GEORGIA OFFICE of BAR ADMISSIONS

The Constitution of the State of Georgia grants jurisdiction to the Supreme Court of Georgia to control admission to the bar. A set of Rules promulgated by the Supreme Court governs bar admission policies and procedures. The Rules are administered by two separate and distinct boards. The Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants inquires into the character and fitness of all applicants, and the Board of Bar Examiners deals with questions of the applicant's competence. Both Boards must certify the applicant to the Court for the applicant to be eligible for admission. The staff of the Office of Bar Admissions reports to both Boards.

The Supreme Court of Georgia appoints all the members of both Boards. The Fitness Board has ten members (six lawyers, one former Chair of the Board of Bar Examiners, and three public members). The Board of Bar Examiners has six members, all of whom are lawyers. The men and women on the Boards come from all areas of the state, and the lawyer members represent different types of practices.

The Boards will recommend the admission of those applicants who meet the good character and fitness standards and pass the bar examination, including the separate examination on professional responsibility. The bar examination is a written test, containing essay, performance and multiple choice questions, administered and graded by the Board of Bar Examiners and its agents two times a year (in February and July).

The good character and fitness standards require that an applicant to the bar be one whose record of conduct justifies the trust of clients, adversaries, courts and others. The hallmark of such a person is honesty, especially in connection with the application for admission to the bar. Persons with a record showing a deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability might not be recommended for admission.

Any of the following will be considered by the Fitness Board to be a basis for further inquiry before recommending admission:

The applicant may be asked to provide facts and explanation that are in addition to the questions on the fitness application. In order to verify the accuracy of the information provided in the application, or to obtain additional information, the Board will contact the applicant's personal references, employers, and schools, and it may contact police agencies, credit agencies, and others.

The Board will use the following factors in assigning weight and significance to prior conduct:

As an applicant, you are obligated to cooperate fully with the Fitness Board's investigation, providing prompt and complete responses to all questions and requests for records or explanation. If you have had a problem in the past, you may wish to offer the Board additional evidence of rehabilitation. It is suggested that you review the "weight and significance factors" listed above in considering what additional evidence you might offer. Absolute candor in completing the application and responding to the Board's inquiries is critically important.

Evidence of rehabilitation is the most critical factor the Board uses to determine whether past problems should lead to denial of admission. The Board's standard for admission is current good character and fitness. Generally, the Board will assess whether the problems of the past continue and, if they do not, whether the applicant's life has changed in ways that suggest they are unlikely to recur. Please see In Re: Cason, 249 Ga 806 (1982) for guidance.

Because evidence of drug or alcohol dependence or abuse is one of the "relevant conduct" factors about which the Board must inquire, you should be prepared to provide treatment records, as well as other records of incidents that were associated with the addictive behavior.

No. The purpose of the Board's inquiry is to determine the current fitness of an applicant to practice law. The application asks only whether the applicant has a condition that can affect the ability to practice law, or to function at work or school. This information, along with other information provided in the application, is treated confidentially by the Office of Bar Admissions and the Fitness Board. Treatment for all mental health issues is strongly encouraged and viewed favorably.

The purpose of the Board's inquiries is to determine the current fitness of an applicant to practice law. This information along with all other information is treated confidentially by the Office of Bar Admissions. The mere fact of treatment for mental health problems or addictions is not in itself a basis on which an applicant will be denied admission. To date, the Board has never denied an applicant admission based solely on this information. Further, the Board has routinely certified individuals for admission who have demonstrated personal responsibility and maturity in dealing with mental health and addiction issues. The Board encourages applicants who may benefit from treatment to seek it.

The Board is required to hold in the strictest confidence all records received in the admission process. Part F, Section 4(b) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia specifically addresses this issue.

