Requesting Testing Accommodations for the Certified Legal Specialist Exam

Testing accommodations are provided to ensure that an applicant with a disability can access the exam and is afforded an equal opportunity to obtain the same result, gain the same benefit, or reach the same level of achievement as that provided to others.

In situations when the State Bar cannot make provisions for a candidate’s request because of operational or technical reasons, staff will attempt to engage with the candidate to seek a mutually agreeable solution. Candidates are expected to participate in this interactive process in a timely and professional manner.

What is a reasonable accommodation?

A reasonable testing accommodation is an adjustment to or modification of standard testing conditions that addresses the functional limitations related to an applicant’s disability by modifications to rules, policies, or practices; removal of structural barriers, communication, or transportation barriers; or provision of auxiliary aids and services, provided it does not:

1. Compromise the security or validity of an examination or the integrity of the examination process;
2. Impose an undue burden on the State Bar; or
3. Fundamentally alter the nature of an examination or the ability to assess through the examination whether the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities tested on an examination.

What is a disability?

For the Legal Specialist Examination, the State Bar follows Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 7 of the Rules of the State Bar of California (Admissions Rules). Rule 4.82 specifically defines the terms “disability”, “physical impairment”, “mental impairment”, and “reasonable testing accommodation”.

What accommodations are available?

Test accommodations are adaptations to the exam that can help ensure that the test measures what it is designed to measure. The purpose of test accommodations is to provide candidates with access to the test and an opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis.

Depending on the nature of the disability, accommodations may include things such as screen-reading software or personal healthcare assistants, wheelchair access, permission to dictate to software, customized timing, customized exam materials (Braille, large print, etc.), extended testing days, and permission to bring and use specific items or medical aids.

When completing the online testing accommodations application and required forms, you and your physician or specialist should request what you think is necessary to allow you to compete on an equal basis with all other applicants. You must also provide adequate documentation and rationale to support the requested accommodations and their relationship to the effects of your disability.

Types of Testing Accommodations Requests and Approvals

Automatic approval based on prior accommodations

Certain accommodations approved for the California Bar Examination or a bar exam in another U.S. jurisdiction will be approved by the State Bar without the need for any further documentation. Applicants requesting the same or lesser accommodations as previously approved for a bar exam will go through a streamlined request process if all of the following are satisfied:

1. The prior accommodations were approved for a permanent disability;
2. The State Bar offers the same or equivalent testing accommodations; and
3. The request does not include more than 100 percent extra time (double time) and/or a private room.

Standard accommodations for specific conditions and temporary accommodations

The State Bar automatically grants a standard set of accommodations for those with certain health-related conditions, including some temporary conditions, for which the individual is unlikely to have a prior recent history of accommodations, and for which accommodation requests tend to be fairly standard.

Any applicant with these health-related conditions will receive the standard set of accommodations upon submission of a note from a qualified professional confirming that the condition will exist at the time of the exam.

If you require different or greater accommodations, you must submit the Qualified Professional Certification Form, any supplemental documentation needed to determine your disability-related functional limitations, your specific access needs, and how those needs relate to the accommodations requested. You must provide adequate documentation and rationale to support the requested accommodations and their relationship to the effects of your disability.

Emergency testing accommodations

An applicant who becomes disabled after the final exam application filing deadline may submit a Request for Testing Accommodations form asking that it be considered as an emergency request. An emergency request does not apply to disabilities that existed before the final deadline for an examination application, whether or not they were diagnosed or a visit to a treating professional could be arranged.

You must include a personal narrative requesting acceptance of the emergency request with an explanation of why the request could not have been filed by the final filing deadline. Attach documentation explaining the nature, date, and circumstances of the emergency request. Being unable to get an appointment with your qualified professional before the final filing deadline is not grounds for consideration as an emergency request.

Requesting accommodations previously granted for the same State Bar-administered exam

Applicants with permanent disabilities who are unsuccessful on an exam and wish to have the same accommodations extended to another administration of the exam must indicate they are requesting the same accommodation during the exam application process. It is not necessary to resubmit supporting documentation if you are requesting the same accommodations that were previously granted.

