By Mike Sims, BARBRI President
In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, third-year law students are making preparations for graduation and beginning to think about the bar exam. Finally, after almost three years of law school, the end is in sight … almost. But now these soon-to-be-lawyers must complete the dreaded character and fitness application.
The questions are meant to challenge you
Most people outside the legal profession would probably be surprised to learn that lawyers have to pass a character and fitness test (either before or after the bar exam, depending on the state) prior to becoming a licensed attorney. Or they might joke that lawyers have to prove we have bad character. Or we’re out of shape from sitting and reading all the time. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Depending on what state you’re being licensed in, you will be asked some challenging questions. When I applied for the Georgia bar exam, I had to list every credit card I had ever had and the current balance on each of those cards. Here’s another example: Pennsylvania applicants are asked to provide pages of information that include:
- Everywhere you have lived, worked or attended school for a period of more than six months since age 16 (not just cities, but exact addresses)
- Everywhere you have ever held a driver’s license or had a DUI or been a part of a serious traffic violation
- Financial history – bankruptcy, delinquent on taxes or child support, past-due accounts
- Academic records – any discipline
- Criminal history – everything except minor offenses
- Civil proceedings – everything except divorce or minor motor vehicle accidents
They want to know everything about you
And they want to know it in the next few weeks. Keep in mind that some states require you to submit this application before you can take the bar exam and other states allow you to submit it afterward. If you have previously submitted a character and fitness application, you may need to submit an update depending on your state’s requirements.
As you begin completing your application, give yourself plenty of time. The last thing you want to do is miss the deadline because you could not come up with all of the information by the deadline.
And remember that candor is key
Nothing upsets a character and fitness committee more than discovering something about you that you failed to disclose in your application. It is far better to disclose and explain something from your past than to try to hide it. If you have a question about whether or not to include something in your character and fitness application, you can contact the bar examiners in your state. Your law school’s Dean of Students can also be an invaluable resource during this process.
Check out more bar admissions requirements here.