The Board is required to inquire into all areas of possibly relevant applicant misconduct. The applicant is required to report all incidents, and to provide evidence of rehabilitation and evidence of current good character. Obtaining an acquittal or dismissal is relevant, but not dispositive of the issue. This is not to suggest that the Board will assume that any arrest was due to guilty conduct on the part of the applicant. The applicant's obligation is to be completely candid regarding all matters about which the Board inquires.

The Fitness Board recognizes that law students sometimes have financial problems associated with the expense of law school, or with ongoing family obligations. The Board also recognizes that mishandling of client funds is a frequent and serious cause for professional discipline. Admission to the bar does not require a perfect credit record. The Board is interested in whether applicants have dealt honestly and responsibly with their creditors, and whether they are doing so at the time of application. Responsible dealings generally include but are not limited to keeping in contact with the creditor, making payment arrangements, and meeting the terms of those arrangements. Defaulted student loans and failure to make child support payments are of particular concern to the Board and may well lead to denial of admission if not resolved at the time of application or soon thereafter.

A pattern of dishonesty in dealings with employers, schools, and authorities, including the Office of Bar Admissions, is the most frequent reason for denial of bar applicants. Giving false information on the application or failing to be entirely forthcoming and completely candid in the application process is a serious error that will have negative consequences for an applicant. The failure to be fully responsive to application questions, or any other lack of candor in an application, involves sworn statements made to an agency of the Supreme Court itself. Because such dishonesty is both current and ongoing, the applicant to whom it might be charged will have a difficult time showing that rehabilitation, which requires more than contrition, has occurred and will be sustained.

Contact your analyst early in the process to discuss your concern. (You can find information about how to contact your analyst below.) You should also file your fitness application early, not during the late filing period, so that the Board will have adequate time to consider your file prior to the bar examination.

You can view the Fitness Application deadlines by accessing the Deadlines & Fees information on our homepage. Remember that you can file your Fitness Application BEFORE you have been fingerprinted and gathered all your documentation. It is only after filing the Application that you will be able to upload documents to your file.

You can view the Bar Examination Application deadlines by accessing the Deadlines & Fees information on our homepage.

For questions regarding laptop testing, please follow this link.

Once you have filed your Fitness Application, you will be able to upload documents to your file. (You will not be able to upload documents until after you file your Fitness Application.) You will use the "Upload New Document" button at the bottom of your homepage to send documents to your analyst.

Yes. For each jurisdiction, including, Georgia in which you have held a driver's license during the last 12 months, you must submit a certified copy of your official driving record. You can obtain the record from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (or the issuing agency in the applicable state). The record should include the maximum number of years the state provides (seven years for Georgia) and be dated within thirty days of the submission date. You can use the "Upload New Document" feature on your homepage to send the driving record to your analyst. 

You can view information regarding having your fingerprints submitted by accessing the Fingerprint Requirements information found here under the Certification of Fitness tab.

After your Fitness Application is filed, you will receive a letter on your homepage from your application analyst, which includes information about how to upload documents to your homepage and how to communicate with your analyst. Please note that you should communicate with your analyst about your Fitness Application, but you should submit questions about your Bar Exam Application to the email address found here. Once your file is assigned to an analyst, it typically takes between 8 and 12 weeks for your analyst to complete the investigation of your Fitness Application. If there are problem areas in your file or you fail to promptly respond to any questions from your analyst, it may take longer. After your analyst completes the investigation, there may be an additional delay until your file is presented to the Fitness Board; the Fitness Board reviews applications based on the schedule described below. Please note that you may not hear from your analyst after the initial letter for several weeks or longer. If your analyst does not need anything from you, you may not hear from your analyst between the time you receive the initial letter from your analyst and the time you are notified that you have been certified as fit to practice law. Do not hesitate to communicate with your analyst if you have questions regarding your Fitness Application, but know that your analyst has begun investigating your file as soon as you receive the initial letter and will only reach out to you if there is additional information that is needed. The Policy Statement of the Fitness Board, which you can find here, has information about the importance of being completely candid in your Fitness Application.

