GEORGIA OFFICE of BAR ADMISSIONS

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UPDATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 - OCTOBER 2020 ONLINE EXAMINATION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Supreme Court of Georgia Approves Provisional Admission to the Practice of Law - FORMS NOW AVAILABLE

To view the Supreme Court Order on Provisional Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia click here.

On April 17, 2020, the Supreme Court of Georgia issued an order authorizing Provisional Admission to the Practice of law for certain recent law graduates and applicants licensed in another United States jurisdiction. The Court's order allows eligible applicants to practice law under certain conditions while preparing for the Georgia bar examination or awaiting his or her examination results. 

ELIGIBILITY

Recent Law Graduates

An applicant who graduated with a J.D. or qualifying LL.M. degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association in the 18 months preceding the filing of his or per Petition for Provisional Admission and who:

• has never failed the bar examination in any jurisdiction;
• has current certification fo fitness from the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants;
• is certified by the dean or a member of the faculty of the law school from which he or she graduated as competent to practice law under supervision [An original letter from the dean or a faculty member certifying a petitioner's competence to practice law under supervision must be submitted to the Office of Bar Admissions by the law dean or faulty member via electronic mail directed to gabaradmissions@gasupreme.us or regular mail directed to the Office of Bar Admissions] and
• has not yet sat for the Georgia bar examination or has taken the Georgia bar examination and has not yet been notified of his or her score

is eligible for provisional admission.

CLICK HERE for the Petition for Provisional Admission for Recent Law Graduates

Lawyers Admitted in Another U.S. Jurisdiction

An applicant who is currently admitted by examination to the practice of law in another U.S. jurisdiction, who plans to sit for the Georgia bar examination, and who:

• is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which he or she is admitted;
• is not the subject of any pending disciplinary proceedings in any jurisdiction;
• has current certification of fitness form the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants; and
• is ineligible for admissions without examination under Part c of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia

is eligible for provisional admission.

CLICK HERE for the Petition for Provisional Admission for Lawyers Admitted in Another U.S. Jurisdiction

Duration of Provisional Admission

Authorization to engage in the practice of law pursuant to the Court's Provisional Admission Order expires 30 days after release of the results of the second Georgia bar examination for which an applicant could have sat after submitting a Petition for Provisional Admission. In addition, authority to practice under supervision will automatically expire if an applicant:

• fails to register or sit for the second Georgia bar examination after such person submits his or her Petition for Provisional Admission;
• has his or her fitness certification suspended or revoked by the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants; or
• fails the Georgia bar examination.

Process for Seeking and Registering For Provisional Admission

Applicants who seek provisional admission must submit to the Board of Bar Examiners a Petition for Provisional Admission, as well as all required documents establishing their eligibility for provisional admission.

Upon determination by the Board of Bar Examiners that an applicant is eligible for provisional admission, it will issue to the applicant: (1) a Certificate of Provisional Admission for the applicant's use; and (2) a written oath, which the applicant will promptly execute and return to the Office of Bar Admissions for filing. CLICK HERE to view the Oath of Persons Provisionally Admitted to the Practice of Law.

Once the signed oath is filed with the Office of Bar Admissions, the applicant must register with the State Bar of Georgia and satisfy all State Bar of Georgia registration requirements.

CLICK HERE to view information from the State Bar of Georgia regarding Provisional Admission.

All documents to be submitted to the Board of Bar Examiners or the Office of Bar Admissions should be mailed to:

Office of Bar Admissions
Nathan Deal Judicial Center
330 Capitol Square, S.E., L200
Atlanta, GA  30334