All Announcements
Concurrent Application by Transferred UBE Score
Individuals who are sitting for the July 2025 Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) in any UBE jurisdiction may make a concurrent application to the District of Columbia from April 1 to April 30, 2025. In addition to earning a minimum score of 266 on the UBE, applicants must also attain a minimum score of 75 on the MPRE to be reviewed for certification. Individuals who do not earn a qualifying UBE score (for any reason) on the July 2025 exam must reapply. A concurrent application is not refundable or transferable. Complete instructions will be posted on this website on March 12, 2025. The general requirements for a UBE Score transfer application may be found here.
Registration Opens March 1st at 9:00am Eastern Time
The July 2025 Bar Exam Registration period opens at 9:00 am Eastern Time on March 1st. You may find the powerpoint presentation from the webinar information session on the exam helpful, however please read the application instructions carefully.
July 2025 Bar Exam Application Instructions
The application for the July 2025 Uniform Bar Exam will open on March 1, 2025. Instructions may be found here.
Updated July 2025 Bar Exam Announcement
Registration for the July 2025 bar exam will open on March 1, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and close on March 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless seating capacity is filled sooner. Seating capacity has increased to 2550 seats. Seats will be filled on a first-come, first served basis. There is no late registration period. Seats will be set aside for individuals who do not pass the February 2025 exam.
The venues for the standard administration of the exam are: The D.C. Armory (2001 East Capitol St., SE), Andrew Mellon Auditorium (1301 Constitution Ave., NW) and the National Building Museum (401 F St., NW). The venues for the non-standard administration of the exam are: The Historic Courthouse (430 E St., NW) and George Washington University Law School (2000 H St., NW). All venues are located within the District of Columbia. Please do not call the office to request a specific location. Seating is randomly assigned for standard venues and based on accommodations granted for the non-standard testing venues.
Complete details on how to register for the exam will be posted on this website by 5:00pm Eastern Time, today, February 12, 2025. As a reminder, the application will not open until March 1, 2025.
D.C. Court of Appeals' Adoption of the NextGen Bar Exam
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals Committee on Admissions announces that, effective February 2028, the NextGen Bar Exam will replace the Uniform Bar Exam. For more information on the NextGen Bar exam please see the National Conference of Bar Examiners' website.
How to Withdraw from the February Bar Exam
Applicants who have registered for the February Bar exam and who have decided not to sit may withdraw by logging into their accounts and using the "Create Message" button to send notice of their withdrawal. Exam fees are not refundable nor transferable.
Virtual Swearing-In Ceremonies Streaming Live - January 22, 2025
If you wish to view the virtual Swearing -In Ceremonies being held on January 22, 2025, please select a link below:
10:00 A.M. Bar Swearing-In Ceremony YouTube Link: here
12 P.M. (noon) Bar Swearing-In Ceremony YouTube Link: here
2:30 P.M. Bar Swearing-In Ceremony YouTube Link: here
Congratulations to the newly admitted members of the DC Bar!!
July 2025 Bar Exam - Webinar
The Committee on Admissions will host an information webinar on the July 2025 Bar Exam Application Process on February 8, 2025 at 3:00 pm EST. If you wish to participate, you may register at this link. (Please check your spam for your confirmation email after registering.)
January 2025 Swearing -in Ceremony
Congratulations on your admission to the DC Bar!
Please follow the instructions below to attend one of the Virtual Swearing-In Ceremonies scheduled for January 22, 2025.
All applicants certified for admission to the DC Bar-- successful bar exam applicants, applicants on motion, and applicants via transferred UBE score, are welcome to attend.
The Virtual Swearing-In Ceremonies will take place January 22, 2025, at 10 am, 12 pm (noon), and 2:30 pm EST. Registration will close at 11:59 pm EST on January 20, 2025.
Certifications for admission will continue through 5:00pm EST on January 17, 2025.
Once you have registered, please do NOT contact our office. You will not receive a confirmation email. A Zoom event link will be sent out to attendees 24 hours in advance of the ceremony. Please do NOT share the link with anyone else.
The event will stream live on YouTube. An announcement with the YouTube link will be posted on the COA website no later than January 21, 2025 by 5:00pm EST. Please share the YouTube link with family and friends.
Registration is Closed.
Office Closed
The Office of the Committee on Admissions is closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in recognition of the National Day of Mourning for President Jimmy Carter.
July Bar Exam Passers
The projected date to complete certifications for all eligible applicants from the July 2024 bar exam is December 11th. We ask that you refrain from calling the office for a status update until December 12th.
February Bar Exam
The application for the February 2025 bar exam is closed. There is no late registration period.
Congratulations to the Successful Applicants from the July 2024 Bar Exam!
The names of the successful applicants from the July 2024 Bar Exam are posted. Congratulations!
