Title 4 Admissions and Educational Standards

Fees and deadlines in Title 4 rules have been adopted by the Committee of Bar Examiners and the Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California.

State Bar Rule 1.20(L) provides that “If a rule refers to the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines, the referenced date or amount is part of the rule.”

Division 1. Admission to Practice Law in California

Download PDF

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Rule 4.1 Authority

The California Supreme Court exercises inherent jurisdiction over the practice of law in California. The Committee of Bar Examiners (“the Committee”) is authorized by law, pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board of Trustees, to administer the requirements for admission to practice law; to examine all applicants for admission; and to certify to the Supreme Court for admission those applicants who fulfill the requirements(1).

Rule 4.1 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.2 Scope of Rules

These rules apply to persons seeking to practice law in California. Nothing in these rules may be construed as affecting the power of the California Supreme Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction over the practice of law in California.

Rule 4.2 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.3 Definitions

These definitions apply to the rules in this Division unless otherwise indicated.

(A) An “American Bar Association Approved Law School” is a law school fully or provisionally approved by the American Bar Association and deemed accredited by the Committee.

(B) An “attorney applicant” is an applicant who is or has been admitted as an attorney to the practice of law in any jurisdiction.

(C) The “Attorneys’ Examination” is the version of the California Bar Examination for which attorney applicants may apply, provided they have been admitted to the active practice of law in a United States jurisdiction at least four years immediately prior to the first day of administration of the examination and have been in good standing during that period. The Attorneys’ Examination includes essay questions and performance tests of the General Bar Examination but not its multiple-choice questions.

(D) A “California accredited law school” is a law school accredited by the Committee but not approved by the American Bar Association.

(E) The “California Bar Examination” is the examination administered by the Committee that an applicant must pass to be certified to the California Supreme Court as qualified for admission to practice law in California. The California Bar Examination includes the General Bar Examination and the Attorneys’ Examination.

(F) “The Committee” is the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California or, unless otherwise indicated, a subcommittee of two or more of its members which the Committee authorizes to act on its behalf.

(G) “Director of Admissions” or “Director, Admissions” means the Director of the State Bar Office of Admissions, or that person’s designee.

(H) A “general applicant” is an applicant who has not been admitted as an attorney to the practice of law in any jurisdiction.

(I) The “General Bar Examination” is the California Bar Examination required of every general applicant. The General Bar Examination consists of multiple-choice questions, essay questions, and performance tests.

(J) The “First-Year Law Students’ Examination” is the examination that an applicant must pass, unless otherwise exempt(2). It includes questions on contracts, torts, and criminal law.

(K) An “informal conference” is a meeting with an applicant initiated by the State Bar under rule 4.46 for the purpose of discussing issues relevant to the applicant’s moral character determination.

(L) The “Office of Admissions” (“Admissions”) is the State Bar office authorized by the Board of Trustees and the Committee to administer examinations and otherwise act on their behalf.

(M) “Receipt” of a document that the State Bar or Committee sends to an applicant is:

calculated as the date of electronic transmission or 5 days from the date of mailing to a California address; 10 days from the date of mailing to an address elsewhere in the United States; and 20 days from the date of mailing to an address outside the United States; or
when the State Bar or Committee delivers a document physically by personal service or otherwise.

(N) “Receipt” of a document sent to the State Bar or Committee is when it is physically received at the Office of Admissions or the date of electronic transmission, if permitted to be sent electronically.

(O) The “State Bar” includes Office of Admissions (“Admissions”) directors, managers, and staff.

(P) An “unaccredited law school” is a correspondence, distance-learning, or fixed-facility law school operating in California that the Committee registers but does not accredit.

(Q) For purposes of calculating law study credit toward meeting the legal education requirements necessary to qualify to take the First-Year Law Students’ Examination and California Bar Examination, a “year” is defined as the law study successfully completed in the time between the same calendar dates for consecutive calendar years, minus one day.

Rule 4.3 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.4 Confidentiality

Applicant records are confidential unless required to be disclosed by law(3); required by the State Bar’s Executive Director, Chief Trial Counsel, or General Counsel to fulfill their responsibilities for regulation of the practice of law; or authorized by the applicant in writing for release to others.

Rule 4.4 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.5 Submissions

(A) A document filed with the State Bar or Committee pursuant to these rules must be completed according to instructions; verified or made under penalty of perjury(4); and submitted with any required fee.

(B) A document, which must be complete as defined by the instructions for filing, is deemed filed upon receipt.

(C) The information obtained by the State Bar as a result of the fingerprinting of an applicant is used to establish identity of the applicant, to determine the moral character of the applicant, and to disclose criminal records of the applicant in California or elsewhere. Any information obtained as a result of fingerprint submission is confidential and for official use of the Committee and the State Bar.

(D) Information on an examination application that is not required but submitted voluntarily, including ethnic survey and identification information furnished with applications to take the California Bar Examination, is separated from the applications at initial processing and may not be associated with applicants, their files, or their examination answers during grading unless there is reasonable doubt about the identity of a person taking an examination and the State Bar requires the information to verify identity.

Rule 4.5 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.6 Investigations and Hearings

In conducting an investigation or hearing, the Committee or the State Bar Court may receive evidence; administer oaths and affirmations; and compel by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents.

Rule 4.6 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.7 Statistics

The State Bar may publish statistics for each examination in accordance with its policies.

Rule 4.7 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.8 Extensions of time

The time limits for State Bar or Committee actions specified in these rules are norms for processing. The time limits are not jurisdictional and the State Bar or Committee may extend them for good cause.

Rule 4.8 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.9 Review by Supreme Court

An applicant refused certification to the Supreme Court of California for admission to practice law in California may have the action of the Committee reviewed by the Supreme Court of California in accordance with its procedures.

Rule 4.9 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.10 Fees

Applicants shall pay reasonable fees, fixed by the Board of Trustees, for services such as application filing, reports, copying documents and providing letters of verification.

Rule 4.10 adopted effective November 14, 2009; previously amended effective January 1, 2012; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Chapter 2. Overview Of Admission Requirements

Rule 4.15 Certification to California Supreme Court

To be eligible for certification to the California Supreme Court for admission to the practice of law, an applicant for admission must:

(A) be at least eighteen years of age;

(B) file an Application for Admission with the State Bar;

(C) meet the requirements of these rules regarding education or admission as an attorney in another jurisdiction, determination of moral character, and examinations;

(D) be in compliance with California court-ordered child or family support obligations pursuant to Family Code § 17520;

(E) be in compliance with tax obligations pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 494.5;

(F) until admitted to the practice of law, notify the State Bar within thirty days of any change in information provided on an application; and

(G) otherwise meet statutory criteria for certification to the Supreme Court(5).

Rule 4.15 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective January 17, 2014; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.16 Application for Admission

(A) An Application for Admission consists of an Application for Registration, an Application for Determination of Moral Character, and an application for any required examination. Each application must be submitted with the required documentation and the fees set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. The State Bar determines when an application is complete.

(B) The Application for Registration must be approved, before any other application is submitted. The applicant is required by law either to provide a Social Security Number(6) on the application or to request an exemption because of ineligibility for a Social Security Number(7). Registration is deemed abandoned if all required documentation and fees have not been received within sixty days of submittal. No refund is issued for an abandoned registration.

(C) After approval of the Application for Registration, an applicant for admission may submit an Application for Determination of Moral Character, an application for any examination as required by these rules and any other document or petition permitted by these rules.

Rule 4.16 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.17 Admission certification and time limit

(A) No later than five years from the last day of administration of the California Bar Examination the applicant passes,

an applicant must meet all requirements for admission for certification by the Committee to the California Supreme Court; and
upon receipt of an order from the Court, take the attorney’s oath and meet State Bar registration requirements to be eligible to practice law in California.

(B) The State Bar may extend this five-year limit for good cause shown by clear and convincing evidence in a particular case but not for an applicant’s negligence or the result of an applicant having received a negative moral character determination.

(C) An applicant may request a review by the Committee of the State Bar’s decision within 30 days of service of the notice of decision.

Rule 4.17 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Chapter 3. Required Education

Rule 4.25 General education

Before beginning the study of law, a general applicant must have completed at least two years of college work or demonstrated equivalent intellectual achievement, which must be certified by the law school the applicant is attending upon request by the Committee.

(A) “Two years of college work” means a minimum of sixty semester or ninety quarter units of college credit

equivalent to at least half that required for a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that has degree-granting authority from the state in which it is located; and
completed with a grade average adequate for graduation.

(B) “Demonstrated equivalent intellectual achievement” means achieving acceptable scores on Committee-specified examinations prior to beginning the study of law.

Rule 4.25 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.26 Legal education

General applicants for the California Bar Examination must

(A) have received a juris doctor (J.D.) or bachelor of laws (LL.B) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the Committee; or

(B) demonstrate that in accordance with these rules and the requirements of Business & Professions Code §6060(e)(2) they have

studied law diligently and in good faith for at least four years in a law school registered with the Committee; in a law office; in a judge’s chambers; or by some combination of these methods; or
met the requirements of these rules for legal education in a foreign state or country; and

Rule 4.26 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective July 22, 2011.

Rule 4.27 Study in a fixed-facility unaccredited law school

To receive credit for one year of study in a fixed-facility unaccredited law school registered with the Committee, a student must receive passing grades in courses requiring classroom attendance by its students for a minimum of 270 hours a year.

Rule 4.27 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.28 Study by correspondence or distance learning

(A) To receive credit for one year of study by correspondence or distance learning in an unaccredited law school registered with the Committee, a student must receive passing grades in courses requiring at least 864 hours of preparation and study over no fewer than forty-eight and no more than fifty-two consecutive weeks in one year evidenced by a transcript that indicates the date each course began and ended.

(B) To receive credit for one-half year of study by correspondence or distance learning in an unaccredited law school registered with the Committee, a student must receive passing grades in courses requiring at least 432 hours of preparation and study over no fewer than twenty-four and no more than twenty-six consecutive weeks, evidenced by a transcript that indicates the date each course began and ended.

(C) To receive credit, a student studying by correspondence or distance learning may not begin a subsequent year of study prior to completion of one year of study as defined in rule 4.3(P) of these rules.

Rule 4.28 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective July 22, 2011.

Rule 4.29 Study in a law office or judge’s chambers

(A) A person who intends to comply with the legal education requirements of these rules by study in a law office or judge’s chambers must

submit the required form with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines within thirty days of beginning study;
submit semi-annual reports, as required by section (B)(5) below on the Committee’s form with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines within thirty days of completion of each six-month period; and
have studied law in a law office or judge’s chambers during regular business hours for at least eighteen hours each week for a minimum of forty-eight weeks to receive credit for one year of study or for at least eighteen hours a week for a minimum of twenty-four weeks to receive credit for one-half year of study.

(B) The attorney or judge with whom the applicant is studying must

be admitted to the active practice of law in California and be in good standing for a minimum of five years;
provide the Committee within thirty days of the applicant’s beginning study an outline of a proposed course of instruction that he or she will personally supervise;
personally supervise the applicant at least five hours a week;
examine the applicant at least once a month on study completed the previous month;
report to the Committee every six months on the Committee’s form the number of hours the applicant studied each week during business hours in the law office or chambers; the number of hours devoted to supervision; specific information on the books and other materials studied, such as chapter names, page numbers, and the like the name of any other applicant supervised and any other information the Committee may require; and
not personally supervise more than two applicants simultaneously.

Rule 4.29 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective November 14, 2009.

Rule 4.30 Legal education in a foreign state or country

Persons who have studied law in a law school in a foreign state or country may qualify as general applicants provided that they

(A) have a first degree in law, acceptable to the Committee, from a law school in the foreign state or country and have completed a year of legal education at an American Bar Association Approved Law School or a California accredited law school in areas of law prescribed by the Committee; or

(B) have a legal education from a law school located in a foreign state or country without a first degree in law, acceptable to the Committee, and

have met the general education requirements;
have studied law as permitted by these rules in a law school, in a law office or judge’s chambers, or by any combination of these methods (up to one year of legal education credit may be awarded for foreign law study completed); and
have passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination in accordance with these rules and Committee policies.

Rule 4.30 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.31 Credit for law study after passing the First-Year Law Students’ Examination

(A) An applicant who is required to pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination will not receive credit for any law study until the applicant passes the examination. An applicant who passes the examination within three consecutive administrations of first becoming eligible to take the examination, will receive credit for all law study completed to the date of the administration of the examination passed, subject to any restrictions otherwise covered by these rules. An applicant who does not pass the examination within three consecutive administrations of first becoming eligible to take the examination but who subsequently passes the examination will receive credit for his or her first year of law study only.