For applicants seeking to take the bar exam in February, the Fitness Application window opens the previous March. (For more detailed information about the application windows for both the Fitness Application and the Bar Exam Application, click here.) The Fitness Board generally will not provide certification of fitness for these (February exam) applicants until after it has considered applicants seeking to take the July exam in the previous year. As a result, the earliest the Fitness Board will provide certification of fitness for these applicants is at its meeting in September, and the Fitness Board considers additional Fitness Applications for these applicants at its meetings in October, November, December, and January. Applicants must be approved by the Fitness Board before they are eligible to file a Bar Exam Application. For applicants seeking to take the bar exam in February, the Bar Exam Application window opens in November of the previous year. Applicants who do not receive certification of fitness at (or before) the January meeting will not be eligible to file a Bar Exam Application for the February exam.

For applicants seeking to take the bar exam in July, the Fitness Application window opens in late October of the previous year. (For more detailed information about the application windows for both the Fitness Application and the Bar Exam Application, click here.) The earliest the Fitness Board will provide certification of fitness for these applicants is at its meeting in February, and the Fitness Board considers additional Fitness Applications at its meetings in March, April, May, and June. Applicants must be approved by the Fitness Board before they are eligible to file a Bar Exam Application. For applicants seeking to take the bar exam in July, the Bar Exam Application window opens in April. Applicants who do not receive certification of fitness at (or before) the June meeting will not be eligible to file a Bar Exam Application for the July exam.

Unless your Certification of Fitness is suspended by the Fitness Board, it will remain valid for five years.

You must hold a valid Certification of Fitness to take a Bar examination and to receive a Certification of Eligibility to Practice Law. If your Certification of Fitness is about to expire, remember that you must file an Application for Recertification at least three months before the expiration date. You can file the Application for Recertification as early as you'd like, and we recommend that you do so around six months before the expiration date. You can find more information about Recertification here.

After you submit your Fitness Application, you will be assigned an analyst to investigate your file. You should communicate with your analyst by using the "Create Message" feature on your homepage.

Once you have submitted your Fitness Application, you will be able to amend it and add additional information if the answers to any of your questions have changed by selecting the "Amend Application" feature on your homepage.

We highly recommend that applicants save or print a copy of their as-filed Fitness Application. If you ever apply in another jurisdiction, they will ask you for a copy of it. To save or print a copy, log in to your homepage, click on "View Your Application History," and select your Fitness Application. Scroll down under "Forms & Progress" and select "View/Print Form" next to your Character & Fitness Questionnaire.

You can find the rules, procedures, and instructions for the next bar exam here.

Your photo must meet the following requirements:

• Color photo.
• Individual photo taken in front of a plain white background.
• Taken within the past six months to reflect your current appearance.
• Full face view, directly facing the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open.
• Photo should only include your shoulders and head.
• No hat or head covering unless worn for religious purposes.
• Glasses are permitted; however, glare in the photo is not acceptable. (Glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by turning off the flash.)
• 300 x 300 once uploaded and cropped.
• Photo file type must be a .png, .jpg., or .jpeg.

A score of 270 is required to pass the Georgia Bar examination.

You can find the schedule for upcoming Bar examinations by accessing the Deadlines & Fees information on our homepage.

The Georgia Bar Examination is held at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) near Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.  Click here for directions.

In 2023, we posted the pass list on the 2nd Friday of May for the February exam and the 2nd Friday of October for the July exam. Historically, the pass list was posted to our website on the 4th Friday of May for the February exam and the 4th Friday of October for the July exam. Score release dates for 2024 will be posted on the "Latest News" section of our homepage.

You can find information regarding ADA accommodations as well as the application forms in the ADA Testing Accommodation section under the Bar Examination tab on our home page.  Click here for more information.

If you need to bring a medical assistive device or other such item to the exam, you will need to fill out an Administrative Accommodation Request Form.  You may find information about Administrative Accommodations under the Bar Examination tab on our home page. Click here for more information.

