Can I have an extension to submit a request for administrative review?
No. The State Bar is unable to extend the period to request administrative review. The CBE will decide whether to accept an untimely request for administrative review.
What are the possible outcomes once I submit a request for administrative review?
The CBE will review your request and your application. The CBE may take any action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to granting you a positive determination, requesting more information, extending an offer of abeyance, or rendering an adverse determination.
If the CBE declines to grant you a positive determination, it will decide how long you must wait before you may submit a new Application for Determination of Moral Character, which could be the same or different from the time that was set by State Bar staff when it made the initial determination.
What happens if I am given an adverse moral character determination?
The notice of the adverse determination will provide you with the date on which you may submit a new Application for Determination of Moral Character. You are encouraged to engage in affirmative rehabilitative activities during the period you must wait to reapply.
Alternatively, you may choose to request administrative review by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE). If you request review by the CBE, the date on which you will be eligible to reapply may change, as it will be determined by the CBE in the event it issues an adverse determination.
My application is in drafted status, and I am experiencing technical issues. What is the best way to resolve the issue?
Please call 415-538-2450 and ask to speak with the Moral Character Person of the Day. Please be prepared to email a screenshot if the issue cannot be resolved over the phone. Some issues may take more time to resolve if technical assistance is necessary.
I travel a lot, including overseas, and I cannot recall every address where I lived. How do I appropriately respond to the “Residence” section of the moral character application?
Some applicants have traveled extensively in the past three years and have numerous addresses to report on the moral character application. You are encouraged to provide as much information pertaining to each residence as can be reasonably recalled. You are responsible for the complete and accurate reporting of information on the application to the best of your ability, and the failure to provide complete responses could result in a delay in the processing of the application.
How long must I have resided at a particular location for the residence to be reportable on the moral character application?
You must disclose all residences for the past three years, regardless of how long you resided at the location.
Do I have to disclose all past residences, no matter how long ago I resided at a location?
No. You are only required to disclose the addresses of the places you have lived within the past three years, including college and law school residences.
Some of my references told me they did not receive a questionnaire after I submitted my application; should I be worried?
No. Some references may not be contacted. You may wish to remind your references to check their email spam folders periodically and to use the Google Chrome internet browser, if possible, when submitting the questionnaires to avoid potential technical issues.
How do I properly report my enlistment and job in the military?
Report military enlistment in the “Current/Previous Employment section” and the “Military Services” section of the moral character application. List your last duty station, supervisor, date of enlistment, and date of discharge (or the date you left active duty if you are currently on inactive status). An applicant who is discharged from active duty must also provide a DD-214 military discharge document that clearly indicates the type of discharge.
What do I do if I do not know the supervisor’s email address?
Contact the employer and attempt to obtain the information. If you do not remember your supervisor’s name or your supervisor is no longer with the business, please enter "Human Resources" into the Full Name of Supervisor field and enter the appropriate information into the Email Address of Supervisor and Phone Number of Supervisor fields.
If the company is no longer in business (defunct), contact information will not be required once you indicate that the company is no longer in business.
Do NOT use your own email address or phone number.
What is the criteria for financial assistance and how much does it cover?
Contact the LAP office for details about the income eligibility requirements and the application process. Financial assistance can cover up to one year of LAP group fees and one year of lab testing fees.
There is no set time for Support LAP. It is completely voluntary. Participants can enroll, withdraw, and re-enroll whenever they want to.
What happens if I don’t I get a bar number immediately?
After submitting your completed membership enrollment card, allow one to two weeks for delivery, then check Attorney Search to confirm your enrollment and find your bar number. If you do not see your name on the State Bar website after two weeks from the date you submitted the card, call 888-800-3400 or email AttorneyRegulation@calbar.ca.gov.
I work for a California company. However, I work remotely and live out of state. Can I participate in the MJP Program as Registered In-house Counsel?
No. Pursuant to rule 9.46 of the California Rules of Court and Title 3 Division 3 Chapter 1 Article 3 of the Rules of the State Bar, you must reside in California. As defined in rule 3.370(D), this means that you must live or be located in California on more than a temporary or transient basis.
Can I pause my studies while participating in the LOS program?
No, you cannot pause your studies during your six-month study period. A pause between sessions can take place; however, your participation in the LOS Program will be terminated if you fail to submit a semi-annual report within a year of your last semi-annual report. You will retain law study credit already received and recognized by the State Bar.
The legal services you are authorized to provide are limited to advice regarding the law of the jurisdiction in which you are licensed and identified in the Foreign Legal Consultant application.
Can I omit my residential address from the PHV application?
No. Pursuant to rule 9.40 of the California Rules of Court, the application must include the out-of-state attorney's residence and office address.
I understand that I must immediately report the termination of supervision by my Supervising Lawyer to the State Bar. How do I report this?
Once you are no longer supervised by your Supervising Lawyer, you must immediately:
Report the termination by posting the information, including the date and reason for termination, to your most recent PLP case.
Alternatively, you can also submit a general request through the Applicant Portal by clicking on the Help Center.
I would like to change or add another employer. What should I do?
You may change or add an employer/agency by submitting an original Certified Law Student Program Application, a Supervising Attorney Declaration form from each new supervising attorney at the new employer, and the fee set forth in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines through the Applicant Portal, prior to the commencement of the supervision period.
I want to apply for the CLS Program, but I missed my first eligible bar examination. Can I still apply?
No. You must take your first eligible California Bar Examination as determined by the State Bar; otherwise, you are not eligible to apply to participate in the program.
What happens if I repeat a course I previously completed? Will I lose all credit for the entire study session?
You will not receive credit for hours of study devoted to repetition of studies previously completed and you will lose credit for the entire six-month study session.
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