General Instructions on How to Apply for Admission by Three Year Provision

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. R. 46 (https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/rule-46) and D.C. App. R. 49 (https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/admin/getpdfformfromadmin.action?queryType=1&id=389)

Proper Application Filing Process

For your application to be properly filed, you must submit the electronic application, any required supplemental documents, application fees, and the District of Columbia authorization and release form. You will receive an acknowledgement email when you complete the steps and file your application online.

1. Create an Account - All applicants must create an account and answer screening questions to determine eligibility to apply. (If you applied on the old system and believe that you should already have an account please follow the instructions on how to claim your account: https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/admin/getpdfformfromadmin.action?queryType=1&id=383)
2. Application - Complete and submit the application online.
3. Filing Fee - Pay the prescribed filing fee, either by credit card, debit card, or e-check. We do not accept any other form of payment.
4. District of Columbia Authorization and Release form - Print the A&R form and sign it in the presence of a notary. 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.
5. Supplemental forms - Upload a copy of your current attorney registration from the jurisdiction’s licensing website. You must also upload a Declaration of Three Years’ Good Standing.
6. 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, 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.

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.

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 Application. You will not pay additional for the Abbreviated Application and you will not receive an email from NCBE.

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 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 @admissions.dcappeals.gov to your e-mail address book.