Introduction

I have a degree and license to practice from India. I want to qualify for practice in the US. How can I do it? 

An India-qualified lawyer with license to practice in India can attempt the California Bar Examination in the US. It is possible to attempt this bar exam without an LLM degree from a US law school.  
 
This is India’s one and only course where we prepare lawyers for the California Bar Examination.

The best part about our course is that you get an entire team to work with you for your success.

You get to put to use all your strengths only if you know how and where to use them. 

Even if you have never read laws pertaining to the State of California, our experts will guide you through it and provide an anecdotal experience of the exam itself.

We will ensure that you are equipped with enough skills through regular mocks, essay writing and other sessions to appear for the examination. 

Things You would want to learn before attempting the exam

• How to fulfill eligibility conditions for California Bar Examination?
• How to approach the examination and balance time between your practice and examination?
• Comparative knowledge of the applicability of various jurisdictions
• Sound knowledge of what works and what does not
• Ability to analyze the past year question papers and do a trend analysis
• Ability to write clear and concise analytical answers

About the Examination & Examination Pattern

Overview

The California Bar Examination consists of the General Bar Examination and the Attorneys’ Examination. The California Bar Examination is given twice each year and is given over two days.

Exam Format 

• The first day of the General Bar Exam will consist of five one-hour essay questions and a 90-minute Performance Test question, with a one-hour lunch break. 
• On the second day of the General Bar Exam, the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) will be administered. The MBE will consist of 200 multiple-choice questions, split into four 50-question sessions tested over 90 minutes each, with a one-hour lunch break. 

The General Bar Exam thus consists of three parts: 

• Five essay questions;
• The Multistate Bar Exam (MBE);
• One performance test (PT). 

The parts of the exam may not be taken separately. California does not accept the transfer of MBE scores from other jurisdictions. 

Essay Questions

Time: To be answered in one hour each 

Intent: To test legal analysis under a given fact situation. The questions are designed to test the applicant’s ability to:

• analyze the facts in the question;
• gauge  the difference between material facts and immaterial facts;
• and to identify the points of law and facts relevant to the case and application of the law to the facts;
• test the applicant’s knowledge and understanding of the principles and theories of law.

Performance Test 

Time: To be completed in 90 minutes 

Intent: To test an applicant’s ability to handle a select number of legal authorities in the context of a factual problem involving a client. 

Pattern: A Performance Test question consists of two separate sets of materials: a file and a library, with instructions advising the applicant on the tasks(s) to be performed. 

This test is designed to test the applicant’s ability to analyze legal issues, and hence the applicant is required to: 

• Finding relevance of facts: Distinguish between relevant from irrelevant facts, assess the consistency and reliability of facts, and determine the need for and source of additional facts; 
• Analyze the legal rules and principles applicable to a problem and formulate legal theories from facts that may be only partly known and are being developed;
• Recognize and resolve ethical issues arising in practical situations; 
• Apply problem-solving skills to diagnose a problem, generate alternative solutions, and develop a plan of action; and 
• Communicate effectively, whether advocating, advising a client, eliciting information, or effectuating a legal transaction.

An applicant’s performance test response is graded on its compliance with instructions and on its content, thoroughness, and organization.

Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)

The MBE is typically administered on the second day, with 100 questions given in the morning and 100 questions given in the afternoon.

The MBE is developed and typically graded by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). This portion of the General Bar Examination is an objective six-hour examination containing 200 questions, divided into two, three-hour sessions during which 100 questions are administered. The MBE tests seven subjects: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.

Information regarding the MBE and an online practice examination are available through the NCBE’s website.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)

To practice law in California, applicants must not only pass the California Bar Examination, they must also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

The MPRE is a 60-item (50 scored questions and 10 non-scored pretest questions), two-hour multiple-choice examination developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). This exam is conducted three times each year at established test centers across the country. 

After registering, applicants may take the MPRE anytime after completing their first year of law school. Applicants can register with the State Bar.

Before a motion is made to the Supreme Court of California to seek certification of eligibility to practice law in California, one has to qualify this exam. 

Passing Criteria: Applicants must achieve a minimum scaled score of 86 to be considered as having passed the MPRE. 

Transfer of Scores: As the exam is a multistate exam, as the name suggests, it is necessary for applicants to request that their scores be reported or transferred to California. Simply being a California applicant or resident will not cause this to occur.

Who should take this course?

Eligibility for foreign lawyers

The State Bar of California includes attorneys who have been educated abroad. They do not have to be citizens to be a licensed attorney in California, but they do have to fill out some extra paperwork.

Attorneys who are already admitted to the active practice of law in a foreign country and are in good standing. These attorneys are qualified to take the California Bar Examination without having to complete any additional legal education.

