Sitting for the Bar | Emory University School of Law | Atlanta, GA

Bar Exam Information

This page is intended to serve as a guide for students interested in sitting for a state’s bar exam. All jurisdictions require a license to practice law, normally by taking a bar examination or otherwise qualifying for bar admission. Since bar admission varies by state, it is the student’s responsibility to review and understand the requirements for the specific state in which they intend to practice. Students should note specific forms, delivery methods and deadlines as exceptions are not permissible.

There are Generally 5 Steps to Getting Licensed:

• Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam
• Bar Exam Application & Fee
• Character & Fitness Test
• Study, Take & Pass the Bar Exam itself
• Get Sworn in Before the Court!

American Bar Association Character and Fitness Statement

All applicants must complete an Emory University School of Law application through the Law School Admission Council. Answer each question honestly and completely. Failure to do so may result in the denial or revocation of your admission, suspension or dismissal after matriculation, withdrawal of certification of graduation, or revocation of your degree.

• If you have been convicted of offenses other than minor traffic violations or if you withhold required information on this application, you may have difficulty gaining Bar admission. State bar organizations often require that you include your law school application as part of your Bar admission application. Accordingly, your answers in your Emory Law application relating to these matters often will be part of your record. As each state bar has specific admission requirements, you should review the requirements for the state in which you intend to practice.
• Excluding minor traffic offenses, you must disclose each instance prior to or after your matriculation at Emory Law if admitted even though the charges may have been dismissed or you were acquitted or allowed to plead nolo contendere or an adjudication was withheld or a conviction was reversed, set aside or vacated, or the record sealed or expunged, and regardless of whether you have been told you need not disclose any such instance.
• We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission even after enrollment if any requested information is incomplete or inaccurate.

Did you know . . .

Before you are admitted to any state’s bar and get your license to practice law, you must be approved by the bar’s committee on character and fitness. In many states, like Georgia, you must be approved before you can take the bar exam.

• You will be required to answer questions relating to your honesty, fiscal responsibility, compliance with court orders, record of criminal activity, mental and emotional stability, and any misuse of alcohol and controlled substances, including prescription medications.
• Examples of conduct the bar may view as grounds to deny certification:
  • non-compliance with court orders, including orders of child support and summonses to appear in court or serve on a jury
  • commission of a felony, including the misuse or wrongful distribution of prescription medications as well as street drugs
  • failure to repay student loans or other debts
  • a pattern of traffic tickets or DUI arrests
  • any theft or fraud, e.g. shoplifting or credit card misuse
  • academic plagiarism or misconduct
  • series of misdemeanor arrests
  • statements disparaging or threatening the rights or safety of others or showing disrespect for the law or courts
  • failure to acknowledge and get treatment for addiction or substance abuse
  • discrepancies between the disclosures made to the bar and other documents or records (i.e., lack of candor)
• The burden of proof is on the applicant, who must establish and document his or her current good character and fitness to practice law.
• The most common reason for denial of a bar applicant in Georgia is “A pattern of dishonesty in dealings with employers, schools, and authorities, including the Office of Bar Admissions.”
• The bar committee will scrutinize documents that usually include your law school application; your work history; your credit reports; your driving record; the disposition of any kind of civil lawsuit involving you; any criminal record, including juvenile and expunged records.
• In Georgia, any applicant who has been convicted of a DUI charge or its equivalent is ineligible to be certified by the character and fitness committee for at least twelve (12) months after the date of conviction.

Academic Success’ Bar Readiness Resources

Emory Law’s Office of Academic Engagement & Student Success provides resources throughout the year to students preparing to a state’s bar exam. Their page contains several helpful resources and a suggested time for preparing for the Bar, for more information please visit their Bar Readiness Page at http://law.emory.edu/academics/academic-engagement/bar-readiness.html.

 State Bar Exam Links

 

• National Conference of Bar Examiners (“NCBE”) link
  • ncbex.org

• Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”) link
  • http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpre/

 

Bar Forms

If the bar to which you are applying requires that the Law School complete a form, please bring the form into the Registrar’s Office or send the form to the following address:

Office of the Registrar
Emory University School of Law
1301 Clifton Road NE
Suite G144
Atlanta, GA 30322

If the bar also requires that we submit a copy of your law school application or other pertinent information, please request this at the time of the submission of your bar form.

There is no fee for the completion of bar forms and supporting documents. However, if the bar requires an official copy of your transcript, you will need to contact the University Registrar (registr@emory.edu) or order via OPUS. There is no fee for transcripts, but to ensure you can track the delivery of your transcript or ensure it arrives by a specific time, you should request the $20 express shipping option. Please note that requesting your transcript be sent via regular mail it can take between 3-4 weeks for delivery, so plan accordingly.

If you have any other questions about the bar, please contact us directly at lawregistrar@emory.edu