Accommodations not eligible for automatic approval

Applicants who do not meet the criteria for automatic approval based on prior accommodations, or who are requesting different or greater accommodations than what can be approved via the automatic approval process, must submit the Qualified Professional Certification Form, and any supplemental documentation needed to determine your disability-related functional limitations, your specific access needs, and how those needs relate to the accommodations requested. You must provide adequate documentation and rationale to support the requested accommodations and their relationship to the effects of your disability

Requesting testing accommodations

Applications for testing accommodations may be submitted before filing an application to take an exam. A request for testing accommodations is treated separately from the application you file to take an exam.

A request for testing accommodations is considered complete when the State Bar has received all required forms and any supporting documentation. A request may be deemed incomplete if the required forms are incomplete, or if the applicant or qualified professional does not respond in full to the required questions. A request that is incomplete by the final exam application deadline shall not be processed for that exam. Deadlines will not be extended for requests that are incomplete.

The State Bar will use the information provided to understand the nature of the accommodation you are seeking and its relationship to the specific task of taking the exam. This information will assist the State Bar in making a fair determination regarding your request for testing accommodations.

Certain accommodations will be automatically granted through the automatic approval process. If a request does not qualify for automatic approval, you will need to submit additional items beyond the Testing Accommodations Request form, including the following documentation:

• The Qualified Professional Certification Form; and
• Any supplemental documentation needed to determine disability-related functional limitations, specific access needs, and how those needs relate to the accommodations requested.

You must provide adequate documentation and rationale to support the requested accommodations and their relationship to the effects of your disability.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Complete the Testing Accommodations Request Form online by logging into the Applicant Portal. Include a personal narrative that provides a reasonable explanation of how your disability-related functional limitation(s) impact your ability to access a State Bar-administered exam under standard test conditions. A hard copy/paper form for requesting accommodations is available from the State Bar upon request by emailing testing.accommodations@calbar.ca.gov.
2. Attach proof of prior approval of accommodations on the California Bar Examination or a bar exam in another U.S. jurisdiction, if applicable.
3. Applicants must also submit a completed Qualified Professional Certification Form. Submit the form and any supplemental documentation needed to determine your disability-related functional limitations, your specific access needs, and how those needs relate to the accommodations requested. You must provide adequate documentation and rationale to support the requested accommodations and their relationship to the effects of your disability.
4. You may submit any additional documentation that you believe will help support your request for testing accommodations, including information regarding the functional limitations experienced in your academic, professional, and personal life. The decision made by the State Bar will be based on the information you provide.
5. Verify all information is accurate, and all documentation is legible. Submit your request for testing accommodations. Testing accommodation applications left in "drafted" or "verified" status will not be reviewed. The testing accommodation application must be "submitted" for the request to be reviewed.

Filing deadlines

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to file their request for testing accommodations well in advance of an examination they intend to take. Applicants who wait to file their requests near the final filing deadline for the examination they intend to take are generally not able to exhaust all administrative remedies before the exam, such as requesting review of a denial of some or all of the requested testing accommodations.

Specific filing deadlines for the Legal Specialist Examination are published online along with additional key dates and deadlines.

Appealing a testing accommodations decision

If a testing accommodations application is denied in whole or in part, applicants may request review of the decision. You should be aware, however, that if you submit your initial application less than 60 days before the filing deadline, there may not be enough time after receiving a decision to request review.

Requests for review must be submitted through the Applicant Portal no later than the first business day of the month in which that exam is scheduled to be administered. The deadline will not be extended. The applicant should notify the State Bar through the Applicant Portal within 10 days of the date of the testing accommodations decision letter that they wish to request review.

Your request for review must include a statement of the reason you do not agree with the initial determination. You may also submit any new supporting documentation for the committee’s consideration.

The Legal Specialist Examination follows an appeal review process that differs from the one outlined in Rule 4.90 as it relates to the bar exam and the First-Year Law Students’ Exam. Requests for review and supporting documents are evaluated by the Director of Admissions or their designee, who may withdraw the original decision and approve the requested accommodations. If the request is denied after this review, two members of the California Board of Legal Specialization will consider appeals and review the request by no later than two weeks before the exam date.

Related links

• Applicant Portal
• Qualified Professional Certification Form
• Admissions Rules