Legal Educational Requirements

Every applicant seeking admission to the bar on examination shall have pursued a course of law studies and fulfilled the requirements for and received a first professional degree in law (J.D. or L.L.B.) from a law school approved by the American Bar Association. Each applicant shall make proof that the applicant has completed such law study and received a degree, in such manner as the Board of Admissions to the Bar shall require. A Master of Laws (L.L.M.), Doctorate in Law (S.J.D.), or a degree equivalent to either of these is not a first professional degree in law. Amended September 28, 1977, effective October 15, 1977; amended September 14, 1984, effective September 14, 1984; amended June 12, 1992, effective July 1, 1992; amended May 29, 2025, eff. immediately; amended Apr. 1, 2026, eff. immediately.