February 2025 Bar Exam
Information on How to Apply for the February 2025 Bar Exam is now available. Registrations opens November 1st and closes November 21st at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. You must make payment before 5:00 PM ET to allow for the payment to process.
Changes to Application Fees
Information regarding changes to the application fees effective April 1, 2024 may be found here. Originally posted on December 22, 2023.
Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice
As of January 8, 2022, the Committee on Admissions will no longer accept Pro Hac Vice applications via courier, U.S. Mail, email or in person. Please follow the instructions on how to submit Pro Hac Vice applications under the Information & Applications tab.
Notice of Successful Applicants
The Committee on Admissions offers congratulations to the 298 successful applicants on the February 2024 Uniform Bar Exam!Their names are posted here.
Notice to Bar Exam Applicants
Applicants who have not completed all required credits for their juris doctor degree before the first day of the bar exam are not eligible to sit for the exam. The applicant's Declaration of compliance with this requirement will be verified by the Committee on Admissions during the background investigation. Here is the rule provision (emphasis added):
D.C. App. Rule 46 (c)(3) Proof of Legal Education in a Law School Approved by the American Bar Association. An applicant who has graduated from or completed all requirements for graduation from a law school that at the time of degree conferral is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) may take the bar examination if the degree conferral occurred before, or is expected within 3 months after, the first day of the bar examination. Before an applicant can be admitted to the Bar, the Director must receive a certification that the applicant has graduated from an ABA-approved law school with a J.D. or LL.B. degree.
D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program
The following information is posted on behalf of the D.C. Bar. For questions or more information please email: lap@dcbar.org
The D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program welcomes D.C. Bar applicants, who are preparing to take the July D.C. or UBE exam, to join their peers for a 4-session support group series.
This Free and Confidential series, facilitated by LAP Senior Counselors, Jessie Joachim, LPC and Sharon Greenbaum, LICSW, is designed to provide mental health tools to help navigate the stressors of the bar exam process.
Zoom Registration is now open: https://dcbar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0td-usqDIoGt3oBkDEt7El0XmX5IX62MYg
Sessions will be held on four consecutive Tuesdays – June 4th, June 11th, June 18th and June 25th via Zoom at 4pm.
During the one-hour, interactive group sessions, we will explore a variety of topics including how to:
• Reduce test anxiety
• Sharpen your brain: back to basics.
• Tame the shame: why self-compassion is a tool for resilience
• Build coping strategies for exam day
July 2024 Bar Exam Application Information
A modified version of the slides from the February 3rd information webinar are now available.
Non-ABA Educational Requirements
Non-ABA law school graduates and foreign trained candidates who wish to apply for admission by bar exam, or by transfer of UBE score, should review this announcement to make sure they satisfy the education requirement.
How do I check the status of my application?
- For questions about the status of your application, please log into your account and use the "Create Message" button to send your inquiry directly to the staff reviewer responsible for your application.
Access D.C. App. Rule 49 Here
For guidance on the unauthorized practice of law, please see D.C. App. Rule 49 here.
Certificates of Good Standing are issued by the DC Bar on behalf of the Court of Appeals
Certificates of Good Standing are now issued by the DC Bar on behalf of the Court of Appeals. Mail requests received by the Committee on Admissions will be returned to the requestor. For more information on the processing of Certificates please contact the DC Bar.
February 2023 Bar Exam
The notice with names of the successful applicants for the February 2023 District of Columbia Bar Exam is now available.
July 2023 Bar Exam Notice
The notice with names of the successful applicants for the July 2023 District of Columbia Bar Exam is now available.
July 2022 Bar Exam Results
The names of the successful applicants from the July 2022 Bar Exam are now available.
February 2022 Uniform Bar Exam Results
The Notice of the 2022 February Uniform Bar Exam with the names of the successful candidates is now available.
July 2021 Bar Exam Results
The 2200 applicants for the July 2021 Uniform Bar Exam have been notified of their results. A total of 1609 individuals who sat for exam were successful for a pass rate of 73%. The list of successful applicants has been posted.
Office of the Committee on Admissions and Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law Phone hours:
Office of the Committee on Admissions and Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law phone hours:
Monday and Wednesday through Friday 8:30am - 11:00am and 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Tuesday 8:30am - 9:30am; 11:00am - noon and 3:00pm - 5:00pm.
Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinion 24-20
Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinion 24-20: Teleworking from Home and the COVID-19 Pandemic
FEBRUARY 2021 BAR EXAM RESULTS
The February 2021 bar exam candidates have been notified of their results by email. The Notice of the results from the Chair of the Committee on Admissions is posted for public review.
Bar Examination July 2019 Results
Bar Examination July 2019 Results click here.
Administrative Order 1-19
Please see , Administrative Order 1-19 for Temporary Suspension of Rule Requiring Law Students Practicing in D.C. to Register with this Court and be issued a Student Bar Membership Card