Certified Law Student Program

The State Bar of California’s Certified Law Student (CLS) Program, formerly known as the Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) Program, certifies law students to provide legal services as permitted by rule 9.42(d) of the California Rules of Court under the supervision of an attorney. The program is also governed by Title 3, Division 1, Chapter 1 of the Rules of the State Bar.

You must first register as a law student with the State Bar’s Office of Admissions. The registration application is available in the Applicant Portal.

To be eligible for the CLS Program, you must:

  • Be a law student currently enrolled in a JD program:
    • At a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, or accredited by or registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners; and
    • Have successfully completed one full year of studies, a minimum of 270 hours; passed the First-Year Law Students’ Exam, if required; and be enrolled in a second, third, or fourth year of law school in good academic standing.
  • Be a law student currently enrolled in an LLM program:
    • At a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, or accredited by or registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners;
    • Have a degree from a law school in a foreign jurisdiction that authorizes the applicant to practice law in that jurisdiction and is acceptable to the State Bar under the State Bar’s Guidelines for Foreign-Educated General Applicants with a First Degree in Law; and
    • Have successfully completed one semester or two quarters in an LLM program; and be enrolled in a second or subsequent semester, or third or subsequent quarter, in good academic standing.
  • Be a law student in the Law Office Study Program:
    • Have successfully completed one full year of studies in a law school or in the Law Office Study Program; passed the First-Year Law Students’ Exam, if required; and be actively continuing the study of law through the Law Office Study Program.

Applicants who graduate from a JD program, complete one year in an LLM program, or complete their law study through the Law Office Study Program can apply for the CLS Program up to 30 days after graduation or completion of their studies.

You are ineligible for the program if:

  • You are licensed to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction;
  • You did not take the first administration of the California Bar Exam for which you were eligible, as determined by the State Bar; or
  • You took and received results for your first eligible California Bar Exam.

Applying for the program

If it is your first time participating in the program, complete and submit the Application for the Certified Law Student Program with the fee in the Applicant Portal. You must also upload the following documents with the online application:

Please see the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines for the current application fee.

Adding or changing Supervising Attorney

If you are adding or changing a Supervising Attorney at your current employer or agency, you must submit a CLS Extension–Supervising Attorney Change application in the Applicant Portal. You must include a declaration from each new Supervising Attorney and the required fee.

If you are adding or changing to a new employer or agency, you must submit a new Application for the Certified Law Student Program in the Applicant Portal. In addition, a separate declaration must be submitted for each Supervising Attorney, along with the required fee.

Application processing

All items must be submitted before an application will be considered complete. Applications are typically processed within one month of the date the State Bar receives a complete and accurate application. If the application is not completed accurately, it will delay your certification to participate in the program. If you fail to complete the application, submit all required documentation, or pay the required fee within 60 days of the incomplete notice, your application will be deemed abandoned without a refund of any fees paid. A new application will be required if you wish to participate in the program.

Once your CLS application has been approved, the Office of Admissions will email the Notice of Student Certification to you, your law school, and your Supervising Attorney(s) . You are not permitted to engage in activities under the Certified Law Student Program until the State Bar has approved your application and sent the Notice of Student Certification.

Questions?

For questions related to the CLS Program, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@calbar.ca.gov or 800-843-9053.

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