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How to Apply for Admission by Examination for the
February 2023 Uniform Bar Exam
Rules Regulating Admission to the Bar in the District of Columbia
You are responsible to read and understand the rules governing admission and unauthorized practice of law: D.C. App. Rule 46 and DCCA Rule 49.
Applicants with law degrees from Non-ABA Approved Law Schools
If you did not obtain a JD or LLB from an ABA approved law school, please also read Guidance Regarding 26 ABA Credit hour Requirement for Graduates of non-ABA Approved Law Schools. Pursuant to Rule 46(c)(4), the Committee on Admissions will audit credits from an ABA approved law school transcript to determine if “all such 26 credit hours [have been] earned in courses of study, each of which is substantially concentrated on a single subject tested on the Uniform Bar Examination.”
DC requires that LLB or non-ABA approved JD transcripts demonstrate that applicants’ completed a degree that is substantially equivalent to a Juris Doctor degree that would be awarded by a law school approved by the ABA. Please note: this requirement may differ from the non-ABA approved LLB and JD degree requirements. Please review the announcements and linked documents for additional information.
COVID 19 Protocols
The DCCA is closely monitoring health and safety mandates, and recommendations issued by federal and local authorities concerning COVID 19. DCCA recognizes that conditions and protocols may change between now and the time of the exam and will make appropriate modifications to exam procedures as required and recommended. At this time, based on the status of the COVID 19 pandemic, applicants will be required to wear a mask, fully covering their mouth and nose during the exam. The final COVID-19 safety and health procedures will be announced closer to the exam
Proper Application Filing Process
For your application to be properly filed for the bar exam, you must complete these items (details follow):
ü electronic application
ü any required supplemental documents
ü the District of Columbia authorization and release form
ü your accommodation request, if you wish to apply for accommodations
ü your photo
ü application fee of $232.00
- Create an Account – You must first create an account and complete screening questions to determine your eligibility for the exam.
- Electronic Application - Complete and submit the application online. If you completed the character and fitness questionnaire on the NCBE website within the past four years for a prior application to the District of Columbia, you will complete the abbreviated Re-Application.
- Filing Fee - After completing all steps you will be prompted to pay the filing fee, either by credit card, debit card, or e-check. We do not accept any other form of payment.
- District of Columbia Authorization and Release form - Print the A&R form and sign it in the presence of a notary (Forms notarized on-line are acceptable). Scan and save the notarized A&R as a PDF document. The properly signed and notarized A&R PDF must be uploaded to your account by the published deadline. (If you previously applied for an exam in D.C. and your background investigation was completed, you may re-upload the same form.)
- Supplemental forms - All bar exam applicants with a JD from an ABA Approved law school must upload a Declaration of Graduation/Anticipated Graduation Form. If you have previously applied, you may re-upload the form you used for the prior exam.
All bar exam applicants who do not have a JD from an ABA approved law school must upload the following:
- Declaration of Graduation From a Non-ABA approved law school
- Declaration of Completion/Anticipated Completion of 26 Credit Hours at an ABA Approved Law School
- Copy of Diploma from non-ABA approved Law School
- Copy of Official Transcripts from non- ABA approved law school
- Copy of Official Transcripts from ABA approved law school
- Copy of course descriptions from ABA approved law school
- Additional Documentation – The documents that applicants need from third parties or other sources will be determined by your responses to specific questions. Applicants who reply “yes” to questions regarding the following will need to provide additional documentation: arrests, civil litigation, academic disciplinary action, unauthorized practice of law, law school discipline, college/university discipline, military service, alcohol or drug related traffic violation and tax debt. Note: The analyst performing the background investigation may ask for other information after your application is submitted.
- Uploaded Photo - A photo is required for all exam applications. Note - photos must meet certain requirements. A selfie can usually meet these requirements. See list of requirements (https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/faq.action#281). A new photo is required each time you apply for a bar exam.
Background Investigation
Within 7-10 business days after filing your application with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, you will receive an email from the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) with instructions on how to submit payment for the background investigation. Note that although your filed application is sufficient for applying to sit for the bar exam, the background investigation is required for your character and fitness review. If you re re-applying and have completed a character and fitness application questionnaire for the District of Columbia within the past four years you will complete the character and fitness questions on the Re-Application
If you are a first time applicant to the District of Columbia who has already completed and made payment for a character and fitness questionnaire through the NCBE website for a District of Columbia application, you will also complete the Abbreviated Re- Application. You will not pay additional for the Re-Application and you will not receive an email from NCBE.
Accommodations
Applicants wishing to apply for accommodations can submit accommodations requests beginning on October 21, 2022 through November 30, 2022, by sending the request form and supporting medical documentation to dcaccommodations@dcappeals.gov. All applicants, including applicants who have previously been granted accommodations for a D.C. bar exam must submit a request form with supporting documentation. There will be no exceptions to the November 30, 2022 deadline. The request form and supporting medical documentation must also be uploaded to the application portal when it opens.
The Accommodations Request Form can be accessed through the following link:
https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/getpdfform.action?id=204
Guidelines for documentation in support of accommodations can be accessed through the following link: https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/getpdfform.action?id=801
Applicants who breastfeeding and wish to apply for a courtesy accommodation can do so by submitting a letter with medical documentation as proof that they are nursing.
Emergency Accommodations may be granted where an applicant experiences circumstances that create a need for accommodations after the deadline. For Emergency Accommodations send an email with details and supporting documentation to Director Shanks at: sshanks@dcappeals.gov.
MPRE Score Report – A minimum score of 75 on the MPRE is required for admission. You must request that your MPRE Score be reported to the District of Columbia. An MPRE Score is NOT required to sit for the exam. The MPRE Declaration Form can be found here.
Laptop Registration
Applicants must pay the software licensing fee of $150 and register their laptops directly with the software vendor, ILG360 The registration period will be January 19th to January 30th.
Electronic Communications
All information and announcements are posted on our website at https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/home. You are expected to regularly visit the Committee on Admissions (“COA”) web site to review the announcements and information posted there. COA corresponds with applicants primarily via e-mail. You should use an e-mail address that you can access even after graduation from law school. You are required to maintain a current e-mail address and mailing address on your personal COA Registration Account, and to regularly read all mail from this office, whether sent electronically or by postal service. It is your responsibility to ensure that e-mails from COA are not filtered as spam and to add @dccourts.gov and @dcappeals.gov to your e-mail address book.