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GEORGIA OFFICE of BAR ADMISSIONS

Provisional Admission


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 Order allows eligible applicants to practice law under certain conditions while preparing for the Georgia bar examination or awaiting examination results. 

To view the Supreme Court Order on Provisional Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia click here. If you have questions about Provisional Admission (that are not addressed in the Supreme Court's Order), please email your question to provisionaladmission@gasupreme.us or call the Office of Bar Admissions at 404-656-3490.

 

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 of 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 the applicant'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: provisionaladmission@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.

To file the Petition for Provisional Admission for Recent Law Graduates, CLICK HERE for the .pdf version or CLICK HERE for a form that can be submitted online.

 

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 admission without examination under Part C of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Georgia

is eligible for provisional admission.

To file the Petition for Provisional Admission for Lawyers Admitted in Another U.S. Jurisdiction, CLICK HERE for the .pdf version or CLICK HERE for a form that can be submitted online.

 

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 to 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 a Certificate of Provisional Admission for the applicant's use and 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.