(B) If any of the first three administrations of the First-Year Law Students’ Examination described in paragraph (A) includes the June 2020 administration, that examination shall not be counted towards the requirements set forth in paragraph (A).

Rule 4.31 adopted effective November 14, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2021.

Rule 4.32 Repeated courses

The Committee does not recognize credit for repetition of a course or substantially the same course.

Rule 4.32 adopted as Rule 4.31 effective September 1, 2008; renumbered as Rule 4.32 effective November 14, 2009.

Rule 4.33 Evaluation of study completed or contemplated

An applicant may request that the Committee determine whether general or legal education contemplated or completed by the applicant meets the eligibility requirements of these rules for beginning the study of law, the First-Year Law Students’ Examination or the California Bar Examination. The request must be submitted on the required form with certified transcripts and the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. A written response indicating whether or not the education is sufficient will be issued within sixty days of receipt of the request.

Rule 4.33 adopted as Rule 4.32 effective September 1, 2008; renumbered as rule 4.33 effective November 14, 2009.

Chapter 4. Moral Character Determination

Rule 4.40 Moral Character Determination

(A) An applicant must be of good moral character as determined by the State Bar. Applicants have the burden of establishing that they are of good moral character.

(B) “Good moral character” includes but is not limited to qualities of honesty, fairness, candor, trustworthiness, observance of fiduciary responsibility, respect for and obedience to the law, and respect for the rights of others and the judicial process.

Rule 4.40 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.41 Application for Determination of Moral Character

(A) An Application for Determination of Moral Character may be submitted after an Application for Registration has been approved.

(B) The State Bar will deem an Application for Determination of Moral Character complete when the applicant has submitted all required information, documentation, and the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines.

Rule 4.41 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; previously amended effective March 9, 2018; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.42 Duty to Update Application for Determination of Moral Character

Until an applicant has taken the attorney’s oath pursuant to rule 4.17(A), the applicant has a continuing duty to notify the Office of Admissions when information provided in the Application for Determination of Moral Character has changed or there is new information relevant to the application. The Office of Admissions must be in receipt of the notification from the applicant within 30 days of the change or addition to the information originally submitted. An applicant’s positive moral character determination may be suspended pursuant to rule 4.50 for failure to satisfy this requirement.

Rule 4.42 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.43 Abandonment of Application for Determination of Moral Character

(A) The State Bar will notify the applicant if an Application for Determination of Moral Character has been deemed incomplete, and the applicant must cure the deficiencies within 60 days of receipt of the notification or the application will be deemed abandoned, absent a showing of good cause.

(B) If the State Bar requests additional information or documentation from the applicant after it has deemed an Application for Determination of Moral Character complete, the applicant must respond to the request within 90 days of receipt of the request or the application will be deemed abandoned, absent a showing of good cause.

(C) No refund of fees will be issued for an Application for Determination of Moral Character that has been deemed abandoned. The State Bar may retain an abandoned Application for Determination of Moral Character as part of the applicant’s file.

(D) An applicant may request review by the Committee of the State Bar’s decision to deem an Application for Determination of Moral Character abandoned within 30 days of receipt of notification of abandonment.

(E) Once an Application for Determination of Moral Character has been deemed abandoned, the applicant must submit a new, complete Application for Determination of Moral Character with the required information, documentation, and fee as set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines to obtain a moral character determination.

Rule 4.43 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.44 Withdrawal of Application for Determination of Moral Character

(A) An applicant may withdraw an Application for Determination of Moral Character any time before receipt of notification that the State Bar is unable to make a determination without further inquiry and analysis. An applicant who withdraws an application more than 30 days after submission is ineligible for a refund of fees. The State Bar may retain a withdrawn application as part of the applicant’s file.

(B) An applicant may withdraw an application filed with the State Bar Court for a hearing on an adverse determination of moral character pursuant to the procedure in Rules of Procedure of the State Bar, rule 5.464.

Rule 4.44 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 18, 2016; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.45 Notice Regarding Status of Application for Determination of Moral Character

(A) Within 180 days of the date on which the State Bar deems an Application for Determination of Moral Character to be complete, the State Bar will notify the applicant whether the applicant has received a positive moral character determination or the application requires further consideration.

(B) If the State Bar requests additional information after the Application for Determination of Moral Character is deemed complete, within 120 days of receipt of the requested information from the applicant, the State Bar will notify the applicant that:

the applicant is determined to be of good moral character;
the application requires further consideration;
the applicant will be invited to an informal conference pursuant to rule 4.46; or
the applicant is offered an Agreement of Abeyance pursuant to rule 4.48.

(C) While an Application for Determination of Moral Character remains pending, the State Bar must issue a status report to the applicant at least every 120 days.

Rule 4.45 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 18, 2016; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.46 Informal Conference Regarding Moral Character

(A) Prior to rendering an adverse moral character determination, the State Bar will invite the applicant to an informal conference. Acceptance of an invitation is not mandatory, and no negative inference will be drawn from an applicant’s decision to decline to participate in an informal conference.

(B) The Committee must establish procedures for an informal conference, which must include audio or video recording of the conference, the opportunity for the applicant to present information for consideration, and permission for the applicant’s counsel to attend the conference in order to observe but not participate.

Rule 4.46 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.46.1 Request for Review by the Committee Following an Adverse Moral Character Determination

(A) An applicant notified of an adverse moral character determination by the State Bar may request review of the determination by the Committee. The request must be submitted to the Office of Admissions within 30 days of receipt of notification of the State Bar’s determination. The applicant may submit supplemental information with the request.

(B) The Committee must establish procedures for review of an adverse moral character determination issued by the State Bar, which must include that a review by a panel of two Committee members will occur within 60 days of receipt of the request for review and the panel will make a recommendation to the Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Committee may adopt the recommendation of the panel or take any other action it deems appropriate. The State Bar must notify the applicant of the Committee’s decision within 10 days of the decision.

Rule 4.47.1 adopted effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.47 Request for Hearing on an Adverse Moral Character Determination Issued by the Committee

(A) If the Committee issues an adverse moral character determination, the applicant may file a request for hearing with the State Bar Court in accordance with Title 5, Division 7, Chapter 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the State Bar. The request must be filed with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines within 60 days of receipt of notification of the Committee’s adverse determination.

(B) A copy of the request for hearing must be served as provided in Rules of Procedure of the State Bar, rule 5.461.

Rule 4.47 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 24, 2015; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.48 Agreement of Abeyance

(A) The State Bar or the Committee may suspend processing of an Application for Determination of Moral Character upon the State Bar or the Committee and an applicant entering into an Agreement of Abeyance:

when a court has ordered an applicant charged with a crime to be treated, rehabilitated, or otherwise diverted;
when a court has suspended the sentence of an applicant convicted of a crime and placed the applicant on probation;
when an applicant is actively seeking or obtaining treatment for a substance use issue; or
when the State Bar or the Committee and an applicant otherwise agree.

(B) An Agreement of Abeyance must be in writing, specify the period and conditions of abeyance, and be signed by a representative of the State Bar and the applicant.

(C) Once the abeyance period has concluded or the conditions of abeyance have been satisfied, the State Bar or the Committee will continue processing the Application for Determination of Moral Character.

Rule 4.48 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.49 New Application Following an Adverse Moral Character Determination

An applicant who has received an adverse moral character determination may submit another Application for Determination of Moral Character no earlier than two years from the date of the final determination unless some other time is set by the State Bar, the Committee, or the State Bar Court, for good cause shown, at the time of the adverse determination.

Rule 4.49 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 24, 2015; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.50 Suspension of a Positive Moral Character Determination

(A) At any time before an applicant has taken the attorney’s oath pursuant to rule 4.17(A), the State Bar may notify the applicant that it has suspended a positive moral character determination if it receives information that reasonably calls the applicant’s character into question. The notice must specify the grounds for the suspension.

(B) If an applicant’s positive moral character determination is suspended, the State Bar will notify the applicant that the determination has been reinstated or request additional information from the applicant within 120 days of the applicant’s receipt of the suspension notification and, thereafter, process their Application for Determination of Moral Character in accordance with rule 4.45(B).

(C) The State Bar will send an applicant who has received a positive moral character determination and is not yet certified to the California Supreme Court as qualified for admission to practice law in California a questionnaire to complete 18 months after the issuance of the determination. If an applicant fails to respond to the questionnaire within 60 days of receipt of the questionnaire, the positive determination will be suspended. The positive determination may be reinstated when the State Bar receives the completed questionnaire.

Rule 4.50 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.51 Validity Period of a Positive Moral Character Determination

A positive moral character determination is valid for 36 months or until submission of an Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character pursuant to rule 4.52. An applicant must have a valid positive determination to be certified to the California Supreme Court as qualified for admission to practice law in California.

Rule 4.51 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Rule 4.52 Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character

(A) An applicant may request an extension of a positive moral character determination by submitting an Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character in the last 6 months of the 36-month validity period of the positive moral character determination, with required information, documentation, and the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. Failure to timely submit an Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character will result in expiration of the positive determination.

(B) Approval of an Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character will reinstate the positive determination and extend the validity period for 36 months from the date of approval of the extension application, or until submission of a subsequent extension application. Subsequent extension applications may be submitted consistent with the timeline and requirements described in rule 4.52(A).

(C) If a positive moral character determination expires before an applicant submits an Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character, the applicant must submit a new, complete Application for Determination of Moral Character with the required information, documentation, and fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines to obtain a moral character determination.

(D) An Application for Extension of Determination of Moral Character will be governed by the rules in this chapter governing an Application for Determination of Moral Character.

Rule 4.52 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective September 1, 2019; amended effective June 23, 2025.

Chapter 5. Examinations

Rule 4.55 First-Year Law Students’ Examination requirement

(A) A general applicant intending to seek admission to practice law in California must take the First-Year Law Students’ Examination unless the applicant

has satisfactorily
1. completed (a) at least two years of college work as defined by these rules and the Committee’s guidelines; and
2. the first-year course of instruction
  1. at a law school that was approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the Committee when the study was begun or completed; and
  2. the law school has advanced the person, whether or not on probation, to the second-year of instruction; or
is exempt by reason of study in a foreign law school as provided by these rules.

(B) An applicant who passes the First-Year Law Students’ Examination will receive credit for

all law study completed upon passing the examination within three administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it; or
the first year of law study only upon passing the examination after more than three administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it.

Rule 4.55 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective July 22, 2011.

Rule 4.56 First-Year Law Students’ Examination

The First-Year Law Students’ Examination is given each year in June and October at test centers in California designated by the State Bar. The State Bar develops the questions. Pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board of Trustees, the Committee determines the examination’s format, scope, topics, content, grading process, and passing score.

Rule 4.56 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.57 Exempt applicants taking First-Year Law Students’ Examination

An applicant who is exempt from the First-Year Law Students’ Examination may apply for and take the examination. Failing the examination does not affect the applicant’s status under these rules.

Rule 4.57 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.58 Application for the First-Year Law Students’ Examination

(A) An application to take the First-Year Law Students’ Examination in June must be submitted by April 1. An application to take the examination in October must be submitted by August 1. Applications received after these deadlines and by May 15 or September 15 are subject to a late fee. Applications are not accepted after those dates. Application fees and late fees are set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. If a deadline falls on a non-business day, the deadline will be the next business day.

(B) Different deadlines for initial filing and late fees apply to applicants who fail the First-Year Law Students’ Examination and intend to take the next scheduled examination. These deadlines are set forth in the notice of examination results and are more than ten days from the date those results are released.

(C) Applications that are unsigned or incomplete for any reason as of the final examination application filing deadline are deemed abandoned and ineligible for a refund of fees.

(D) Applications for which eligibility documents have not been received by the date set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines are abandoned and ineligible for a refund of fees.

Rule 4.58 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective November 14, 2009.

Rule 4.59 Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination

Every applicant must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, and receive a passing score as determined by the Committee. The examination may be taken following completion of the first year of law study or later. The Committee must receive official notice of an MPRE passing score before an applicant is deemed to have passed the examination.

Rule 4.59 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective July 22, 2011.

Rule 4.60 California Bar Examination

(A) The California Bar Examination is given each year in February and July at test centers in California designated by the State Bar. Pursuant to the authority delegated to it by the Board of Trustees, the Committee determines the examination’s format, scope, topics, content, questions, and grading process.

(B) The State Bar provides the California Supreme Court a report on each administration of the examination as soon as practical.

Rule 4.60 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.61 Applications for the California Bar Examination

(A) Applications for the California Bar Examination are available March 1 for the July examination and October 1 for the February examination. To avoid imposition of a late fee, an application must be submitted no later than April 1 for the July examination or November 1 for the February examination. Applications received after these deadlines and by June 1 or January 1 are subject to late fees. Applications are not accepted after those dates. Application fees and late fees are set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. If a deadline falls on a non-business day, the deadline will be the next business day.

