7 Steps to Become a Lawyer in California (WITHOUT Going to Law School)
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If you’re wondering how to become a lawyer in California, there are 7 steps that you need to take.
In this article, I’ll break the 7 practical steps to becoming a lawyer in California WITHOUT needing to go to law school.
California is one of 4 states that completely offers an alternative path to becoming a lawyer without going to law school. In California, they call this program the Law Office Study Program, you may see it referred to as Reading the Law, LOSP or a Law Apprenticeship.
My name is Shoshana Malmeth and I help aspiring lawyers become lawyers WITHOUT going to law school.
If you are serious about completing the California Law Office Study Program and would like more resources and guidance, email me at info@lawprentice.com or visit lawprentice.com
1. Develop a Study Plan for your Law Apprenticeship
The first step to becoming a California lawyer without going to law school is to develop a study plan for your Law Apprenticeship.
Your Supervising Judge or Attorney will help you prepare your 18 hours a week of Study materials. Your supervising attorney may not have ever written a study curriculum before and that’s okay! Don’t let that be the reason that scares any potential mentors away.
That’s why I’m here to help fill in the gaps in the California Law Office Study Program. My goal is to make your life easier and show you and your supervisor, how to become an attorney with just a set of 7 simple goals.
Keep in mind with your Study Guide, that 5 hours of your studies must be under the direct supervision of your Judge or Attorney. This study plan will outline the courses you will be studying to complete your law study for all relevant semi-annual sessions.
Your study curriculum may look something like this:
For a more in depth, FREE study guide, please email me at info@lawprentice.com or visit lawprentice.com
2. Register with the State Bar of California
The second step is to register yourself and file all necessary documents with the State Bar of California.
Be familiar with these 4 registration steps to make sure you are on the right path to becoming a practicing lawyer in California.
1. Make an account with the State Bar of California.
Registering with the Bar is one of the simplest steps in the process, but it is an important one. This is the beginning of your legal journey and these simple accomplishments will start you on the right path.
This is to let the CalBar know that you are ready to start your Law Office Study Program Journey. It is best to register for an account with them as soon as possible.
2. Apply to the California State Bar
Login to your Account and Find the Apply Tab and click on View Forms Button
Here you will find all the forms and documentation you will need for your Law Office Study Program.
3. Start with the Registration Application
Use this application to register with the Committee of Bar Examiners and the State Bar of California as a law student applicant, attorney applicant, or foreign-educated applicant.
4. Fill out the Notice of Intent for Law Office Study
The State Bar of California’s Law Office Study program allows law students to obtain acceptable legal education, as an alternative to law school, under the supervision of a California attorney or judge.
3. Prepare Required Documentation for Law Office Study
The third step is to prepare the 5 required documentations for law office study.
1. Upload An Attorney Outline to the Notice of Intent For Law Office Study. Remember that Study Plan you made with us and your supervising attorney? It’s time to upload it for the Cal Bar to review!
2. Have your supervising attorney/judge populate and sign the Declaration of Supervising Attorney form provided to you on your Registration Application acknowledgement email. Upload the signed form to the CalBar Site.
3. Mail your PreLegal Transcript (Any College Courses completed). You must have completed 60 credits of any college courses to be considered for the Law Office Study Program.
4. Mail your Legal Transcript (Any Law Courses completed). If you have previously completed law study at a U.S. law school, please provide any relevant legal, official sealed transcript(s) so you can receive credit for the law study you have already completed.
You can mail these documents to:
State Bar’s Office of Admissions in Los Angeles or San Francisco,
Attn: Eligibility Department
845 S. Figueroa Street • Los Angeles, CA 90017–2515
180 Howard Street • San Francisco, CA 94105–1639
5. Submit Semi-Annual Report to the California Bar
Submit your Semi-Annual Report with Law Office Study Report Cover Sheet every 6 months. Please make sure that you submit all semi-annual reports by certified mail with return receipt requested or delivered in person to either the Los Angeles or San Francisco Office of Admissions.
The semi-annual reports must include written examination questions and answers. Reports should be submitted within 30 days after the end of the six-month study period; reports received after 90 days will not be accepted and the study will not be recognized.
Make sure to attach the Law Office Study Report Cover Sheet when submitting all Semi-Annual Reports.