An MPRE score of 75 or higher is required to receive a Certificate of Eligibility to Practice Law, and Georgia does not impose an expiration date on MPRE scores. You may take the Bar Examination even if you have not yet passed the MPRE, but you will not receive your Certification of Eligibility until your passing MPRE score is received. For more information about MPRE requirements, click here.

No, Georgia does not accepted transferred MBE scores.  If you are eligible to sit for the one-day Attorneys’ Examination, you will be assigned a score of 135 on the MBE portion.  A total score of 270 is required to pass.

If an applicant is admitted to the bar in another jurisdiction, he or she may be eligible to take the Attorneys’ Exam, which consists of the two MPT and four Essay questions. (The Attorneys' Exam does not include the MBE.) For more information, click here.

If you meet the deadline and are otherwise eligible, you may convert from the two-day to the one-day exam if you become admitted in another jurisdiction. Click here for more information.

Official Transcripts must be submitted by the degree-granting institution (not the applicant) and must be issued to the Georgia Office of Bar Admissions. Transcripts may be sent in either of two ways:

Official electronic transcripts are accepted so long as the email delivering the transcript is delivered through a secured electronic delivery service such as Parchment, Student Clearinghouse, Credentials Solutions, or SCRIP-SAFE International. Scanned PDFs of transcripts or transcripts sent through an unsecured email are not accepted. Electronic transcripts should be sent to transcripts@gasupreme.us.

Official hard-copy transcripts should be mailed directly by the degree-granting institution to:
Supreme Court of Georgia
Office of Bar Admissions
Nathan Deal Judicial Center
330 Capitol Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30334

Additional information about transcript requirements and deadlines can be found here.

Transcripts must be received by the Office of Bar Admissions by 4:00 p.m. on the transcript deadline (which is January 31 for the February exam and June 30 for the July exam). Transcripts must indicate the degree awarded and the date conferred. If you have not yet graduated from law school, do not cause your law school to send a transcript before your transcript shows that you received your degree. If your law school is unable to provide a degree-conferred transcript prior to the transcript deadline because your graduation date is near the deadline, ask your law school to submit a letter (to transcripts@gasupreme.us) certifying that you graduated within the six months prior to the bar exam you wish to take. This certification letter will enable you to sit of the bar exam, but your official law school transcript will be required for you to receive your score.

You can access information about waivers here.

You may find information regarding eligibility for Admission on Motion without Examination in Part C of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law. Click here for more information.

You can find more information about deadlines here.

Upcoming Deadlines for applicants who wish to take the July 2024 Exam:
The Regular Fitness Application filing period closed at 4 pm on December 6.
The Final Fitness Application filing period closed at 4 pm on March 6.
March 1, 2024, until June 1, 2024, at 4 pm: Regular Bar Exam Application filing period.
May 1, 2024, at 4 pm: Deadline to request ADA or administrative accommodations.
June 1, 2024, until June 15, 2024, at 4 pm: Final Bar Exam Application filing period (including a $500 late fee).
June 4 through July 3, 2024: Laptop registration period.
June 30, 2024, at 4 pm: Transcript deadline.
July 30 and 31, 2024: Bar Exam.

Upcoming Deadlines for applicants who wish to take the February 2025 Exam:
Regular Fitness Application filing period: April 1 until 4 pm on July 3, 2024
Final Fitness Application filing period (including a $500 late fee): July 3 until 4 pm on October 2, 2024
Regular Bar Exam Application filing period: September 1, 2024 until 4 pm on January 1, 2025
Deadline to request ADA or administrative accommodations: December 1, 2024
Final Bar Exam Application filing period (including a $500 late fee): January 1 until 4 pm on January 15, 2025
Laptop registration period: TBA (sometime in January 2025)
Transcript deadline: 4 pm on January 31, 2025
Bar Exam: February 25-26, 2025