Rule 2 Admission by Examination

(A) An application must be filed by November 1 for the February examination, or March 1 for the July examination. Late applications will be accepted until December 1 for the February examination, or May 1 for the July examination. An application must be accompanied by payment of the fee. All materials filed are confidential.

(B) Before taking the examination, an applicant must obtain a JD degree from a reputable and qualified law school that

(1) is incorporated in the United States, its territories, or the District of Columbia; and

(2) requires for graduation 3 school years of study for full-time students, and 4 school years of study for part-time or night students. A school year must be at least 30 weeks.

A law school approved by the American Bar Association is reputable and qualified. Other schools may ask the Board to approve the school as reputable and qualified. In the event the law school has ceased operations since an applicant’s graduation, the request for approval may be made by the applicant. The Board may in its discretion permit applicants who do not possess a JD degree from an ABA-approved law school to take the examination based upon factors including, but not limited to, relevant legal education, such as an LLM degree from a reputable and qualified law school, and experience that otherwise qualifies the applicant to take the examination.

(C) The State Bar character and fitness committee will investigate each applicant. The applicant must disclose any criminal conviction which carries a possible penalty of incarceration in jail or prison that has not been reversed or vacated and comply with the committee’s requirements and requests. The committee will report the results of its investigation to the Board. If the committee report shows that an applicant lacks the necessary character and fitness, the Board will review the application, record, and report. If the Board accepts the report, the applicant is entitled to a hearing before the Board and may use the Board’s subpoena power. The Board may permit an applicant to take the examination before the character and fitness committee reports. The Board will release the applicant’s grade if character and fitness committee approval is obtained.

(D) Every applicant for admission must achieve a passing score, as determined by the board, on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) prepared and administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

(E) The Board may permit an applicant entering the armed forces before the examination immediately following graduation to take an earlier examination. The applicant must have completed, before the examination, 2½ years full-time or 3½ years part-time study. The Board will release the applicant’s grade when the school certifies the applicant’s graduation.

(F) The applicant is responsible for meeting all requirements before the examination. The Board may act on information about an applicant’s character whenever the information is received.