(B) Different deadlines for initial filing and late fees apply to applicants who fail the California Bar Examination and intend to take the next scheduled examination. These deadlines are set forth in the notice of examination results and are a minimum of ten days from the date those results are released.

they are incomplete or unsigned by the final examination application filing deadline;
the applicant has not provided additional information requested by the final eligibility deadline; or
eligibility cannot be determined by the final eligibility deadline.

Rule 4.61 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.62 Access to examination answers and scores

(A) Within sixty days of the release of examination results, examination answers to the written portions of the examination are returned to applicants for admission who have failed the California Bar Examination or who have passed or failed the First-Year Law Students’ Examination. This provision does not apply to the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination or the multiple-choice portion of the First-Year Law Students’ Examination and California Bar Examination.

(B) Applicants who pass the California Bar Examination are not entitled to receive their examination answers or to see their scores.

Rule 4.62 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Chapter 6. Conduct At Examinations

Rule 4.70 Conduct required at examinations

Applicants are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times at an examination test center. Conduct that violates the security or administration of an examination may be reported to the State Bar as a Chapter 6 Notice or, in extreme cases, may require dismissal from the examination test center. Unacceptable conduct may include, but is not limited to, having unauthorized items, writing or typing after time has been called, looking at another applicant’s answers, talking when silence is required, or abusive behavior. A copy of the Chapter 6 Notice is provided to the applicant during or following an examination.

Rule 4.70 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.71 Reports of conduct violations

(A) The State Bar considers reports of the Chapter 6 Notices that have been issued to applicants during or following an administration of an examination as soon as practicable and no later than the first Committee meeting following the examination.

(B) If the State Bar affirms the Chapter 6 Notice, the applicant must be notified of its proposed sanction within thirty days. Sanctions may include assigning a score of zero for a question, a session, or an entire examination. An examination score may be held in abeyance pending resolution of the matter.

(C) The Committee may establish guidelines for the processing of conduct violations. The Committee may establish specific sanctions for certain undisputed conduct violations, such as bringing an unauthorized item into the examination room. An applicant sanctioned for an undisputed conduct violation is not entitled to an administrative hearing.

Rule 4.71 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.72 Request for an administrative hearing on conduct violation

(A) An applicant notified of a conduct violation for which a specific sanction has not been established by examination rules or guidelines may file a request for an administrative hearing. The request must be filed within twenty days of receipt of the notice or the proposed sanction will take effect. For good cause shown by clear and convincing evidence the State Bar may extend the filing deadline.

(B) Once an applicant has filed a request for an administrative hearing on a conduct violation, the State Bar must schedule an administrative hearing within ninety days, or at a later time for good cause, and notify the applicant of the time and place of the hearing.

Rule 4.72 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.73 Procedure for an administrative hearing on conduct violation

(A) The Committee may establish procedures for conducting administrative hearings on conduct violations. A record of a hearing can be established by tape recording, video recording, or any other means. The applicant may attend the administrative hearing with counsel; make a written or oral statement; and present documentary evidence. Applicant’s counsel is limited to observation and may not participate.

(B) The State Bar has the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that a violation occurred.

(C) The State Bar must render Findings and Recommendations no later than thirty days after the administrative hearing, which must be served on the applicant and counsel present at the hearing. The State Bar may recommend the sanction originally proposed or any other action it deems appropriate.

Rule 4.73 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.74 Review of State Bar’s Findings and Recommendations by Committee

(A) An applicant may request review by the Committee of the Findings and Recommendations within ten days of service. The Committee must consider the applicant’s request, any record of the hearing, the Findings and Recommendations, and any supplemental material the applicant provides in accordance with Committee requirements during the Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting. The Committee may request additional information from the applicant or from the State Bar.

(B) The Committee may adopt the State Bar’s Findings and Recommendations or take any other action it deems appropriate.

(D) If the applicant does not request review of the State Bar’s Findings and Recommendations within ten days of service, the State Bar’s Findings and Recommendations become the decision of the Committee.

Rule 4.74 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Chapter 7. Testing Accommodations

Rule 4.80 Eligibility for testing accommodations

Applicants with disabilities are granted reasonable testing accommodations provided that they are capable of demonstrating that they are otherwise eligible to take an examination and, in accordance with these rules, they

(A) have submitted an approved Application for Registration;

(B) submit a petition for testing accommodations on the State Bar’s forms with the required documentation;

(C) establish to the satisfaction of the State Bar the existence of a disability that prevents them from taking an examination under standard testing conditions; that testing accommodations are necessary to address the functional limitations related to their disabilities; and the testing accommodations sought are reasonable and appropriate for their disabilities; and,

(D) separately apply for the examination for which testing accommodations are requested.

Rule 4.80 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.81 Testing accommodations in general

(A) Petitions for testing accommodations are processed on a case-by-case basis.

(B) The State Bar makes its best effort to process petitions for testing accommodations expeditiously but does not process petitions that are incomplete.

(C) Time limits in testing accommodations rules are solely to expedite the processing of petitions and are not jurisdictional. The State Bar may extend them for good cause.

(D) An examination application fee is not refunded if a request for testing accommodations is denied.

Rule 4.81 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.82 Definitions

These definitions apply to the rules on and petitions for testing accommodations.

(A) A “disability” is a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more of an applicant’s major life activities, and limits an applicant’s ability to demonstrate under standard testing conditions that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities tested on an examination.

(B) A “physical impairment” is a physiological disorder or condition or an anatomical loss affecting one or more of the body’s systems.

(C) A “mental impairment” is a mental or psychological disorder such as organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or a specific learning disability.

(D) 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 architectural, communication, or transportation barriers; or provision of auxiliary aids and services, provided that they do not

compromise the security or validity of an examination or the integrity or of the examination process;
impose an undue burden on the State Bar; or
fundamentally alter the nature of an examination or the Committee’s ability to assess through the examination whether the applicant
1. possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities tested on an examination; and
2. meets the essential eligibility requirements for admission.

Rule 4.82 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.83 Guidelines for testing accommodations

(A) The State Bar publishes guidelines for documenting the need for testing accommodations based on learning disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, including testing required to establish the existence of the disability and the reasonableness of the accommodations requested.

(B) The State Bar may publish guidelines for other disabilities accommodated on past examinations.

Rule 4.83 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.84 When to file a petition for testing accommodations

(A) A Petition For Testing Accommodations is not an application for a bar examination. Filing one does not constitute filing the other or initiate its processing. An applicant must separately apply for an examination.

(B) An applicant is encouraged to file a Petition For Testing Accommodations as far in advance as practicable. To allow sufficient processing time, general applicants are encouraged to submit their petitions at least by the beginning of their last year of law study and attorney applicants no later than six months prior to the examination they wish to take. If an applicant waits until the final examination application deadline for a particular examination to petition for testing accommodations, it is possible that processing will not be completed or the applicant will not be able to complete all required or available procedures prior to administration of the examination.

January 1 for the February California Bar Examination;
June 1 for the July California Bar Examination;
May 15 for the June First-Year Law Students’ Examination; or
September 15 for the October First-Year Law Students’ Examination.

If a deadline falls on a non-business day, the deadline will be the next business day. Deadlines are not extended or waived for any reason except as permitted in Rule 4.87.

(D) Depending on the nature of a disability and the date on which a petition is filed, the State Bar may determine that the changing nature of a disability requires that the applicant file a new petition nearer the examination date or that a decision regarding the petition be deferred.

Rule 4.84 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective November 14, 2009; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.85 Initial Petition For Testing Accommodations

(A) An applicant with a qualified disability seeking testing accommodations must file a Petition for Testing Accommodations on the State Bar’s form.

(B) In addition to the Petition for Testing Accommodations, a qualified applicant seeking testing accommodations must also provide with the petition the specific specialist verification forms the State Bar determines are appropriate to verify applicants’ disabilities.

(C) If a law school has provided testing accommodations, a qualified applicant must submit the petition with the designated State Bar form, completed by a law school official or legal education supervisor.

(D) If another state has provided accommodations for its bar examination, a qualified applicant must submit the petition with the designated State Bar form, completed by an official responsible for testing accommodations.

(E) If another testing agency has provided accommodations for its examination, a qualified applicant may be required to submit the petition with a copy of the accommodations notice.

(F) A Petition for Testing Accommodations is considered complete only upon receipt of all required forms that have been completed according to instructions. A petition that is incomplete by a final examination application deadline is not processed for that examination.

Rule 4.85 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.86 Subsequent petitions for testing accommodations

(A) Testing accommodations are not automatically extended upon failure of an examination but must be requested for a subsequent examination any time before the examination application deadline.

(B) An applicant who is permanently disabled may petition for the same accommodations rather than submit an entirely new petition. A subsequent petition must be made in accordance with State Bar’s requirements.

(C) An applicant who has a temporary disability or who seeks different accommodations than those previously granted must file a new Petition for Testing Accommodations by the application final filing deadline if filed in connection with a particular administration of an examination.

Rule 4.86 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective November 14, 2009; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.87 Emergency petitions for testing accommodations

An applicant who becomes disabled after a final examination application filing deadline may file a Petition for Testing Accommodations, which must include the forms required by Rule 4.85, with a request that it be considered as an emergency petition. Documentation explaining the nature, date, and circumstances of the emergency must be filed with the petition. Receipt of the petition and supporting documentation must be at least ten days before the first day of the examination. This rule 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.

Rule 4.87 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.88 State Bar response to Petition For Testing Accommodations

(A) An applicant who has filed a Petition For Testing Accommodations in accordance with these rules is notified in writing within thirty days of receipt when additional information is required, and within sixty days when the petition is granted, granted with modifications, denied, or action is pending.

(B) If a complete petition is filed at least six months before the examination for which testing accommodations are sought, the applicant may expect a final determination at least a month before the examination.

(C) With the consent of the petitioner, the State Bar or a consultant may confer with a specialist who has treated the petitioner.

(D) A notice of denial of a Petition For Testing Accommodations or a modified grant states the reasons for the denial or modifications, and advises the petitioner of any right to appeal. The notice may include an excerpt of a consultant’s evaluation.

Rule 4.88 adopted effective September 1, 2008; previously amended effective July 22, 2011; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.89 Applicant response to proposed modification or request for information

An applicant has thirty days to respond to a request for additional information unless an examination schedule requires a shorter time. If the applicant fails to make a timely response, the request is processed on the basis of information submitted.

Rule 4.89 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.90 Committee review of denied or modified petition

(A) An applicant notified that a Petition For Testing Accommodations has been denied or granted with modifications may request a review by the Committee. The request must be submitted within ten days of the date of the denial or modified grant or some other reasonable period established by the Committee.

(B) Requests for review filed in connection with a particular administration of an examination must be filed no later than the first business day of the month in which the examination is to be administered. Requests received after that date will be considered in connection with future administration of the examination.

(C) After reviewing the request for review and supporting documentation, the Director of Admissions may withdraw the prior decision and grant the accommodations requested.

(D) If the Director of Admissions does not grant the request, the Committee must consider it as soon as practicable. The review must be based on the original petition and supporting documentation provided by the applicant and the Director of Admissions. Oral argument is not permitted. The review must be conducted in closed session either at a regular meeting or one specially convened. The Committee delegates decision making authority to the Examinations Subcommittee for all time-sensitive testing accommodation reviews.

Rule 4.90 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective September 1, 2019.

Rule 4.91 Confidentiality of Petitions for Testing Accommodations

Petitions for Testing Accommodations, documentation submitted in support and evaluations of requests are confidential.

Rule 4.91 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

Rule 4.92 False or misleading information in Petition For Testing Accommodations

False or misleading information in a Petition For Testing Accommodations is considered in determining an applicant’s moral character and may result in a negative determination of moral character.

Rule 4.92 adopted effective September 1, 2008.

1 Business & Professions Code § 6046.

2 Business & Professions Code § 6060(h).

3 Evidence Code § 1040, Business & Professions Code §§ 6044.5, 6060.2, 6060.25, 6086, and 6090.6.

4 Code of Civil Procedure § 2015.5.

5 Business & Professions Code § 6060.

6 Business & Professions Code § 30, Family Code § 17520.

7 Business & Professions Code § 6060.6.

Division 2. Accredited Law School Rules

Adopted January 1, 2022

Download PDF

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Rule 4.100 Authority and Citation

The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California is authorized by law to accredit law schools in California and oversee and regulate those law schools. The Committee is the degree-granting authority for law schools subject to these rules, which may be cited as the Accredited Law School Rules.