Upon successful completion of one year of law study the student should take the First-Year Law Students’ Examination. See Admissions Rule 4.55
4. Take the First Year Law Examination
Step number four may be your biggest challenge yet, but that’s what I’m here for! Don’t forget to utilize your support and your resources so you can be sure to pass the First Year Law Students’ Exam the first time.
The First-Year Law Students’ Examination (also known as the “baby bar”) is a one-day test normally given twice a year in June and October.
Make sure to apply for the exam at least 3 months in advance. Also note that you must pass within the first 3 consecutive attempts. Ex: If you take the Exam in June 2020, you can try the exam again in October 2020 and try for a final time in June 2021.
The BabyBar consists of four one-hour essay questions administered in a four-hour morning session and 100 multiple choice questions administered in a three-hour afternoon session.
The examination will only cover three subjects: Contracts, Criminal Law and Torts. You will be one of more than 1,100 applicants that take this exam each year.
The exam is only given in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. Applicants can take the exam if they have completed one year of law study and will receive one year of credit upon passing the Baby Bar.
Check out the calbar site for more information on the First Year Law Students’ Exam.
If you would like your FREE Baby Bar Study Resource email me at info@lawprentice.com or visit lawprentice.com
5. Take the MPRE
You’ve done one of the hardest parts of the California Law Office Study Program, the BabyBar is no easy task. Now you can move on to step five, taking the MPRE.
The MPRE is based on the law governing the conduct and discipline of lawyers and judges, including the disciplinary rules of professional conduct currently articulated in the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct, and controlling constitutional decisions and generally accepted principles established in leading federal and state cases and in procedural and evidentiary rules.
In layman’s terms, the MPRE is an exam that will reflect your understanding of the code of ethics.
The MPRE is a 60-item (50 scored questions and 10 un-scored pretest questions), two-hour multiple-choice examination administered three times each year at established test centers across the country.
You can take the MPRE anytime after completing their first year of law school or 1 year of law school credit, which you will have received by passing the First Year Law Students’ Exam.
MPRE registration is a multi-step process. You have to register, schedule your test appointment and pay the fees by the registration deadline.
Check out the NCBE site for more information on the MPRE and for more free resources.
6. Moral Character Application
Now that you’ve passed the MPRE and brushed up on your ethics, step six is to receive a positive Moral Character determination.
In answering questions presented on the Application for Determination of Moral Character, applicants should consider the following:
Rule 4.40(A) and 4.40(B) of the Admissions Rules states that:
(A) An applicant must be of good moral character as determined by the Committee. The applicant has the burden of establishing that he or she is 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.
It’s important to be truthful on the application. The Committee of Bar Examiners considers candor to be a significant factor in determining whether an applicant has the good moral character required for admission to practice law.
For more information about the Moral Character Application and questions about what factors play into getting a positive determination email me at info@lawprentice.com
7. California Bar Exam
This is it, the seventh and final step to becoming a California Lawyer without going to law school. You’ve finally made it through the six steps and well on your way to completing your final hurdle!
The written portion of the exam (essay questions and Performance Test) is typically administered on the first day, with three essay questions given in the morning session and two essay questions plus the Performance Test given in the afternoon session. The MBE is typically administered on the second day, with 100 questions given in the morning and 100 questions given in the afternoon.
Practicing lawyers in California must be licensed by the State Bar. The State Bar’s admission requirements are set by the California Business and Professions Code.
One of the first things you may choose to do once you pass the California Bar Examination is to attend a swearing-in ceremony where multiple attorneys take the attorney oath at the same time. It is required for admission to practice law in California.
Now there is quite a bit more to study than the three topics from the Baby Bar, but the good news is you had a practice run already. Take your knowledge that you gained from the exam and apply it to these subjects:
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, CA Civil Procedure, Corporations, Agency, Partnership, CA Community Property, CA Evidence, CA Professional Responsibility, Remedies, Trusts, CA Wills & Succession, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
What to do next?
If you’re considering becoming a lawyer in California, here are the 7 steps to doing so: 1 Develop a Study Plan for your Law Apprenticeship, 2 Register with the State Bar, 3 Prepare Required Documents, 4 Tackle the First Year Law Examination, 5 MPRE, 6 Moral Character Application, 7 California Bar Exam
If you would like free resources on how to pass the Bar Exam or if you have any general questions on how to become a California lawyer, email me at info@lawprentice.com or visit lawprentice.com
