- Defining Law Student Registration
- Purpose of Law Student Registration
- Registration vs. Application
- Law Student Registration Deadlines
- 2017-2018 Law Student Registration Requirements by State
- Information Required for Law Student Registration
- Defining Law Student Registration
Law student registration is a process some states use in order to screen the character and fitness of future bar applicants early in their law school careers. Currently 12 states -- including Illinois -- require or encourage, with the use of a fee structure, law students to register as a first or second-year student as part of the respective state's licensing procedures. All states, including Wisconsin, require completion of a character and fitness registration; however, with the exception of the 12 states provided in the below chart, registration is part and parcel of the application process occurring during the third year of law school. - Purpose of Law Student Registration
The purpose of law student registration is two-fold. First, it expedites the licensing process at the time the student actually sits for the bar examination. Second, early registration permits both the board of bar examiners and the student to identify and address character and fitness issues well in advance of the bar examination. - Registration vs. Application
Do NOT confuse bar registration with bar application. Law student registration is a process distinct from applying to sit for a bar examination. A student who registers with a state board of bar examiners will still need to apply separately to take the bar examination on a specific test date. - Law Student Registration Deadlines
States permitting law student registration traditionally have deadlines during the first or second year of law school. If you know early in your law school career that you may practice outside Wisconsin, you should refer to the below chart during fall semester of your first year so as to avoid possibly missing an important deadline. If you miss a law student registration deadline, you will be permitted by the applicable state board of bar examiners to register to take the bar examination, but not without being assessed a late fee that can be substantial.Be cognizant of deadlines. Some states have postmarked deadlines while others have received on or before deadlines. If the website does not specify, you should contact the state bar examiner's office to clarify. Part-time students should contact state bar offices to determine whether and how their part-time status impacts deadlines.
- 2017-2018 Law Student Registration Requirements By State
The following table identifies the 12 states have law student registration policies. Please note that the policies for California, Louisiana and Texas apply only to students enrolled in law schools in those states.State Registration Required/Recommended & Fee Structure Website Alabama Required within 60 days after commencing study of law.
Fee structure: No fee if filed within the first 60 days of law school; $50 if filed within 180 days; $100 if filed within 390 days; $250 if filed after 390 days.
www.alabar.org/admissions California Applicable to students enrolled at law schools located in California only.
Required within 90 days after commencing study of law.
Fee Structure: $108.
www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissionsadmissions.calbar.ca.gov Florida Encouraged during first year of law school. Fee Structure: $100 if filed by January 15 of the first year of law study; $350 if filed by March 15 of the first year of law study.
www.floridabarexam.org Illinois Students may file as early as their first year of law school and are encouraged to file early if they anticipate additional investigation of their application. www.ilbaradmissions.org Iowa Every person intending to apply for admission to the bar by examination shall, by January 15 of the after the person commences the study of law at an accredited law school, register with the Iowa board of law examiners and pay a fee of $40.If an applicant does not file the law student registration by the January 15 registration deadline above, but does file one by July 1 immediately preceding the February examination or by December 1 immediately preceding the July examination, the applicant must pay a fee of $150. If the applicant does not file the registration within the above deadlines, but does file one by November 1 immediately preceding the February examination or by April 1 immediately preceding the July examination, the applicant must pay a fee of $250.
www.iowacourts.gov Louisiana Applicable to students enrolled at law schools located in Louisiana only.
Required between August 1 and October 1 of fall semester of second year of law school.
Fee Structure: $125
www.lascba.org/ Mississippi Required on or before October 1 of second year of law school.
Fee Structure: $100 (plus an application fee of $25) before October 1 following completion of second semester of law school; $300 (plus $25 application fee) thereafter.
courts.ms.gov/baradmissions/baradmissions_applawstudent.html Missouri Encouraged but not mandatory for first-year and second-year students.
Fee Structure: $200 postmarked or received by the first June 30 after you began law school; $425 postmarked or received after the first June 30 after commencing law school but no later than the June 30 after the second year of law school.
www.mble.org/information-for-law-students North Dakota Required by October 1 of second year of law school or no later than 14 months after the applicant's first day of the first year of law school.
Fee Structure: $200 before October 1 of second year of law school; $275 application fee plus $150 late fee after October 1 of second year but before May 15 of second year; $275 application fee plus $250 late fee if after May 15 of second year but before January 1 of third year.
www.ndcourts.gov/rules/admission/frameset.htm Ohio Required by November 15 of the applicant's second year of law study.
Fee Structure: $75 before November 15 of second year of law school; $275 thereafter.
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov Oklahoma Required by October 16 of the second year of law study.
Fee Structure: $125 if filed by October 15 of second year of law school.www.okbbe.com/Applications/default.aspx Texas Applicable to students enrolled at law schools located in Texas only.
Required by October 1 of the first year of law school.
Fee Structure: $190 if filed by October 1. $150 late fee if filed after October 1.
www.ble.state.tx.us
- Information Required for Law Student Registration
While each state's requirements vary and you need to give great attention to the specific information being requested on each registration form, you should expect to compile up to ten years of historical information on places of residence and employment, including names and contact information for individuals who can verify your residency and/or employment. You should also anticipate having to provide specific information regarding traffic violations, and any disciplinary actions, misdemeanors and/or other criminal violations. Collecting this information and completing registration forms is a time consuming process, so allow plenty of time prior to a submission deadline for this task.