Rule 4.100 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.101 Scope

(A) The Accredited Law School Rules apply to law schools seeking provisional or full accreditation by the Committee, law schools provisionally accredited by the Committee, and law schools accredited by the Committee. These rules do not apply to law schools provisionally or fully approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

(B) Provisional accreditation by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California is granted when a school demonstrates substantial compliance with these rules. Full accreditation by the Committee is granted when a school demonstrates compliance with these rules.

(C) These rules do not apply to unaccredited law schools registered with the Committee, paralegal programs, undergraduate legal degree programs, or other legal studies programs that do not lead to a professional degree in law. The appropriate entity or entities must approve such programs, even when they are offered by an unaccredited, accredited, or approved law school or an institution of which it is a part.

Rule 4.101 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.103 Interpreting and Applying the Rules

The Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules as approved by the Committee of Bar Examiners to be effective on or after the date these rules go into effect, govern the interpretation and application of these rules. The Committee has the authority to amend the Guidelines, subject to a reasonable public comment period, and after consideration of any comments received. Except in extraordinary circumstances when time does not permit, the Committee shall seek the input of the Committee of State Bar Accredited and Registered Schools (CSBARS) before circulating amendments for public comment.

Rule 4.103 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.105 Definitions

(A) “Admissions Rules” are the rules contained in Title 4, Division 1 of the Rules of the State Bar of California.

(B) A “Law School provisionally or fully approved by the Council” is a law school provisionally or fully approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.

(D) “Provisional Accreditation” is the status of a provisionally accredited law school. The Committee grants provisional accreditation for a specific period.

(E) A “Provisionally Accredited Law School” is a law school that is pursuing accreditation and has been recognized by the Committee as being in substantial compliance with applicable law and these rules.

(F) A “Jointly Accredited Law School” is a law school fully accredited by the Committee that has also been recognized as jointly accredited within the meaning of Rule 4.147(B).

(G) “The Committee” is the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.

(H) The “First-Year Law Students’ Examination” is the examination required by California Business and Professions Code Section 6060(h) and by Admissions Rule 4.31.

(I) The “Guidelines” are the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules adopted by the Committee.

(J) “Inspection” means an on-site or virtual visit to a law school by an individual or a team appointed by the Committee in accordance with these rules.

(K) A “Major Change” is one of the changes specified in Rule 4.165.

(L) A “Professional Law Degree” is the Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Executive JD Non-Bar-Qualifying Degree (EJD), Juris Doctor (JD), Masters of Law (LLM), Master of Legal Studies (MLS), or other post-graduate degree authorized by the Committee. The JD degree may be granted only upon completion of a law program that qualifies a student to take the California Bar Examination.

(M) A “California Registered, Unaccredited Law School” is an unaccredited law school that has been registered with the Committee as a correspondence, distance, or fixed facility law school, but is not accredited by the Committee.

An “Unaccredited Correspondence Law School” is an unaccredited law school that conducts instruction principally by correspondence. An Unaccredited Correspondence Law School must require at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.
An “Unaccredited Distance Law School” is an unaccredited law school that conducts instruction and provides interactive classes principally by technological means. An Unaccredited Distance Law School must require at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.
An “Unaccredited Fixed Facility Law School” is an unaccredited law school that conducts its instruction principally in classroom facilities. An Unaccredited Fixed Facility Law School must require classroom attendance of its students for a minimum of 270 hours per year for four years.

(N) “State Bar staff” means assigned staff of the State Bar of California.

(O) Substantial Compliance

“Substantial compliance” for an institution exists where it (a) is in full compliance with the core requirements listed in Rule 4.147(C)(1); (b) meets the reasonable objectives of all other rules; and (c) has not engaged in, and is not likely to imminently engage in, serious misconduct that could harm the education, safety, health, or financial condition of students or prospective students.
“Substantial compliance” for an individual rule exists where the institution meets the reasonable objectives of that rule. This definition applies to all rules except the core requirements of Rule 4.147(C)(1), for which a law school must show full and actual compliance.
Substantial compliance is a qualitative judgment made by the Committee, giving principal attention to the rule and its reasonable objectives. The Committee’s judgment may not be arbitrarily exercised, and may be informed by the judgment of experts, peers, and members of the public as applicable, as to the level of compliance with each rule.

Rule 4.105 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.106 Lists of Law Schools

The Committee maintains lists of law schools operating in California: those provisionally and fully accredited by the Committee, those registered as unaccredited with the Committee, those jointly accredited by these rules, and those approved by the Council.

Rule 4.106 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.107 Student Complaints

The State Bar does not intervene in disputes between a law school and a student or others, and will not respond directly to the complaining party, but may consider this information when assessing the law school’s compliance with these rules. Rule 4.107 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.108 Public Information

Release of information contained in the files of applicants for provisional or full accreditation, provisionally accredited law schools, and accredited law schools is subject to the requirements and limitations imposed by state law.

Rule 4.108 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.109 Waiver of Requirements

(A) A law school may request that the Committee temporarily waive any rule.

(B) The Committee shall consider the request at a scheduled Committee meeting as soon as reasonably practicable.

(C) The Committee will allow a law school a reasonable time to comply with the rule for which it has granted a waiver, but a waiver is temporary. A request to renew a waiver must be filed with the Periodic Compliance Report or as specified by the Committee.

(D) The Committee is authorized to adopt emergency policies and procedures in response to extraordinary circumstances in which compliance with the rules would create or constitute extreme hardship for multiple law schools. These policies and procedures will be effective upon adoption by the Committee for a term certain and limited to the duration of the extraordinary circumstance.

Rule 4.109 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.110 Fees

(A) The regulatory and oversight services provided by the Committee are funded by reasonable fees that are set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines.

(B) Fees for the services of State Bar staff or their designees are listed in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. The State Bar shall have final discretion as to the hours required to complete regulatory actions. Law schools seeking provisional or full accreditation agree to timely pay all fees incurred under the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. Failure to do so will be a basis for a finding of noncompliance.

Rule 4.110 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.111 Extensions of Time

For good cause, the Committee may extend a time limit prescribed by these rules.

Rule 4.111 adopted effective January 1, 2009.

Chapter 2. Application for Provisional Accreditation

Rule 4.120 Application for Provisional Accreditation

(A) A registered, unaccredited law school may apply for provisional accreditation. The Committee will grant provisional accreditation if it finds that the law school has demonstrated that it is in substantial compliance with these rules. A provisionally accredited law school may be subject to annual inspection and its students shall be subject to the First-Year Law Students’ Examination requirement. Provisional accreditation shall be granted for a specified period to be determined by the Committee, not to exceed two years.

(B) A law school provisionally or fully approved by the Council, or such a school which had approved status within the prior twelve months, may apply for provisional accreditation subject to the terms in paragraph (A) except that its students shall not be subject to the First- Year Law Students’ Examination requirement if the provisions of Rule 4.55(A)(1)(b)(i) apply.

Rule 4.120 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.121 Application Procedure

A law school provisionally or fully approved by the Council, or a law school which had such approved status within the prior twelve months, or a registered, unaccredited law school may apply for provisional accreditation by:

(A) completing and submitting the Application for Provisional Accreditation with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines;

(B) submitting a self-study of its educational program and other information as required by the Committee;

(D) agreeing to timely pay all fees incurred whether or not the law school receives provisional accreditation.

Rule 4.121 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.122 Status Report on Application for Provisional Accreditation

Within 60 days of submitting an Application for Provisional Accreditation, a law school will be notified of the status of the application and the estimated date of Committee consideration.

Rule 4.122 adopted effective January 1, 2009.

Rule 4.123 Committee action on application for provisional accreditation

(A) After considering an application for provisional accreditation, the Committee may:

make a finding that the law school does not appear to have demonstrated at least substantial compliance with these rules, and deny the application;
make a finding that the law school appears to be in at least substantial compliance with these rules, and schedule an inspection within 90 days to verify the law school’s level of compliance; or
request further information, allowing a reasonable time for review.

(B) The Committee shall notify the law school within 30 days of making its determination regarding the application.

Rule 4.123 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.124 Inspection for Provisional Accreditation

(A) An inspection visit is required of every applicant for provisional accreditation. The purpose of the inspection is to verify the information submitted by the law school and verify the extent of the law school's compliance with these rules.

(B) The Committee will notify the law school of the dates of the inspection. The inspection will be conducted by State Bar staff or designees and may include members of the Committee, law school representatives, or other members selected by the Committee.

(C) Within ten calendar days of notification of the proposed team by the State Bar, a law school may challenge the appointment of a team member for bias or conflict of interest, other than employment by a competing institution, documented with evidence and submitted in writing, and request an alternative appointment. The State Bar will consider the challenge and may appoint an alternative team member for good cause within 30 days of receipt of the challenge. Alternates shall be subject to challenge as described above.

Rule 4.124 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.125 Inspection Report for Provisional Accreditation

Within 90 days after the conclusion of the inspection, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the law school will receive a copy of the inspection report for its review. If the law school takes exception to any of the findings in the inspection report, it must notify the Committee in writing within 30 days of the date the inspection report was mailed, and shall submit evidence in support of the exceptions with the notification, or no later than 60 days after the inspection report was mailed. The Committee will consider the inspection report at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting after the time for submitting exceptions has passed; or, if exceptions have been submitted, at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting, as soon as practicable after the time for submitting evidence in support of the exceptions has passed.

Rule 4.125 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.126 Committee Action on Provisional Accreditation Inspection Report

(A) After considering the inspection report, any exceptions filed by the law school, and any additional information it has requested, the Committee may do any of the following:

Grant provisional accreditation for a specified time period of time up to two years, if the law school demonstrates substantial compliance as defined in Rule 4.105(D) and the intent and capacity to demonstrate full compliance within a reasonable period of time not to exceed two years.
Deny provisional accreditation if the law school does not satisfy the conditions specified in subparagraph 1.

(B) A law school granted provisional accreditation may be subject to an annual inspection and other conditions the Committee deems appropriate.

Rule 4.126 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Chapter 3. Application for Accreditation Rule

Rule 4.140 Application for Accreditation

A law school provisionally or fully approved by the Council, or such a school which had approved status within the prior twelve months, a provisionally accredited law school, or a registered, unaccredited law school may apply for accreditation. No later than 180 days before the expiration of provisional accreditation, a provisionally accredited law school must apply for accreditation. A provisionally accredited law school that does not apply for accreditation by this time will cease to be provisionally accredited and may apply to become registered with the Committee as an unaccredited law school.

Rule 4.140 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.141 Application Procedure

A law school provisionally or fully approved by the Council, or such a school which had approved status within the prior 12 months, a provisionally accredited law school, or a registered, unaccredited law school may apply for accreditation by

(A) completing and submitting the Application for Accreditation with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines;

(B) submitting a self-study of its educational program and other information as required by the Committee;

(D) agreeing to promptly pay all expenses of the inspection.

Rule 4.141 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.142 Status Report on Application for Accreditation

Within 60 days of submitting an Application for Accreditation, a law school will be notified of the status of the application and the estimated date of Committee consideration.

Rule 4.142 adopted effective January 1, 2009.

Rule 4.143 Committee Action on Application for Accreditations

(A) After considering an Application for Accreditation, the Committee may:

find that the law school does not appear to be in compliance with these rules, and deny the application; or
schedule an inspection within 90 days upon determining that the law school appears to be in compliance with these rules; or
request further information, allowing a reasonable time for review.

(B) The Committee will notify the law school within 30 days of making its determination regarding the application.

Rule 4.143 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.144 Inspection for Accreditation

(A) Inspection is required of every applicant for accreditation. The purpose of the inspection is to verify the information submitted by the law school and determine the extent of the school’s compliance with these rules.

(C) Within ten calendar days of notification of the proposed team by the State Bar, a law school may challenge the appointment of a team member for bias or conflict of interest, other than employment by a competing institution, documented with evidence and submitted in writing, and request an alternative appointment. The State Bar will consider the challenge and appoint an alternative team member for good cause within 30 days of receipt of the challenge. Alternates shall be subject to challenge as described above.

Rule 4.144 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.145 Accreditation Inspection Report

Within 90 days after the conclusion of the inspection, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the law school will receive a copy of the inspection report for its review. If the law school takes exception to any of the findings in the inspection report, it must notify the Committee in writing within 30 days of the date the inspection report was mailed, shall submit evidence in support of the exceptions with that notification or no later than 60 days after the inspection report was mailed. The Committee will consider the inspection report at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting as soon as practicable after the time for submitting exceptions has passed; or, if exceptions have been submitted, at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting after the time for submission of evidence in support of the exceptions has passed.

Rule 4.145 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.146 Committee Action on Accreditation Inspection Report

After considering the inspection report on the law school, any exceptions filed by the law school, and any additional information it has requested, the Committee may do any of the following:

(A) Grant accreditation if the law school demonstrates full compliance.

