Georgia Office Of Bar Admissions - Amendments to the Rules

The Supreme Court amended Part A, Section 1(a) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. This amendment changes the composition of the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants and changes the selection and terms of the chair and vice-chair.

Effective January 8, 2010

The Supreme Court amended Part A, Section 5 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. This amendment confirms that the filing fee for the Application for Certification of Fitness to Practice Law filed with the petition for Admission on Motion without Examination pursuant to Part C, Section 4(a) of the Rules is non-refundable.

Further, the Supreme Court amended Part B, Section 13. The amendments pertain to post-examination reviews of answers and removes the provision for making duplicate copies of answers at the time of taking the examination.

Further, the Supreme Court amended the heading of Part B, Section 14 to conform to the text of the Rule.

Further, the Supreme Court amended Part C, Section 1 to conform Section 1 to Section 4(b) which provides that the Application for Certification of Fitness to Practice Law must be filed simultaneously with the Petition for Admission on Motion without Examination.

Effective October 7, 2009

The Supreme Court amended Part F, Section 4 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. The amendment specifies the information that may be provided to the National Conference of Bar Examiners for dissemination for accreditation purposes to the American Bar Association.

Effective September 2, 2009

The Supreme Court amended Part B, Section 7 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. The amendment to Part B, Section 7 eliminates the requirement that an applicant must sit out the next available examination after failing the examination three times.

The Supreme Court also amended Part F, Section 5 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. The amendment to Part F, Section 5 requires that each petition for waiver of the educational requirements of the Rules must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $250.

Effective August 1, 2009

The Supreme Court amended Part B, Section 2 (b); Part B, Section 2 (e) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. The amendment to Part B, Section 2(b) reflects the increase in the Bar Examination application fee. The amendment to Part B, Section 2(e) is a technical amendment.

The Supreme Court also amended Part F of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. The amendment to Part F adds a new Section 2 on Fees which provides that Bar admission fees are to be set annually by the Supreme Court, based on the direct and indirect costs of administering the fitness investigation process and the Bar Examination.

Effective February 5, 2009

The Supreme Court amended Part B, Section 6 (c); Part B Section 9; Part B Section 14; Part B Section 15 and Part D Section 2 (b) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia.

Effective October 15, 2008

The Supreme Court amended Part A, Section 4(b); Part A, Section 5; Part A, Section 10(b); Part A, Section 11; Part C, Section 2; Part C, Section 4 and Part D, Section 5 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia. These amendments reflect increases in filing fees and late fees for Fitness Applications.

Effective September 3, 2008

The Supreme Court amended Part A, Section 10 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia.

Effective February 6, 2008

The Supreme Court has amended Part B, Section 2, Application for Examinations, of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia.

Effective September 16, 2006

The Supreme Court has amended Part C, Section 2 (d) and Part B, Section 8 (d) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia.

Effective July 6, 2005

The following order was passed by the Honorable Supreme Court of Georgia:

It is ordered that Part B, Section 7 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law be amended to read as follows:

Section 7: Re-Examination

There shall be no limit on the number of times an applicant may take the examination. However, once an applicant fails the examination three (3) times, the applicant will not be eligible to sit for the next available examination.

If this applicant fails any subsequent examination, the applicant must sit out the next available examination.

Effective October 2, 2003

The Supreme Court of Georgia amended Part B, Section 6(c) concerning the subjects covered on the essay portion of the bar exam.

Effective January 1, 2003

Reciprocity Order