Application Requirements

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Any person seeking admission to the Louisiana Bar shall apply to the Committee on Bar Admissions AND shall request that the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) prepare a character report.




 Louisiana Law Students
Louisiana law school graduates who timely register in the Law Student Registration Program (second year of law school) and have not previously registered for the Bar exam.


Every prospective applicant for admission to the Louisiana Bar enrolled in law school in this state are required to participate in the Law Student Registration Program (LSR) in the fall of the second year of law school on the LASCBA website.

Within the same registration period, Louisiana law students must complete the online "NCBE Character Report Application" with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (third party fees apply). Read More >>

Registration period: August 1 - October 1

 Important: Failure of Louisiana law students to complete Law Student Registration on time will result in a $350 fee, and the application will be processed by LASCBA and the NCBE as a First Time Applicant (FTA).

Law students who participated in the Law Student Registration Program in the fall of their second year of law school and are planning to sit for the upcoming exam will need to complete the following:

  • Completed Supplemental Bar Application along with signed Authorization and Release form.
  • Completed supplemental online "NCBE Character Report Application" with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) (third party fees apply); The online application allows you to copy data from your previous application and you will be eligible for a lower Supplemental character report fee. Read More >>
 Important: Failure to complete the supplemental on time will result in a $850 late filing fee.
 ADA Accommodations: Requests for accommodations under the ADA must be received on or before November 1 for the February bar exam or on or before February 1 for the July bar exam. Please click here for more info on ADA and/or courtesy accommodations.
A request for Dean Certification is sent by LASCBA directly to your law school, and completion is due 45 days prior to the commencement of the bar examination.

Prior to admission, all applicants are also required to pass the MPRE exam, through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Louisiana requires a scaled score of 80 or higher on the MPRE. A passing score for the MPRE shall be valid for a period of five (5) years from the date of the examination. Read More »

 First Time Applicants
Includes: Louisiana law school graduates who did not timely register in the Law Student Registration Program (second year of law school), recent law graduates, members of another jurisdiction's bar, and non-members whose application is received more than one year after the J.D. is awarded


  • Completed Bar Application along with signed Authorization and Release form.
  • All applicants are also required to complete the online "NCBE Character Report Application' with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). LASCBA will use this report to approve a candidate's 'Character and Fitness' requirements to be admitted to the Louisana Bar. Read More >>
 Important: Failure to complete the Bar Application on time will result in a $850 late filing fee.
 ADA Accommodations: Requests for accommodations under the ADA must be received on or before November 1 for the February bar exam or on or before February 1 for the July bar exam. Please click here for more info on ADA and/or courtesy accommodations.
A request for Dean Certification is sent by LASCBA directly to your law school, and completion is due 45 days prior to the commencement of the bar examination.

Prior to admission, all applicants are also required to pass the MPRE exam, through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Louisiana requires a scaled score of 80 or higher on the MPRE. A passing score for the MPRE shall be valid for a period of five (5) years from the date of the examination. Read More »

 Re-Applicants
Applicants who have previously applied to sit for the Louisiana Bar Examination


  • Completed Bar Application along with signed Authorization and Release form.
  • All applicants are also required to complete the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) application, which can be completed online. If your most recent NCBE Application for Character Report is less than two years old, complete the Bar Examination Application and Affidavit according to the instructions. All other re-applicants must submit an updated "NCBE Character Report Application"; the online application allows you to copy data from your previous application. Read More >>
 ADA Accommodations: Requests for accommodations under the ADA must be received on or before November 1 for the February bar exam or on or before February 1 for the July bar exam. Please click here for more info on ADA and/or courtesy accommodations.

Prior to admission, all applicants are also required to pass the MPRE exam, through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Louisiana requires a scaled score of 80 or higher on the MPRE. A passing score for the MPRE shall be valid for a period of five (5) years from the date of the examination. Read More »

 Foreign Educated
Foreign-trained lawyers who wish to apply to take the Louisiana Bar examination must apply in accordance with Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XVII, Sec 6.


$300
Requirements for Admission to the Bar of Non-Citizen Attorneys:
Please read the recent amendments to Rule XVII Sec. (3) and Sec. (16) of the Louisiana Supreme Court Rules regarding additional requirements for admission to the Bar for non-citizen attorneys.

If you attended law school out of the United States, please login to the LASCBA Account Portal to start an equivalency application.

Other Documentation
Along with the Equivalency form, Foreign-Trained applicants must also supply:

  • Current mailing address
  • Proof of citizenship or alien status
  • Proof of successful completion of 14 semester hours at an ABA accredited university in certain subjects, of which no more than 6 hours of credits may be obtained through distance learning.
  • Certified transcripts of formal legal education (both foreign and US)
  • Documentation which provides a description of courses offered and requirements of the legal education programs attended by the applicant (both foreign and US)
  • Certified or True copy of original diplomas
  • Information about the Universities that provided the applicant’s recent legal training
  • Proof of admission, licensing and/or good standing in all legal, professional and/or bar associations
  • Professional resume
  • Two original letters of recommendation: applicants must provide letters from two individuals who are licensed to practice in any jurisdiction in which the applicant is currently licensed to practice. Letters must be addressed and mailed directly to the Committee.
  • Any other documentation the applicant believes will assist the Committee
  • All foreign documents must be translated to English by a certified translator.
 Important: A bar exam application cannot be started until an equivalency determination has been made.
  • Completed Bar Application along with signed Authorization and Release form.
  • All applicants are also required to complete the online "NCBE Character Report Application' with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). LASCBA will use this report to approve a candidate's 'Character and Fitness' requirements to be admitted to the Louisana Bar. Read More >>
 Important: Failure to complete the Bar Application on time will result in a $850 late filing fee.
 ADA Accommodations: Requests for accommodations under the ADA must be received on or before November 1 for the February bar exam or on or before February 1 for the July bar exam. Please click here for more info on ADA and/or courtesy accommodations.

Prior to admission, all applicants are also required to pass the MPRE exam, through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Louisiana requires a scaled score of 80 or higher on the MPRE. A passing score for the MPRE shall be valid for a period of five (5) years from the date of the examination. Read More »

 In-House Counsel
Effective April 1, 2005 a lawyer admitted and authorized to practice law in another state or territory of the United States may receive a limited license to practice law in this state when the lawyer is employed in Louisiana as a lawyer exclusively for: a corporation, its subsidiaries or affiliates; an association; and/or a business which consists of activities other than the practice of law or the provision of legal services.


Please login to the 'Account Portal' for an in-house application. You will need to include:

  • Application for limited licensure as in-house counsel
  • Lawyer Discipline Attestation form
  • Certificate to be completed by lawyer regulatory agency in jurisdiction(s) where admitted
  • Affidavit to be completed on behalf of the in-house employer

All In-House Counsel applicants are also required to complete the online "NCBE Character Report Application" with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) (Third Party Fees Apply). Read More >>

Additionally, applicants are required to undergo fingerprinting and a state and federal criminal background check which is due at the same time as the request for 'Preparation of Character Report' with the NCBE. The process can be initiated at the Louisiana State Police office or a local law enforcement agency. More information is available here ».


*Third Party Fees Apply


Keep Your Info Up-To-Date!

It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the Committee on Bar Admissions of any mailing address, telephone number or email address changes. This information can be updated online here.

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