If you are fully admitted to the practice of law (without any restrictions) in a country outside of the U.S., you may be eligible to take the California bar exam without additional legal education.
To get started with the Office of Admissions, you must:
- Create an account in the Applicant Portal
- Submit the Registration Application and fee
- Mail an original Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) to the Office of Admissions
The CGS is required to establish your eligibility and approve your registration as an attorney applicant with the Office of Admissions. It must be dated within the last 6 months and accompanied by an English translation by a certified translator if the CGS is in a foreign language. The CGS must have an original ink signature or an official stamp/seal, include the date you were admitted (month, day, year), the date the certification was issued, your license number, and indicate that you are currently in good standing.
Below is a sample of an acceptable CGS:
The CGS must be mailed to the following address:
State Bar of California
ATTN: Office of Admissions
845 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
You don't need to submit any other documents to establish your eligibility to take the California bar exam as an attorney applicant. There's no need to provide your foreign credentials or complete any additional U.S. law study.
Please remember to submit your California Bar Exam Application through the Applicant Portal for the specific exam you plan to take.