chair of the Board of Bar Examiners. The members of the Board of Bar Examiners shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners and may be removed from office with or without cause by a majority vote of those present at any meeting of the Board of Commissioners where a quorum is present. However, no member of the Board of Bar Examiners may serve more than four consecutive years without the prior approval of the Board of Commissioners.

C. Vacancies. Any vacancy on the Board of Bar Examiners shall be filled by the Board of Commissioners. Interim appointments for no more than one exam may be made by the chair with the approval of the executive committee of the Board of Commissioners.

D. Reimbursement of Expenses of Members. Each member of the Board of Bar Examiners and the committees thereof shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary traveling and other expenses incident to the discharge of their duties. The members of the Board of Bar Examiners shall submit statements for expenses on forms provided by the Secretary.

E. Organization and Authority of Board. The chair shall supervise and direct the activities of the Board of Bar Examiners in accordance with such rules as are promulgated for the Board of Bar Examiners. The Secretary of the Board of Commissioners, or his or her designee, shall serve as secretary ex-officio. The Board of Commissioners shall assign the members of the Board of Bar Examiners to either the Governance Committee or the Grading Committee. When a quorum is present, a vote of the majority of those present at any meeting of the Board of Bar Examiners Governance Committee shall constitute the action of the Board.

The Board of Bar Examiners Governance Committee shall direct the examination of applicants for admission to the Bar of Alabama as may be certified to the Board under these Rules and perform such other duties as may be required of it by the Board of Commissioners. Each member of the Board of Bar Examiners Grading Committee shall receive such compensation as the Board of Commissioners shall from time to time establish.

The Board of Bar Examiners Governance Committee shall direct the Committee on Character and Fitness for the purposes set forth in Rule V and shall appoint and direct the Online Curriculum Committee for the purposes set forth in Rule VI(B).

F. Time and Place of Meeting. The Board of Bar Examiners Governance Committee shall direct the administration of an examination for admission to the Bar at least twice each year as provided in Rule VI(B)F. The Board of Bar Examiners Governance Committee shall hold other meetings as necessary to fulfill its function. The Board of Bar Examiners Governance Committee shall meet at the call of the chair or a majority of the Board of Bar Examiners.

[Adopted 5-08-2001; Amended eff. 1-11-2013; Adopted 2-21-2020, eff. 10-1-2020; Amended eff. 7-1-2025.]

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule VI and adopting Rule VI(A) and Rule VI(B), effective May 8, 2001, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from 785 So.2d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending the Rules Governing Admission to the Alabama State Bar is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from 104 So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule II.B, Rule IV.C, Rule V.B, Rule VI(A), and Rule VI(B)A(3), effective October 1, 2020, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from __ So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule VI(A), Rules Governing Admission to the Alabama State Bar, effective July 1, 2025, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from __ So. 3d.