Professional licensure
To obtain a license to practice law, you must become admitted to the bar in the jurisdiction in which you plan to work. Each state’s highest court sets the requirements for admission to practice law. The format of the bar exam will vary by jurisdiction.
Verify bar exam eligibility
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Each state or jurisdiction has its own unique requirements, which may include activities to be completed prior to examination or admission to the bar, such as pro bono service, or registration during your first year of law school (as early as within 60 days of starting law school). Contact information for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Many Mitchell Hamline applicants plan to sit for the bar in Minnesota. Applicants with questions regarding their past conduct and character and fitness standards in Minnesota are encouraged to call the Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners at 651-297-1857 for a confidential consultation with a Character and Fitness Administrator.
Currently, successful completion of the JD at Mitchell Hamline School of Law meets the educational requirements to sit for the bar exam in every state. Students sitting in New York may not earn credit for distance courses until 28 credits are complete. Additional requirements beyond your education and application deadlines vary from state to state. You are encouraged to check the information for the state(s) you are interested in becoming licensed in as soon as possible.
State offices of attorney admissions
AL: Alabama State Bar Admission
AK: Alaska Bar Association
AZ: Arizona Attorney Admissions
AR: Arkansas Judiciary
CA: State Bar of California, Office of Admissions
CO: Colorado Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners
CT: Connecticut Bar Examining Committee
DE: Board of Bar Examiners of the Supreme Court of Delaware
DC: District of Columbia Courts, Committee on Admissions
FL: Florida Board of Bar Examiners
GA: Georgia Office of Bar Admissions
HI: Hawaii State Judiciary
ID: Idaho State Bar
IL: Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
IN: Indiana Board of Law Examiners
IA: Iowa Board of Law Examiners
KS: Kansas Board of Law Examiners
KY: Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions
LA: Louisiana State Bar Association
ME: Maine Board of Bar Examiners
MD: Maryland State Board of Law Examiners
MA: Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners
MI: State Bar of Michigan
MN: Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners
MS: State of Mississippi Judiciary, Bar Admissions
MO: Missouri Board of Law Examiners
MT: State Bar of Montana
NE: Nebraska Bar Admissions
NV: State Bar of Nevada
NH: New Hampshire Bar Admissions
NJ: New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners
NM: New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners
NY: New York State Board of Law Examiners
NC: North Carolina Board of Law Examiners
ND: State Bar Association of North Dakota
OH: Ohio Judicial System Office of Bar Admissions
OK: Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners
OR: Oregon State Bar Admissions
PA: Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners
RI: Rhode Island Judiciary
SC: Supreme Court of South Carolina, Office of Bar Admissions
SD: South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners
TN: Tennessee Board of Law Examiners
TX: Texas Board of Law Examiners
UT: Utah State Bar
VT: Vermont Judiciary
VA: Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
WA: Washington State Bar Association
WV: West Virginia Judiciary West Virginia Board of Law Examiners
WI: Wisconsin Court System
WY: Wyoming State Bar