(B) Grant provisional accreditation if the law school demonstrates substantial compliance as defined in 4.105(D) and the intent and capacity to demonstrate full compliance within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed two years. For law schools provisionally accredited at the time of the Committee action, the Committee may continue the law school’s provisional accreditation, but shall not extend the total time allowed for provisional accreditation beyond two years.

Rule 4.146 adopted effective January 1, 2009.

Chapter 4. Law Schools Approved by Institutional Accreditors

Rule 4.147 Law Schools Approved by Other Accreditors

(A) A law school provisionally or fully approved by the Council is deemed accredited by the Committee and exempt from these rules. If the Council withdraws its approval, or the law school voluntarily relinquishes its approval, the law school may apply for provisional accreditation or accreditation as described in 4.121 and 4.141 above.

(B) A law school that has been fully accredited by the Committee and is also fully approved by any accreditor recognized and authorized to accredit schools offering the first professional degree in law by the United States Department of Education may apply to be, and upon approval shall be, jointly accredited by the Committee so long as the law school and the institution of which it is a part remain accredited in good standing with that accreditor, and the school complies with the requirements in section 4.147(C), below. A jointly accredited law school shall provide the State Bar with timely copies of its correspondence with any other accreditor relating to the law school.

A law school that is jointly accredited under Rule 4.147(B), and within the meaning of Rule 4.105(F), must comply with the following:
1. fees required by Rule 4.110;
2. location and compliance with applicable law required by Rule 4.160(A)(1) and Rule 4.160(A)(2) and communication disclosures required by Rules 4.160(A)(3), (4), and (6);
3. student success standards required by Rule 4.160(B);
4. diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices required by Rule 4.160(C)
5. practice-based skills and competencies curriculum required by Rule 4.160(D)(2);
6. financial responsibility required by Rule 4.160(D)(3);
7. curriculum required by Rule 4.160(D)(4);
8. Minimum Cumulative Pass Rate (MPR) required by Rule 4.160(D)(6);
9. periodic reporting required by Rule 4.161; and
10. the orders, directions, and notices required by the State Bar pursuant to these rules.

(2) The accreditation standards listed in Rule 4.147(C)(1) are the core requirements of accreditation as that term is used elsewhere in these rules.

Rule 4.147 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.148 Application for Jointly Accredited Status

(A) An accredited law school may apply for jointly accredited status by

completing and submitting the application for jointly accredited status with the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines; and
demonstrating that the law school meets the definition of jointly accredited status as defined in Rule 4.147(B) and agreeing to fulfill all obligations required of a jointly accredited law school.

(B) Within 90 days of submitting a complete application for jointly accredited status, or as soon as practicable thereafter, a law school will be notified whether it meets the definition of jointly accredited as defined in Rule 4.147(B).

Rule 4.148 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Chapter 5. Responsibilities of Provisionally Accredited and Accredited Law Schools

Rule 4.160 Programmatic Responsibilities of Provisionally Accredited and Accredited Law Schools

The purposes for accreditation are fourfold: Consumer Protection and Transparency; Student Success; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in legal education; and Preparation for Licensure and Professionalism. A law school shall maintain sufficient records between periodic inspections to demonstrate to the Committee its continuing compliance.

(A) Consumer Protection and Transparency: A law school shall ensure that prospective and current students are timely informed of the rights, responsibilities, and limitations of attending the law school, the resources and requirements needed to earn a JD degree, and the law school’s student outcomes with respect to retention, licensure, and career outcomes.

Location: A law school must maintain its primary administrative office and all law school campus locations in California and operate in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Compliance with laws: While the State Bar will not warrant a law school’s compliance with laws, evidence of violation of laws or regulations may result in a determination of noncompliance with these rules.
Disclosure: A law school shall publish a disclosure statement on its website, revised annually and submitted with the Periodic Compliance Report, that complies with California Business and Professions Code section 6061.7(a) in a format prescribed by the State Bar. The Committee may also require disclosure of additional information, including statistics on retention and diversity, when to do so is not in conflict with 4.160(A)(6).
Statement of Limitation on Bar Examination Eligibility: A law school shall publish, on its home page, the following Statement of Consumer Information, as well as on the Consumer Information Page, and on the Application and Enrollment Agreement:
Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be licensed to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek licensure to practice law outside of California at any time during their career should contact the admitting authority for information regarding its education and licensure requirements prior to enrolling at this law school.
Refund Policy: A law school must adopt a written refund policy that is fair and reasonable. A law school must provide refunds in accordance with its written refund policy, accompanied by a clear explanation of the method of calculation, within 45 days after a student withdraws from a class or a program, or within 45 days of the law school’s discontinuing a course or educational program in which a student is enrolled.
Public Communications: All information that a law school reports, publicizes or distributes shall be accurate and not misleading to a reasonable law school student, applicant or member of the public. A law school shall use due diligence in obtaining and verifying such information.
1. A law school must not mislead prospective students as to their reasonable prospects of admission, obtaining a degree in the program in which they seek to enroll, their ability to qualify for or be licensed by the bar in any jurisdiction, the cost of the requirements for obtaining a degree, or the financial support available through loans or scholarships for their course of study.
2. Whenever the words "Accredited" or "Provisionally Accredited" appear in law school communications in relation to qualification to take the California Bar Examination or admission to the practice of law in California, they must be accompanied by words clearly indicating that such accreditation is by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.
Student Privacy: A law school must protect student privacy and the confidentiality of student communications and records in accordance with the law. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a law school must not disclose, without a student's consent, grades, grade average, class schedule, address, telephone number, or other personally identified information, unless:
1. required by law, including administrative subpoena or court order;
2. requested by the State Bar;
3. designated “directory information” and students are advised of its designation as such;
4. requested by another accrediting agency; or
5. required in case of emergency.
Academic Standards: A law school must adopt and timely publish written academic standards, including:
1. standards for examinations and grading;
2. the courses, units, grades, and grade point average required for good standing, retention, advancement, and graduation;
3. the terms of the student probation policy, including requiring students advanced on probation to be academically disqualified if they do not meet the law school’s requirements for advancement in good standing and retention after no more than one year on probation;
4. the circumstances under which a student is subject to disqualification for academic deficiency;
5. policy on course repetition which includes a prohibition on earning credit more than once for substantially similar coursework;
6. prompt return of grades;
7. policy on review and appeal of grades; and
8. policy for authenticating student work.
Student Discipline: A law school must have a written policy for the imposition of student discipline and that policy must be fair.
1. The law school’s policy must include, but is not limited to, cancellation of a student’s score on an examination or assignment, denial of course credit, suspension, and dismissal.
2. The law school's policy must include reasonable notice to the student of the discipline or action to be taken and provide an opportunity for the student to be heard, at the student’s election, either in person, or in writing before a panel or members of the faculty and/or administration. An in-person hearing may be held electronically, at the law school’s discretion.
3. The requirements of these rules for a law school’s student discipline policy do not apply to academic probation or disqualification, other failures to meet academic standards, or failure to pay tuition, fees, or charges billed to the student.
Compensation Based on Number of Applicants, Enrollment and Students Prohibited: A law school may not base the compensation paid to any employee of the law school engaged in work related to advertising, marketing, and admissions on the number of persons enrolled in any class or on the number of persons applying for admission to or registering to enroll in the law school.
Maintaining Accurate and Complete Records: A law school must maintain complete and accurate records of its programs and operations pursuant to a written plan readily accessible to its administration, to students as appropriate, and to the Committee, in a manner properly secured and backed up to prevent or recover from loss. The law school must also maintain sufficient records to demonstrate its compliance from its last two periodic inspections to the present and maintain student grade records and Committee correspondence permanently.
Written Notice of Changes to Policies: A law school shall timely provide applicants, students and faculty with written notice of changes to policies that may affect them.

(B) Student Success: Consistent with its mission and these rules, a law school must provide JD curriculum and teaching designed to promote student success, measured by the learning outcomes designated by the law school for its courses and programs. The law school must not award a JD unless the student has completed all student requirements set forth in these rules, all requirements set forth by the law school for graduation, and all legal education requirements to take the California bar exam.

Organization: A law school must be governed, organized, and administered so as to maintain a sound program of legal education that prepares students for the legal profession and provides a reasonable opportunity to pass the California bar exam.
Administration: A law school must have a dean responsible for the operation of the law school, and one administrator per campus with experience in educational administration. The administrator must have graduated from a law school approved by the Council or accredited by the Committee, or be admitted to practice law in any United States jurisdiction. The dean and administrator may be the same person. Administrators and deans who have been admitted to practice law in any United States jurisdiction may not be suspended or disbarred or have resigned from any bar with charges pending. The law school must also have a registrar to address recordkeeping requirements. All must devote adequate time to their duties and must have current written job descriptions.
Statement of Program Learning Outcomes: A law school must state the knowledge, skills, and values that each program of the law school seeks to provide to, or develop, in graduates of that program.
Course Learning Outcomes: A law school should state the knowledge, skills, and values that each course in each program of the law school’s curriculum seeks to provide to, or develop in, graduates of that program.
Outcomes Assessment: A law school must engage in ongoing and systematic program outcomes assessment and should engage in ongoing and systematic course outcomes assessment. A law school may use any assessment method consistent with law and these rules to achieve and evaluate its mission-appropriate outcomes.
Admissions:
1. A law school must maintain a sound admissions policy in compliance with Business and Professions Code section 6060, the State Bar’s Admissions Rules, these rules and any applicable guidelines, and State Bar policies. A sound policy is one which ensures that the law school does not admit students who are obviously unqualified, do not meet pre-legal education requirements, or who do not appear to have a reasonable prospect of completing the degree program or meeting the program objectives, based on the information reasonably available to the law school at the time of admission.
2. Within 45 days after the start of the term, law schools must receive either: (1) official transcripts from the school or Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service that demonstrate compliance with Business and Professions Code section 6060(c)(1), Admissions Rule 4.25, State Bar policies, and the law school’s admissions policies, or (2) an official certification that the person has passed the equivalency examination required by section 6060(c)(2) of the California Business and Professions Code and Admissions Rule 4.25(B), State Bar policies, and the law school’s admissions policies. If the required documentation is not obtained within 45 days after the start of the term, the law school may extend attendance for no more than an additional 45 days under exceptional circumstances. Such exceptional circumstances must be documented in the student’s file.
3. Law schools must inquire about prior law school attendance prior to offering admission, including performance, standing, and reason for departure. If a law school admits a student who was previously disqualified from the same or another law school for academic reasons, the law school must document the reasons for admitting or readmitting the student, as applicable.
4. If the law school admits a special student as defined under California Business and Professions Code 6060(c)(2) and Admissions Rule 4.25(B), that student must take and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination within three administrations of first becoming eligible to take it, or the student must be dismissed. The student must pass the examination before any credit can be awarded.
A law school may accept transfer credits for study at other law schools but is not required to do so. Credit may only be transferred for whole courses, in an amount not to exceed the credit granted by the awarding law school and shall only be awarded for classes for which the student earned a grade in good standing at that awarding law school, except that for a student who has passed the First-Year Law Students’ Examination, the law school may acknowledge the credit previously granted for Torts, Criminal Law, and Contracts, even if the grade was less than would be required for good standing.
No credit may be granted for work completed at a registered, unaccredited law school unless that student has passed the First-Year Law Students’ Examination, and no credit shall be awarded beyond the first year of study for that student and prior to passing the examination unless they passed the exam within three administrations of becoming eligible to take it. A law school shall not accept transfer credits earned more than 36 months prior to enrollment without documenting good cause in the student’s file and confirming disclosure to the student that they will have a responsibility to keep their knowledge current to pursue licensure.
Retention and Disqualification: A law school must, as soon as possible, identify and disqualify those students who lack the capability to satisfactorily complete the law school’s JD degree program. Each student must be evaluated for advancement annually.
Assessment of Student Learning: A law school must determine a method to evaluate student learning based on evidence. A law school must establish that the method evaluates the student’s skills and knowledge of fundamental principles encompassed within the subject matter of the course.
Grading: Grading standards should seek to promote accuracy and consistency in the evaluation of student performance, as well as to reasonably assess the student’s progress toward potential licensure. The standards shall include a policy on pass-fail grading and exclude pass-fail grading for bar-tested subjects.
Quantitative Academic Requirements:
1. A JD program must include the completion of a minimum of 80 semester units or their equivalent. A JD degree should be completed in no less than 24 or no more than 84 months, except that the law school may allow a student to complete the JD program in more than 84 months under extraordinary circumstances at the law school’s discretion, if the law school places a letter in the student’s file documenting good cause and gives notice to the student that they have a responsibility to keep their knowledge current to pursue licensure, and provides adequate support to the student to do so.
2. The 80 semester units or their equivalent may be satisfied through a combination of any of the following means: (i) student attendance in a classroom-based program; (ii) student participation in a synchronous or asynchronous curriculum offered through distance-learning technology; and (iii) student participation in an experiential or clinical program for up to 12.5 percent of the total time required to earn a JD degree.
3. A “semester unit” includes at least 15 hours of verifiable academic engagement and a total of 45 hours of engagement.
4. Students may earn credit for verifiable academic engagement via:
  (1) physical classroom time;
  (2) using distance learning technology in any manner, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (a) participating in a synchronous class session; (b) viewing and listening to recorded classes or lectures; (c) participating in a live or recorded webinar offered by the law school; (d) participating in any synchronous or asynchronous academic assignment in any class monitored by a faculty member; (e) taking an examination, quiz or timed writing assignment; (f) completing an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction; (g) conducting legal research assigned as part of the curriculum in any class; and (h) participating in any portion of an approved clinical or experiential class or activity offered through distance learning technology totaling no more than 12.5 percent of the hours required for graduation; and/or
  (3) student participation in an experiential or clinical program where the student’s participation is pre-approved, a faculty member reviews the student participation to ensure educational objectives are achieved, the amount of credit is commensurate with the time spent, and the total credit does not exceed 12.5 percent of the total hours required for graduation.
5. A law school must have a written policy that requires each student to complete at least 1200 hours of verifiable academic engagement in order to complete the JD program. It is presumptively sufficient to have a policy requiring completion of at least 80 percent of the academic engagement required by each course in which the student is enrolled.
Faculty: A law school and each campus it operates must have sufficient faculty to maintain a sound program of legal education, and ensure timely response to, and evaluation of, each student and the prompt evaluation of assignments. At least 80 percent of the faculty must be licensed to practice law in a United States jurisdiction, be a judge of a United States Court or court of record in any jurisdiction of the United States, or be a graduate of a law school approved by the Council or accredited by the Committee. Students may not be the sole instructors of any activity for academic credit.
Faculty Development: Instructors must continually strive to improve their teaching skills and expertise in the subjects they teach. Instructors are expected to keep informed of changes in the law and include in their courses a discussion of recent significant statutory changes and case law developments.
Evaluation of Faculty: A law school must adopt a written process for the evaluation of instructor competence including regular assessment, annual evaluation by the institution, and written record of performance.
Academic Freedom: A law school must adopt an academic freedom policy under which the faculty member can articulate an academically related position or concept that may be controversial without fear of reprisal.
Academic Support: A law school, through its faculty or otherwise, must provide academic counseling to students. A law school must provide services, experiences, and activities targeted to the size and the need of its enrolled student body.
Library Resources: A law school must own or license a reasonable hard copy and/or electronic library that includes sufficient materials for students to complete their coursework and learn to conduct legal research. The library should include, at a minimum, California and federal case law and statutes and copies of course materials. The law school shall not rely upon a public library to fulfill this purpose.
Statement of Student Services: A law school must publicly state what services, experiences, and activities are available to students at each of its campuses and must provide adequate support and resources for all such provided services, experiences, and activities. Student services, experiences, and activities must be made reasonably available to all students, although a law school may impose reasonable qualifications (such as minimum grade average or year in law school) for participation in services, experiences, and activities other than academic counseling.

