Committee of Bar Examiners

Appointment Opportunities

This committee is now accepting applications through March 31, 2026.
Visit the online portal to apply.

For a complete list of State Bar committees, please see the committees webpage.

Roster | Upcoming Meetings | Calendar

Purpose

This committee exercises oversight over the California Bar Examination, moral character determination process, and the First-Year Law Students’ Examination. The committee makes recommendations for rules and guidelines governing admissions functions; recommends qualified applicants to the California Supreme Court for admission to practice law in California; accredits law schools; registers unaccredited law schools; and studies and reports on proposed changes in the law and other matters concerning requirements for admission to practice law in California.

Composition

The committee includes nine nonattorney members, appointed by the Governor, the Senate Rules Committee, and the Speaker of the Assembly. The California Supreme Court is responsible for appointing 10 examiners to the Committee of Bar Examiners. At least one of the 10 examiners must be a judicial officer in this state, and the balance must be California licensed attorneys. At least one of the attorney examiners shall have been admitted to practice law in California within three years from the date of appointment.

The Court may reappoint an attorney or judicial officer examiner to serve no more than three additional full terms. The Court makes its appointments from a list of candidates nominated by the State Bar’s Board of Trustees.

Staff contact

Devan McFarland, 415-538-2548, Devan.McFarland@calbar.ca.gov
Chair: Alan Yochelson

Additional information

You may subscribe to the Committee of Bar Examiners emails to receive meeting notifications.