Exam Information


Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Locations: Northern California and Southern California
Registration Deadline and Fees: 

  • $350 Timely Filing: March 1-August 31
  • $600 Late Filing: September 1-October 1

Laptop Computer Fee (optional): $150

This exam is held every two years and will next be administered  in 2021. 

Registration & Eligibility Information

Registration for the 2019 Legal Specialist Examination opens on Friday, March 1, 2019. 
Interested applicants meeting the eligibility requirements below should register using the new Admissions Information Management System (AIMS) portal. Or by completing a registration form.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Currently licensed by the State Bar of California.
  • Has practiced in the specialty area since January 2018 for at least 25 percent of the time.
  • Can complete and file an application documenting remaining education, experience, and references by January 2023.

If you are not eligible to take this examination, but you wish to be notified about future examinations, please contact legalspec@calbar.ca.gov or 415-538-2120.

Scope of Examination 

The Legal Specialist Examination tests whether an attorney has a proficient understanding of the key laws, rules and procedures applicable to that area of law. Review the free exam preparation packet for your interested specialty area which contains a full listing of examination subject areas.

Bulletins

  • Examination Bulletin
  • Laptop Bulletin

Examination Format & Schedule 

The Legal Specialist Examination is a one-day exam is broken into two parts:

  • Morning, 4 hours: Write eight essays
  • Afternoon, 2.5 hours: Answer 75 multiple-choice questions

There are no optional questions. Your score is based on how well you answer all questions on the examination.

Doors to the test centers open at 7:00 a.m. All applicants must be seated no later than 7:30 a.m.The examination will begin immediately following the instructions, and the instructions will not be repeated for those who arrive after the instructions begin. No one will be admitted to the test center for any reason after 8:30 a.m.

Additional information concerning the timing and other administrative rules and policies will be provided in the Examination Bulletin above.

Handwriting vs. Laptop Options (Morning Session Only) 

Applicants can choose to either handwrite their essays or purchase the laptop option and register with ExamSoft’s Examplify software to type their answers on their own laptops. For timely registrations, applicants will be sent a link to download the software onto their laptops during the first week of September. For late registrations, download links will be sent within one week.

Applicants will be allowed to bring their laptops into the testing room ONLY for the morning session.During the afternoon session, applicants will only need #2 pencils to take the multiple-choice portion of the examination, and laptops will not be allowed in the testing room. Laptops may be left outside, but only at the applicant’s risk.

Reference materials

While most applicants will not be allowed to bring reference books into the examination room, those taking the examinations in the following four specialty fields have the option to bring in one of the following code books if they wish to do so (annotated or unannotated version):

  • Bankruptcy Law: Bankruptcy Code and Rules
  • Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law: California Probate Code
  • Immigration and Nationality Law: Immigration & Nationality Act only (NOT regulations)
  • Taxation: Internal Revenue Code only (NOT regulations)

Only the publications listed above will be allowed. Applicants cannot use digital versions or home-printed copies of these publications. Publications must be bound, commercial volumes and completely free from markings, writing, highlighting, underlining or tabs of any kind.

Hotel, transportation and parking

No specific hotel room blocks are available.

Parking is available for a fee at the testing centers.No validation is available.