(C) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A law school must have mission-appropriate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, in accordance with California and federal law, to support student success; create an inclusive environment for, and encourage the participation of historically underrepresented communities within the student body; and promote cultural competency and respectful discourse across a wide range of issues. To ensure an environment of continuous evaluation and improvement, law schools must track the implementation of their policies and change them as appropriate when suggested by their results.

Antidiscrimination Policy: Consistent with California and federal law, a law school shall have and publish anti-discrimination policies for faculty, staff, and students, including policies regarding sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Law School Environment and Experience: A law school must demonstrate a commitment to create an environment in which students, faculty, and staff can respectfully discuss and respond to issues upon which a diversity of views can be expected through mission-appropriate policies, procedures, curricula, research, and/or outreach activities.
Access/Diversity Programs and Partnerships: A law school must put in place effective policies and practices, and engage in ongoing, systematic, and focused recruitment and retention activities, in an effort to achieve mission-appropriate access, diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency outcomes for its students, faculty, senior administrative staff, and members of its academic community, and to work to eliminate bias, both implicit and explicit. The law school will assess its progress using well- articulated metrics including examining disaggregated retention and graduation outcomes and adjust programs and policies as appropriate to improve diversity and inclusion outcomes.

(D) Preparation for Licensure and Professionalism: A law school shall prepare JD students to become licensed attorneys and to practice law in an ethical and professional manner. The JD degree must be granted only upon completion of a law program that satisfies the educational requirements for a student to take the California Bar Examination.

Access to Faculty: A law school must provide a policy for students to access the faculty, whether through scheduled office hours, regular or electronic mail, chat rooms, telephone contact or other means.
Practice-Based Skills and Competencies
1. The law school must require that each student enrolled in its JD Degree program satisfactorily completes a minimum of six semester units (or their equivalent) of course work designed to teach practice-based skills and competency training. Such competency training must teach and develop those skills needed by a newly licensed attorney to practice law in an ethical and competent manner.
2. A law school must provide the opportunity for students in the JD degree program to complete a minimum of 15 semester units (or their equivalent) of practice-based skills and competency training. A law school is encouraged to provide externship, clinical, law review, and similar experiences to enrich the legal education of its students.
3. A law school must provide the opportunity for LLM students who are enrolled in the law school to qualify to take the California Bar Examination to complete a minimum of five semester units (or their equivalent) of practice-based skills and competency training.
Expenditure of Assets and Funds to Provide a Sound Program of Education: A law school must use its assets and funds, including tuition, fees, and other charges collected from, or on behalf of, students, to provide a program of legal education reasonably calculated to lead to licensure in the law. A law school must establish reasonable safeguards against financial fraud and other financial improprieties. The Committee reserves the right to require a law school to submit an audited financial statement prepared by an independent certified public accountant.
Curriculum: There is no prescribed program of legal education. An effective program of legal education for the JD degree will include, but not be limited to all of the following:
1. a balanced and comprehensive course of study with subjects and materials presented in an organized and logical manner and sequence that satisfy the legal education requirements to take the California Bar Exam;
2. learning experiences that support the acculturation of program graduates to the mores and values of the legal profession, including service, preparation, responsiveness, confidentiality, excellence, civility, professionalism, and ethics;
3. knowledge of process and skills for legal research and writing, which shall include access to legal research resources adequate to accomplish this requirement; and
4. the subjects tested by the California Bar Examination, including a course inProfessional Responsibility that all students must complete and pass.
Academic Program Plan: A law school must adopt and maintain a written plan for its academic program.
Minimum Cumulative Pass Rate: The [California accredited] law school must maintain a minimum, cumulative bar examination pass rate (MPR) of 40 percent in each reporting period. The rate will be calculated and reported annually to the Committee on or before July 1 of the year following each reporting period.
1. The “reporting period” covers the five most recent 12-month periods (August 1 through July 31) prior to the calendar year in which the MPR is reported to the Committee.
2. For purposes of MPR calculation, a “qualified taker for the reporting period” includes any individual who both graduated from the law school’s JD program during the reporting period and took any administration of the California Bar Examination during the reporting period or the first February administration after the reporting period that was also no more than 10 administrations after the taker’s graduation. The October 2020 California Bar Examination shall be treated as if it were administered in July 2020 for purposes of MPR calculation. A student who does not meet both requirements is not a qualified taker for the purpose of the MPR report and is not to be included in the calculation of a law school’s MPR.
3. A law school’s MPR is to be calculated as a fraction that is the sum of all qualified takers who took the bar exam during the reporting period and who passed any administration of the California Bar Examination during the reporting period or the first February administration after the reporting period that was no more than 10 administrations after the taker’s graduation, plus the sum of all qualified takers who have satisfied the requirements for the alternative pathway to licensure set forth in California Rule of Court 9.49.1(i)(4) by the July 1 reporting deadline (the numerator) divided by the sum of all qualified takers for the reporting period who, whether they passed or failed, took any administration of the California Bar Examination during the reporting period or the first February administration after the reporting period that was also no more than 10 administrations after the taker’s graduation, minus the sum of all qualified takers who are provisionally licensed lawyers pursuing the alternative pathway to licensure set forth in California Rule of Court 9.49.1 and who have not yet completed or exited the program by the July 1 reporting deadline, unless that program has concluded (the denominator), with the resulting numeral being expressed as a percentage. The MPR for a law school with one or more branch campuses is to be calculated and reported as the combined rate of all such campuses.
Academic Credit for Bar Examination Review: A law school may offer and grant academic credit for a bar examination review or preparation course. A law school may also require successful completion of a bar examination review or preparation course as a condition of graduation.
Acquiescence Required to Award Professional Law Degrees in Addition to the JD Degree: In order to award any professional law degree in addition to the JD degree, a law school must apply to and obtain the advance acquiescence of the Committee, and must agree to use the disclosures prescribed by the State Bar in the law school’s communications and enrollment agreements. As provided in rule 4.105(L) of these rules, a “professional law degree” is the Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Executive JD Non-Bar-Qualifying Degree (EJD), Juris Doctor (JD), Masters of Law (LLM), Master of Legal Studies (MLS), or other post-graduate degree.

Rule 4.160 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.161 Periodic Compliance Report

(A) A law school subject to these rules must submit a periodic compliance report as required, using the form prescribed by the Committee. The deadline and fee for submission of the report are set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines.

(B) A law school with an approved branch or satellite campus must submit a fee for each additional campus as set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines.

Rule 4.161 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.162 Periodic Inspection

(A) An accredited law school, including each approved branch or satellite campus, is subject to inspection every five to seven years following the grant of accreditation, at the discretion of the Committee, or more frequently if the Committee finds this is reasonably necessary to ensure continued compliance. The inspection will be conducted by State Bar staff or designees and may include members of the Committee, law school representatives, and other members.

(B) Within ten calendar days of notification of the proposed team by the State Bar, a law school may challenge the appointment of a team member for bias, documented with evidence and submitted in writing, other than employment by a competing institution, and request an alternative appointment. The Committee will consider the challenge and may appoint an alternative team member for good cause within 30 days of receipt of the challenge. Alternates shall be subject to challenge as described above.

(C) Within 90 days after the conclusion of the inspection, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the law school will receive a copy of the inspection report for its review. If the law school takes exception to any of the findings in the inspection report, it must notify the Committee in writing within 30 days of the date the report was mailed, and may take up to 60 days from the date the report was mailed to submit evidence in support of the exceptions. The Committee will consider the inspection report at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting after the time for submitting exceptions has passed; or, if exceptions have been submitted, at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting after the time for submission of evidence in support of the exceptions has passed.

(D) After considering the inspection report, any exceptions filed by the law school, and any additional information it has requested, the Committee may continue accreditation and/or address noncompliance.

(E) A jointly accredited law school is not subject to periodic inspection unless a complaint has been filed against it that reasonably implicates the law school’s compliance with the core rules, it has lost its accreditation with its institutional accreditor, or the Committee has a reasonable belief that the law school may be out of compliance with any core requirement, and the Committee requires additional information from the law school to assess its compliance.

Rule 4.162 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.163 Self-Study

Prior to a periodic inspection, or more frequently if the Committee requests it, an accredited law school must reevaluate its educational program and submit a written self-study to the Committee. The purpose of the self-study is for the law school to assess and demonstrate whether it has complied with these rules and has achieved its mission and objectives. The law school must use the format prescribed by the Committee and submit the self-study and fee in compliance with the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines.

Rule 4.163 adopted effective January 1, 2009, amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.165 Prior Approval Required for Major Changes

(A) A provisionally accredited law school or accredited law school contemplating a major change requiring advance approval must notify the Committee and obtain that approval at least 180 days before making the change. The notice must explain in detail any effect the change might have on the law school’s compliance with these rules and be submitted with the fee specified in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. The Committee may require submission of additional information or an inspection as part of its consideration. The following major changes require advance approval from the Committee:

(1) changing the location of the law school, or the location of a branch campus or satellite campus, to a different location more than five (5) miles from the existing location;

(2) instituting any joint degree program, whether within the college or university affiliated with the law school or with another institution;

(3) instituting a new division, full- or part-time;

(4) offering any professional law degree program in addition to the JD degree;

(5) sponsoring or offering for law study credit any individual seminar or class, other than from a branch campus, that will meet more than fifty-five miles from the law school’s principal facility or outside of California;

(6) affiliating with another law school, college, or university, or modifying the law school’s relationship with an affiliated college or university;

(7) changing from a nonprofit to a for-profit status or vice versa;

(8) change in ownership or control of the law school, including affiliation, merger or severance with another law school, college, university, or organization;

(9) any major change to the JD curriculum, including change in the number of credits, overall requirements, or teaching modality change that affects more than one-third of the program; or

(10) opening a new branch or satellite campus.

