Moral Character Determination

To be admitted to practice law in California, applicants must fulfill a number of requirements. One such requirement is to apply for and obtain a positive Moral Character Determination, following a State Bar investigation.

Because the normal investigation process can take from 6-9 months, students at the Colleges are urged to file an application after completing Third Year coursework, or earlier if their past conduct may raise concerns for investigators. Students who wait longer to file may encounter a delay in being sworn in as members of the State Bar, despite having passed the Bar Examination.

The application is found on the State Bar website: www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions.