California

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Starting with the February 2025 bar exam, California will no longer administer the MBE.

Bar Admission Agency
Bar Exam Eligibility, Deadlines, and Fees
ABA-Approved Law School J.D. Required
No
Details
Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility
Yes
Details
Bar Exam Application Filing Deadlines
Details

April 1

June 1

Nov. 1

Jan. 1

Bar Exam Application Filing Fees
Details
UBE Adoption
UBE Adoption
No
Character & Fitness Investigations
This jurisdiction does not use NCBE's character and fitness services; please contact California for filing instructions.
Admission on Earned or Transferred Bar Exam Score
Non-UBE Minimum Score - Admission on Transferred UBE Score
No
MPRE Requirements
MPRE Required
Yes
MPRE Minimum Passing Score
86
MPRE Score Time Parameters
Details
Bar Exam Components
Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
Yes
Accepts Transferred MBE Scores
No
Multistate Essay Examination (MEE)
No
Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
No
Jurisdiction-Drafted Exam
Yes
Details

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Admission on Motion
Rules Provide for Admission on Motion
No

Disclaimer

Since jurisdiction rules and policies change, NCBE strongly advises consulting the jurisdiction's bar admission agency directly for the most current information.