(B) An accredited law school that makes a change as to any one of the following must notify the Committee within 30 days of making the change:

(1) Official physical or mailing address, phone number, or email for the law school;

(2) Contact Information for the Dean, Administrator, or Registrar;

(3) The law school’s website domain(s) or home page address (URL); or

(4) The name of the law school.

Rule 4.165 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective March 13, 2015; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Chapter 6. Termination of Provisional Accreditation or Accreditation

Rule 4.170 Proceeding to Determine Compliance

(A) If the Committee makes a finding that a provisionally accredited law school, or any branch or satellite campus thereof, is not in substantial compliance with any of these rules, or that a jointly accredited law school, or any branch or satellite campus thereof, is not in compliance with any core requirement in Rule 4.147(C), or that an accredited law school, or any branch or satellite campus thereof, is not in compliance with any of these rules, the Committee shall provide the law school with a written Notice of Noncompliance that states the reasons and factual basis therefor.

(B) Within fifteen days of receiving a Notice of Noncompliance, the law school must file a response demonstrating that it is in substantial compliance with these rules, if a provisionally accredited law school, or in compliance with these rules, if an accredited law school; or, if the law school is not in compliance, detailing a plan that reasonably demonstrates the law school’s best intent, capacity, method, and timing to return to substantial compliance, or compliance, as applicable, and the law school may also request a hearing pursuant to rule 4.175. If the law school does not provide a response or does not request a hearing, the Committee will proceed with the information that is before it at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting as soon as practicable.

(1) If the Committee determines that the law school is in compliance or substantial compliance, as applicable, the Committee will make this finding in the public record.

(2) If the Committee is unable to determine whether the law school has demonstrated compliance or substantial compliance, as applicable, the Committee may request additional information, including an inspection. If the law school refuses or is reasonably unavailable to participate in any request, the Committee will proceed with the information that is before it.

(3) If the Committee determines that the law school is not in compliance or substantial compliance, as applicable, the Committee must provide the law school with a written Notice of Sanctions that states the sanction(s), a summary of the reason(s) and factual basis for the sanction(s), and the effective date.

Rule 4.170 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.172 Probation

(A) If the Committee finds that a provisionally accredited law school, or any branch or satellite campus thereof, has not complied with any core requirement in Rule 4.147(C), or has not substantially complied with any other rule, but has demonstrated the intent and capacity to comply with the rule, the Committee may, among other sanctions it deems appropriate, place the law school on probation for a specified time not to exceed two years.

(B) If the Committee finds that a jointly accredited law school, or any branch or satellite campus thereof, has not complied with any core requirement of Rule 4.147(C), the Committee may revoke the law school’s jointly accredited status and place the law school on probation for a specified time not to exceed two years.

(C) If the Committee finds that an accredited law school, or any branch or satellite campus thereof, has not complied with these rules, the Committee may place the law school on probation for a specified time not to exceed two years.

(D) A provisionally accredited or accredited law school placed on probation is subject to any probation conditions imposed by the Committee, including interim inspections, public notice, and progress reports. The law school continues to have degree-granting authority and its students are deemed enrolled at a provisionally accredited or accredited law school, as applicable.

(E) No sooner than the last six months prior to the conclusion of the probationary period, the Committee may extend the probationary period if the Committee makes specific findings that extraordinary circumstances justify the extension. In reviewing an extension request, the Committee shall consider the progress made toward bringing the law school into substantial compliance or compliance and any other relevant information.

(F) At least 30 days before probation expires, the Committee will set a date, and notify the law school of such date, and on or after such date, the Committee will determine whether it will:

(1) end the provisionally accredited law school’s probation or will proceed to terminate the law school’s provisional accreditation; or

(2) end the accredited law school’s probation or will proceed to terminate the law school’s accreditation.

(G) The Committee may remove a law school from probation prior to the conclusion of the probationary period if the law school demonstrates substantial compliance or compliance, as applicable. Probation is not available to a provisionally accredited law school during the last 180 days of its provisional accreditation.

(H) Probation is not required in circumstances described in Rule 4.173(A)(2)-(A)(3), where termination without intervening probation is necessary for public protection.

Rule 4.172 adopted effective January 1, 2009; amended effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.173 Termination of Accreditation or Provisional Accreditation

(A) The Committee may terminate provisional accreditation or accreditation if it finds one or more of the following:

(1) the law school has failed, during a period of probation, to demonstrate substantial compliance or compliance, as applicable, for provisionally accredited or accredited law schools, respectively, with one or more of the rules or to meet the terms of its probation;

(2) the law school is out of compliance with a core requirement of Rule 4.147(C), and the Committee finds that a period of probation would not be appropriate;

(3) the law school has engaged in, or may imminently engage in, serious misconduct that could harm the safety, health, education or financial condition of students or prospective students; or

(4) the law school is provisionally accredited, and a probationary period would serve no purpose given the nature of the noncompliance or the proximity to the termination of the provisional accreditation period.

(B) The Committee shall terminate accreditation or provisional accreditation on a specific date, at which time the law school’s degree-granting authority shall also terminate. This date should generally coincide with the end of the current semester, though the Committee may terminate accreditation immediately in its discretion, or at a later time if appropriate. If the law school’s accreditation is terminated, it may apply for registration with the Committee as an unaccredited law school. Any application for registered unaccredited status filed concurrently with proceedings related to a Notice of Noncompliance shall not be interpreted as an admission of noncompliance or prevent the Committee from making a finding of compliance with these rules.

Rule 4.173 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.174 Request for Hearing

Within 15 days after the Committee issues a Notice of Noncompliance or gives notice of a date of a Committee consideration pursuant to Rule 4.172(F), a law school may request a hearing pursuant to Rule 4.175.

Rule 4.174 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.175 Hearing Procedures

(A) Within 30 days of the Committee receiving a timely request for hearing, a hearing will be scheduled before a panel of three members selected by the State Bar. Within ten days after the State Bar identifies the panel, the law school may file a written challenge to the appointment of any member for bias or actual conflict. The State Bar must consider the request and, if good cause is shown, grant the request and appoint an alternative member. Alternates shall be subject to challenge as described above.

(B) The State Bar will record the hearing. A transcript or copy of the recording of the hearing will be made available at the law school’s request and expense.

(C) One of the three members of the panel will be selected to preside over the hearing. The hearing need not be conducted according to common law or statutory rules of evidence. Any relevant evidence is admissible if it is the kind of evidence on which responsible persons rely in the conduct of serious affairs. The rules of privilege in the California Evidence Code or required by the United States or California Constitutions will be followed.

(D) All parties may be represented by counsel at their own expense.

(E) The law school has the burden of establishing its compliance, if an accredited law school, and substantial compliance, if a provisionally accredited law school, with these rules.

(F) At the conclusion of the hearing, the panel will deliberate and prepare proposed findings to be presented to the Committee.

Rule 4.175 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.176 Committee Action Following a Hearing

Following a hearing, the Committee will consider the hearing record, hearing panel’s proposed findings, any additional panel recommendations and any other information presented to the Committee. The Committee may approve, modify or reject the proposed findings or substitute its own findings. The Committee may take any action affecting the law school’s provisional accreditation or accreditation that it considers appropriate, including termination of provisional accreditation or accreditation.

Rule 4.176 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.177 Notification of Committee Decision

The Committee, in its discretion, may do any or all of the following with respect to its decisions:

(A) publish it via the State Bar website, periodicals of general circulation, or otherwise;

(B) require that the law school include a notice regarding the Committee’s decision on the law school’s website, consumer disclosures or other communications;

(D) notify the Supreme Court of California;

(E) notify the California Attorney General; or

(F) notify any other entity that accredits or regulates the law school.

Rule 4.177 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Rule 4.178 Review by Supreme Court

A law school may seek review of termination of its accreditation before the Supreme Court of California pursuant to its rules.

Rule 4.178 adopted effective January 1, 2022.

Division 3. Unaccredited Law School Rules

Adopted July 2007

Download PDF

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Rule 4.200 Authority

The Committee of Bar Examiners (“the Committee”) is authorized by law to register, oversee, and regulate unaccredited law schools in California. Rule 4.200 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.201 What these rules are

(A) A law school conducting business in California must register with the Committee and comply with these rules and other applicable law unless otherwise exempt.

(B) These rules have been approved by the Committee and adopted by the Board of Trustees as part of the Rules of the State Bar of California and may be amended in accordance with State Bar rules.

(C) These rules do not apply to law schools accredited by the Committee, law schools approved by the American Bar Association, paralegal programs, undergraduate legal degree programs, or other legal studies programs that do not lead to a professional degree in law. The appropriate legal entity must approve such programs, even if they are offered by an accredited, approved, or registered law school or an institution of which it is a part.

Rule 4.201 adopted effective January 1, 2008; amended effective January 1, 2012.

Rule 4.202 Interpreting and applying the rules

The Guidelines for Unaccredited Law School Rules, as adopted by the Committee of Bar Examiners, govern the interpretation and application of these rules.

Rule 4.202 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.203 Citation

These rules may be cited as Unaccredited Law School Rules.

Rule 4.203 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.204 Definitions

(A) An “American Bar Association Approved Law School” is a law school fully or provisionally approved by the American Bar Association and deemed accredited by the Committee.

(B) A “California accredited law school” is a law school that has complied with the Rules on Accreditation of Law Schools and has been accredited by the Committee.

(D) The “First-Year Law Students’ Examination” is the examination required by statute and by Title 4, Division 1 of the Rules of the State Bar of California (Admissions Rules)(1)

(E) “Inspection” means an on-site visit to a law school by an individual or a team appointed by the Committee in accordance with these rules.

(F) A “major change” is one of the changes specified in rule 4.246, Major changes.

(G) A “professional law degree” is the LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws), M.L.S. (Master of Legal Studies), J.D. (Juris Doctor), LL.M. (Master of Laws), or other post-graduate degree authorized by the Committee. The J.D. degree may be granted only upon completion of a law program that qualifies a student to take the California Bar Examination.

(H) A “registered law school” is an unaccredited California law school that meets the requirements of these rules and that has been registered by the Committee.

(I) “Senior Executive” means “Senior Executive, Admissions” or that person’s designee.

(J) An “unaccredited law school” is a correspondence, distance-learning, or fixed-facility law school operating in California that is not accredited by the Committee.

(1) A “correspondence law school” is a law school that conducts instruction principally by correspondence. A correspondence law school must require at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.

(2) A “distance-learning law school” is a law school that conducts instruction and provides interactive classes principally by technological means. A distance-learning law school must require at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.

(3) A “fixed-facility law school” is a law school that conducts its instruction principally in physical classroom facilities. A fixed-facility law school must require classroom attendance of its students for a minimum of 270 hours a year for four years.

Rule 4.204 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.205 Lists of law schools

The Committee maintains lists of law schools operating in California: those accredited by the Committee, those registered as unaccredited by the Committee, and those approved by the American Bar Association. The lists are available on the State Bar Web site and upon request.

Rule 4.205 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.206 Student complaints

The Committee does not intervene in disputes between a student and a law school. It retains complaints about a law school submitted by students and considers those complaints in assessing the law school’s compliance with these rules.

Rule 4.206 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.207 Public information

Release of information contained in the files of applicants for registration and registered law schools is subject to the requirements and limitations imposed by state law.

Rule 4.207 adopted effective January 1, 2008; amended effective November 18, 2016.

Rule 4.208 Waiver of requirements

(A) A law school may request that the Committee waive any rule or guideline. The request must clearly show that the law school otherwise complies with the rules.

(B) The Committee will allow a law school a reasonable time to comply with the rule or guideline for which it has granted a waiver, but a waiver is temporary. A request to renew a waiver must be filed with the Annual Compliance Report. The Committee may then renew, modify, or withdraw the waiver.

Rule 4.208 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.209 Fees

(A) The regulatory and oversight services provided by the Committee are funded by reasonable fees that are set forth in the Unaccredited Law School Fees (Schedule of Charges and Deadlines).

(B) Fees for the services of the Senior Executive or a consultant engaged by the Committee are based on an hourly rate that covers the cost of providing the service, inclusive of preparation and travel time.

Rule 4.209 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.210 Extensions of time

For good cause, the Committee may extend a time limit prescribed by these rules.

Rule 4.210 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Chapter 2. Application for registration

Rule 4.220 Before applying to register

An educational institution planning to offer instruction in law may request that the Committee arrange a consultation visit to advise it on any matter, including whether the institution is ready to apply for registration or should make changes before doing so. The institution must agree to reimburse the Committee for the costs of a consultation visit, including those of travel.

