Information on Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia
Admission to the practice of law in Georgia is under the jurisdiction of two separate and distinct boards, the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants and the Board of Bar Examiners. To become eligible for admission to the State Bar of Georgia, an applicant must:
1. Receive Certification of Fitness to Practice Law by the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants;
2. Take and pass the Bar Examination administered by the Board of Bar Examiners (except those applicants eligible for Admission on Motion without Examination, Reinstatement or Foreign Law Consultants);
3. Meet all other requirements set forth in the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia;
Being Sworn In to Practice: Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to the Practice of Law
Once all of the above requirements have been met, the Board of Bar Examiners issues a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia, which is enclosed with the letter notifying the applicant that he or she has passed the Bar Examination.
The Certificate of Eligibility bears the gold seal of the Board of Bar Examiners. The original Certificate must be presented to the Clerk of the Superior Court in the Georgia Judicial Circuit in which the applicant wishes to be admitted to practice to complete the swearing-in process.
Each successful applicant will receive a mailing from the Clerk's Office of Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Georgia, detailing the process for participating in Fulton County's mass swearing-in ceremony or for being sworn in (out-of-state) via proxy.
The Certificate of Eligibility bears the gold seal of the Board of Bar Examiners. The original Certificate must be presented to the Clerk of the Superior Court in the Georgia Judicial Circuit in which the applicant wishes to be admitted to practice to complete the swearing-in process.
Each successful applicant will receive a mailing from the Clerk's Office of Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Georgia, detailing the process for participating in Fulton County's mass swearing-in ceremony or for being sworn in (out-of-state) via proxy.
Regular Two-day Bar Examination
(see part A of the Rules)
Applications for Certification of Fitness to Practice Law must be filed with the Office of Bar Admissions. Unless an applicant's fitness to practice law is called into question, he or she will be permitted to apply to the Board of Bar Examiners to take the bar examination as requested. Click here to obtain information on filing an Application for Certification of Fitness to Practice Law.
Upon being satisfied that an applicant possesses the fitness and character requisite to be a member of the Bar of Georgia, the Fitness Board shall certify the applicant as fit to practice law. Certifications may be in the form of a letter to the applicant which shall include the certification's expiration date, which shall be five (5) years after the date issued.
The Georgia Bar Examination is offered in February and July. Click here to obtain information on the Bar Examination.The two-day Georgia Bar Examination consists of three parts: (1) the Multistate Performance Test prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners; (2) four Essay questions prepared and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners; and (3) the Multistate Bar Examination prepared and graded by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
The Board of Bar Examiners shall require each applicant to pass the separately administered Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a scaled score of 75 or greater.
Upon being satisfied that an applicant possesses the fitness and character requisite to be a member of the Bar of Georgia, the Fitness Board shall certify the applicant as fit to practice law. Certifications may be in the form of a letter to the applicant which shall include the certification's expiration date, which shall be five (5) years after the date issued.
The Georgia Bar Examination is offered in February and July. Click here to obtain information on the Bar Examination.The two-day Georgia Bar Examination consists of three parts: (1) the Multistate Performance Test prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners; (2) four Essay questions prepared and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners; and (3) the Multistate Bar Examination prepared and graded by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
The Board of Bar Examiners shall require each applicant to pass the separately administered Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a scaled score of 75 or greater.
One-Day Attorneys' Bar Examination
(see Part D of the Rules)
Applications for Certification of fitness to Practice Law must be filed with the Office of Bar Admissions. Unless an applicant's fitness to practice law is called into question, he or she will be permitted to apply to the Board of Bar Examiners to take the bar examination as requested. Click here to obtain information on filing an Application for Certification of Fitness to Practice Law.
Upon being satisfied that an applicant possesses the fitness and character requisite to be a member of the Bar of Georgia, the Fitness Board shall certify the applicant as fit to practice law. Certifications may be in the form of a letter to the applicant which shall include the certification's expiration date, which shall be five (5) years after the date issued.
The Georgia Bar Examination is offered in February and July. Click here to obtain information on the Bar Examination. The one-day Georgia Attorneys' Bar Examination is composed of the (1) the Multistate Performance Test prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners; (2) four Essay questions prepared and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners.
The Board of Bar Examiners shall require each applicant to pass the separately administered Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a scaled score of 75 or greater.
Upon being satisfied that an applicant possesses the fitness and character requisite to be a member of the Bar of Georgia, the Fitness Board shall certify the applicant as fit to practice law. Certifications may be in the form of a letter to the applicant which shall include the certification's expiration date, which shall be five (5) years after the date issued.
The Georgia Bar Examination is offered in February and July. Click here to obtain information on the Bar Examination. The one-day Georgia Attorneys' Bar Examination is composed of the (1) the Multistate Performance Test prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners; (2) four Essay questions prepared and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners.
The Board of Bar Examiners shall require each applicant to pass the separately administered Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a scaled score of 75 or greater.
Recertification (Renewal of Certification)
(see Part A, Section 11 of the Rules)
Certification of Fitness to Practice Law shall include the certification's expiration date, which shall be five (5) years after the date issued.
Certifications may be renewed upon application to the Fitness Board not less than three months prior to the certificate's stated expiration date.
Applications for renewal of certification shall be on such forms, including an original application form, as the Fitness Board may determine and shall be accompanied by a fee of $800.
Before filing an application for Recertification you should contact the Office of Bar Admissions to obtain your specific filing deadline.
Certifications may be renewed upon application to the Fitness Board not less than three months prior to the certificate's stated expiration date.
Applications for renewal of certification shall be on such forms, including an original application form, as the Fitness Board may determine and shall be accompanied by a fee of $800.
Before filing an application for Recertification you should contact the Office of Bar Admissions to obtain your specific filing deadline.
Admission on Motion without Examination
(see Part C of the Rules)
The Board of Bar Examiners may admit on motion without examination any attorney licensed in a United States jurisdiction other than Georgia if that attorney satisfies the criteria set out in Part C, Section 2 of the Rules.
The Petition for Admission on Motion without Examination must be filed simultaneously with the Application for Certification of Fitness. Once the Motion Petition is complete, it will be presented to the Board of Bar Examiners for it's approval and a letter sent to the applicant informing them of the Board's decision.
Upon being satisfied that an applicant possesses the integrity and character requisite to be a member of the Bar of Georgia, the Fitness Board shall certify the applicant as fit to practice law and a certificate of Eligibility for Admission on Motion without Examination will be issued to the applicant.
The Petition for Admission on Motion without Examination must be filed simultaneously with the Application for Certification of Fitness. Once the Motion Petition is complete, it will be presented to the Board of Bar Examiners for it's approval and a letter sent to the applicant informing them of the Board's decision.
Upon being satisfied that an applicant possesses the integrity and character requisite to be a member of the Bar of Georgia, the Fitness Board shall certify the applicant as fit to practice law and a certificate of Eligibility for Admission on Motion without Examination will be issued to the applicant.
Reinstatement/Readmission
(see Part A, Section 10 of the Rules)
You must first contact the Membership Department of the State Bar of Georgia (404) 527-8700 and request a letter explaining your status with the State Bar. This letter must be forwarded to the Office of Bar Admissions along with a letter from you requesting clarification of your filing status. You will then be notified, in writing, of your filing status and the fee required.
NOTE: Applicants for Readmission will be required to take the two-day Bar examination.
NOTE: Applicants for Readmission will be required to take the two-day Bar examination.