Rule 4.220 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.221 Application procedure

A law school that meets the standards set forth in rule 4.240 may apply for registration by:

(A) completing and submitting the Application for Registration using the form prescribed by the Committee with the fee set forth in the Unaccredited Law School Fees (Schedule of Charges and Deadlines); and

(B) agreeing to allow the Committee to make any inspection it deems necessary and promptly pay all expenses of the inspection.

Rule 4.221 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.222 Multiple locations

If a fixed-facility law school has multiple locations that are more than ten miles apart by the most direct route, each location must apply for registration as a separate law school.

Rule 4.222 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.223 Committee action

After considering an application, the Committee may

(A) notify the law school within thirty days of receiving the application that it has failed to establish a reasonable probability that the law school is in compliance with these rules and, for reasons stated in the notice, advise the law school to withdraw its application;

(B) require an inspection of a law school that refuses to withdraw its application after the Committee has advised it to do so and schedule the inspection within sixty days of the date of its advice or the law school’s refusal;

(C) within sixty days of reviewing the application and any related inspection report and objections, register the law school for at least two years, subject to any conditions it deems appropriate, such as annual inspections at the law school's expense;

(D) request further information, allowing a reasonable time for review; or

(E) deny the application.

Rule 4.223 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Chapter 3. Responsibilities of registered law schools

Rule 4.240 Standards

A registered law school must at all times meet the following standards.

(A) Lawful Operation. The law school must operate in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

(B) Integrity. The law school must demonstrate integrity in all of its programs, operations, and other affairs.

(C) Governance. The law school must be governed, organized, and administered so as to provide a sound educational program.

(D) Dean and Faculty. The law school must have a competent dean or other administrative head and a competent faculty that devotes adequate time to administration, instruction, and student counseling.

(E) Educational Program. The law school must maintain a sound program of legal education.

(F) Competency Training. The law school must require that each student enrolled in its Juris Doctor Degree program satisfactorily complete a minimum of six semester units (or their equivalent) of course work designated to teach practice-based skills and competency training. Such competency training must teach and develop those skills needed by a licensed attorney to practice law in an ethical and competent manner.

(G) Scholastic Standards. The law school must maintain sound scholastic standards and must as soon as possible identify and exclude those students who have demonstrated they are not qualified to continue.

(H) Admissions. The law school must maintain a sound admissions policy. The law school must not admit any student who is obviously unqualified or who does not appear to have a reasonable prospect of completing the degree program.

(I) Library. The law school must maintain a library consistent with the minimum requirements set by the Committee.

(J) Physical Resources. The law school must have physical resources and an infrastructure adequate for its programs and operations. The law school must, at a minimum, maintain its primary administrative office in the State of California.

(K) Financial Resources. The law school must have adequate present and anticipated financial resources to support its programs and operations.

(L) Records and Reports. The law school must maintain adequate records of its programs and operations.

(M) Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination. Consistent with sound educational policy and these rules, the law school should demonstrate a commitment to providing equal opportunity to study law and in the hiring, retention and promotion of faculty without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, disability, medical condition, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

(N) Compliance with Committee requirements. The law school must demonstrate its compliance with these rules by submitting the required annual reports and otherwise complying with the rules.

Rule 4.240 adopted effective January 1, 2008; Rule 4.240(F), adopted effective for all students newly enrolled in the first year on or after January 1, 2018.

Rule 4.241 Disclosure statement

(A) A registered law school must provide each student, in the format required by the Committee, a disclosure statement that includes all the following information.

(1) It is not accredited by the Committee.

(2) Whether it has applied for accreditation in the previous five years, and if so, the date of the application and whether the application is pending or has been withdrawn or denied.

(3) A statement of assets and liabilities. This requirement applies only if it has been in operation for fewer than ten years. The requirement does not apply if the law school is affiliated with or under the control of another school that has been in operation ten years or more.

(4) In the format required by the Committee, the pass rates of students who have taken the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination and the California Bar Examination. This information must be provided for the past five years or since the establishment of the law school, whichever time is shorter.

(5) The number of legal volumes in the library. This requirement does not apply to correspondence or distance-learning law schools.

(6) The educational background, qualifications, and experience of the faculty and the names of any faculty or administrators who are licensees of the State Bar of California or who are admitted in another jurisdiction.

(7) The ratio of faculty to students for the previous five years or since the establishment of the law school, whichever time is shorter.

(8) A statement that the education it provides may not satisfy the requirements of other jurisdictions for the practice of law and that applicants should contact the jurisdiction in which they may wish to practice for that jurisdiction’s requirements.

(9) Whether it has been issued a Notice of Noncompliance by the Committee.

(10) In the format required by the Committee, the attrition rates of students who are enrolled in the school and do not matriculate into subsequent years of law study. This information must be provided for the past five years or since the establishment of the law school, whichever time is shorter.

(B) The disclosure statement must be provided to

(1) each new student upon payment of an application fee but before payment of a registration fee; and

(2) each returning student, prior to payment of any fee for an academic term.

(D) Each year on the date indicated in the Unaccredited Law School Fees (Schedule of Charges and Deadlines), a law school must file at the Committee’s San Francisco office

(1) a copy of the disclosure statement the law school has provided or intends to provide in any academic term between July 1 of the current calendar year and June 30 of the following calendar year; and

(2) the Disclosure Statement Certification form prescribed by the Committee.

(E) A law school that does not comply with this rule must refund all fees, including tuition, paid by a student who did not receive the disclosure statement. Non-compliance constitutes cause for withdrawal of registration.

Rule 4.241 adopted effective January 1, 2008; amended effective June 1, 2016; amended effective January 25, 2019.

Rule 4.242 Annual Compliance Report

A registered law school must submit an Annual Compliance Report using the form prescribed by the Committee. The report must acknowledge any noncompliance with these rules and describe the remedial steps being taken to address the noncompliance. The deadline and fee for submission of the report are set forth in the Unaccredited Law School Fees (Schedule of Charges and Deadlines).

Rule 4.242 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.243 Self-study

Prior to a periodic inspection, or more frequently if the Committee requests it, a registered law school must reevaluate its educational program and submit a written self-study to the Committee. The purpose of the self-study is to determine whether the law school is in compliance with these rules and has achieved its mission and objectives. The law school must use the format prescribed by the Committee and submit the required fee.

Rule 4.243 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.244 Inspections

(A) A registered law school must be inspected every five years or more frequently if the Committee determines that an inspection is required to assess compliance with these rules.

(B) A law school subject to inspection must

(1) facilitate the review of records, facilities inspection, observation of classes, and interviews with students, faculty, staff, administration, and board; and

(2) pay all expenses of the inspection.

(1) the Senior Executive; and

(2) up to two additional members, who may be other State Bar staff, members of the Committee, educational consultants, or representatives from a registered law school.

(D) Within ten days of receiving notice of an inspection, a law school has the right to challenge the appointment of an inspector and to request an alternative appointment. Grounds for a challenge are that an appointee is biased or has a financial interest in or is employed by a competing institution. An allegation of bias must be documented by written evidence. The Senior Executive will consider the challenge and may appoint an alternative member for good cause. The Senior Executive’s decision will be issued within thirty days of receipt of the challenge.

(E) A person or team appointed to make an inspection must provide the Committee with a written report of its findings and recommendations within sixty days of completing its inspection. Once it has received a report, the Committee must send the law school a copy of it within sixty days.

(F) Within fifteen days of receiving an inspection report, the law school must notify the Committee that it accepts the report or objects to it in whole or in part. An objection must be supported by documentation.

(G) Within sixty days of receiving an inspection report and any law school objections, the Committee will

(1) accept the report and register or continue the registration of the law school;

(2) accept the report and permit the law school to proceed with its application for registration;

(3) grant a waiver in accordance with these rules;

(4) issue a warning requiring immediate action to correct specified deficiencies within a certain number of days of the date of the warning; or

(5) initiate proceedings to deny or withdraw registration for failure to comply with a warning.

Rule 4.244 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.245 Prior approval of major changes

A registered law school contemplating a major change must notify the Committee and obtain its prior approval before making the change. The notice must explain in detail any effect the change might have on the law school’s compliance with the rules and be submitted with the fees specified in the Unaccredited Law School Fees (Schedule of Charges and Deadlines). The Committee may then require submission of additional information or an inspection.

Rule 4.245 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.246 Major changes defined

The following are major changes:

(A) instituting a new division;

(B) changing the location of the law school’s administrative office or the location of a branch, or opening a new branch;

(C) instituting any joint degree program, whether within the college or university affiliated with the law school or another institution;

(D) merging or affiliating with another law school, college, or university, or severance from a law school, college or university, or modifying the law school’s relationship with an affiliated college or university;

(E) offering a new program in law study, either a non-degree or non-professional degree program, or a degree program beyond the first professional degree in law;

(F) providing law study credit for a fixed-facility law school program or class offered more than ten miles from the site of the law school, outside California, or in multiple locations;

(G) changing the name of the law school;

(H) changing from a nonprofit to a profit-making institution or vice versa; and

(I) changing the ownership of the law school.

Rule 4.246 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Chapter 4. Withdrawal of registration

Rule 4.260 Notice of Noncompliance

If the Committee believes that a registered law school is not in full compliance with these rules, the Committee will provide the law school with a written Notice of Noncompliance that states the reasons for its belief.

Rule 4.260 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.261 Response to Notice of Noncompliance

Within fifteen days of receiving a Notice of Noncompliance, a law school must file a response demonstrating that it is in compliance or is taking steps to achieve compliance. The response must be submitted with the fee set forth in the Unaccredited Law School Fees (Schedule of Charges and Deadlines).

Rule 4.261 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.262 Committee action on law school response

(A) If the Committee deems the response satisfactory, it will notify the law school within thirty days.

(B) If the Committee deems the response unsatisfactory, it must schedule an inspection within thirty days. Upon concluding the inspection, the inspection team must submit its report to the Committee within thirty days. The Committee will send a copy of the report to the law school.

Rule 4.262 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.263 Committee action on inspection report

If the Committee believes that the inspection report demonstrates that the law school is not or is not likely to be in compliance with these rules, the Committee will notify the law school that it recommends probation or withdrawal of registration.

Rule 4.263 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.264 Request for hearing

The law school may request a hearing before the Committee within fifteen days of being sent a notice that the Committee is recommending probation or withdrawal of registration.

Rule 4.264 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.265 Hearing procedures

(A) Within sixty days of receiving a timely request for hearing, the Committee will schedule a hearing at a time that is mutually agreeable to the Committee and the law school.

(B) The hearing need not be conducted according to common law or statutory rules of evidence. Any relevant evidence is admissible if it is the kind of evidence on which responsible persons rely in the conduct of serious affairs. The rules of privilege in the California Evidence Code or required by the United States or California Constitutions will be followed. The law school has the burden of establishing its compliance with these rules.

Rule 4.265 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.266 Committee action following hearing

(A) Following a hearing, the Committee will determine whether the law school is in compliance with these rules. Its decision will be based on the entire record, including materials presented at the hearing.

(B) The Committee may take any action affecting the law school’s registration that it considers appropriate, including termination of registration.

(1) publish it;

(2) send it to the students enrolled in the law school;

(3) send it to the California Supreme Court;

(4) send it to the California Attorney General.

Rule 4.266 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.267 Probation

(A) If the Committee decides that a law school has not complied or taken adequate steps to comply with these rules but has made perceptible progress toward compliance, the Committee may place the law school on probation for a specified time.

(B) The Committee may impose probation conditions, including interim inspections and progress reports.

(C) During the probation, students will be deemed enrolled at a registered law school and the school’s degree-granting authority will continue.

(D) At least thirty days before the probation expires, the Committee will determine whether sufficient progress has been made toward compliance or whether it will proceed to withdraw the law school’s registration. The Committee will notify the law school of its decision.

Rule 4.267 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.268 Termination of registration

The Committee will terminate a law school’s registration on a specific date, at which time it will also terminate its degree-granting authority. Until that date, students attending the law school are deemed enrolled at a registered law school.

Rule 4.268 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

Rule 4.269 Review by Supreme Court

A law school whose registration has been terminated by the Committee may seek review of the Committee's action before the California Supreme Court pursuant to the rules of that court.

Rule 4.269 adopted effective January 1, 2008.

1 Business & Professions Code § 6060(h) and Chapter 5 of the Admissions Rules.

On this page

Division 1. Admission to Practice Law in California Division 2. Accredited Law School Rules Division 3. Unaccredited Law School Rules

Additional Searches

Related Content

Division 1. Admission to Practice Law in California

Division 2. Accredited Law School Rules

Division 3. Unaccredited Law School Rules