Career options after passing the California Bar Exam

• If you pass the California Bar Exam and find employment as In House Counsel with a corporation, you can work as an attorney for the company in that state.
• By passing the California Bar Exam you can work as an Arbitrator or Mediator in every state.
• Graduates can become law professors at a Law School, University, College, Paralegal Program or Criminal Justice.

What is unique about this course

Areas in which we will help you to develop knowledge and skills

• Trends analysis of Past Year Paper
• Answer Writing Skills
• Time Management
• How to approach the essay based questions
• How to approach the performance test
• How to approach the MBE
• How to approach the MPRE

Paperwork to be submitted
Exam Fees
Application to take the California Bar Examination – General Applicant $677.00
Application to take the California Bar Examination – Attorney Applicant $983.00\

Course Syllabus

Applicants taking the California Bar Exam may be required to answer questions involving issues from all of the subjects listed below:

• Business Associations
• Civil Procedure
• Community Property
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Evidence
• Professional Responsibility
• Real Property
• Remedies
• Torts
• Trusts
• Wills and Succession

Contracts

For the subject related to Contracts, Applicants should familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Applicants must be able to essay questions pertaining to the following provisions of the UCC: 

• Article 1 - General Provisions
• Article 2 - Sales
• Specific provisions of Article 9 pertaining to fixtures. 

Business Associations

Applicants should be prepared to answer questions that have issues concerning a variety of Business Associations, including, but not limited to Corporations, Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships (General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships), Joint Ventures, Limited Liability Companies, and the principles of Agency inherent in business relationships. 

Civil Procedure

Applicants should be prepared to answer questions that have issues concerning the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) and the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP). Applicants should be prepared to discuss the differences between the Federal Rules and the California Rules, especially those California procedures of pleading and practice that have no specific counterparts in the Federal Rules.

Evidence

Applicants should be prepared to answer questions that have issues concerning the Federal Rules of Evidence and the California Evidence Code. Applicants should be prepared to compare and contrast the differences between the Federal Rules and the California Evidence Code, especially where the California rules of evidence have no specific counterparts in the Federal Rules.

Professional Responsibility

Applicants should be prepared to answer questions that test knowledge of the California Rules of Professional Conduct, relevant sections of the California Business and Professions Code, and leading federal and state case law on the subject in addition to the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct and American Bar Association Model Code of Professional Responsibility. Professional responsibility issues may be included in conjunction with any subject tested on the examination.

Wills and Succession

Applicants should be familiar with the following provisions of the California Probate Code and understand California law in the specific areas noted:

Division 2. General Provisions

Part 1. Effect of Death of Married Person on Community and Quasi-Community Property, Sections 100-103

Part 3. Contractual Arrangements Relating to Rights at Death, Sections 140-147

Part 5. Simultaneous Death, Sections 220, 222-224

Part 6. Distribution Among Heirs or Beneficiaries, Section 240

Division 6 Wills and Intestate Succession 

Part 1. Wills

Chapter 1. General Provisions, Sections 6100, 6101, 6104, 6105

Chapter 2. Execution of Wills, Sections 6110-6113

Chapter 3. Revocation and Revival, Sections 6120, 6121, 6123

Part 2. Intestate Succession, Sections 6400-6402

Division 11. Construction of Wills, Trusts and Other Instruments

Part 1. Rules of Interpretation of Instruments, Sections 21105, 21109, 21110

Part 6. Family Protection: Omitted Spouses and Children [for decedents dying on or after January 1, 1998]

Chapter 2. Omitted Spouses, Sections 21610-21612

Chapter 3. Omitted Children, Sections 21620-21623

FAQs

Are there breaks during the exam? 

For those taking the exam online, there will be 30 minutes between the release of each session’s password and the latest start time for that exam session. Those with testing accommodations may have different breaks between sessions. You may use the time between sessions as a break, but you must log in no later than each session’s start time. If you wish, you may begin a session early by entering the password when it becomes available; the time begins running once you enter your password, and starting early does not extend your session time. • On Day 1, there will be 90 minutes to accommodate a lunch break between Essay 3 and Essay 4. On Day 2, a 90-minute lunch break will occur between Part 2 and Part 3 of the MBE. • BE ADVISED: Other than scheduled breaks, you are not permitted to leave the view of the web camera, unless you finish the session early and proceed to upload your answers. Leaving the view of the web camera before you finish the session is a conduct violation and will result in a score of 0 for that exam session.

Is the exam open book? 

No. Applicants are prohibited from having in their presence or accessing unauthorized materials or equipment during the administration of the exam, including electronic equipment, notes, study aids/materials, books. Applicants are expected, as future officers of the court, to follow the rules of conduct governing the administration of the exam. Violation of exam rules will result in a Notice of Violation of Exam Rules (referred to as a Chapter 6 notice), which may be accompanied by sanctions and/or a negative moral character determination.

What kind of computer, accessories, and Internet access do I need to take the July 27−28 online bar exam? 

Laptop: Desktop computers are not allowed for security reasons. Exam software provider ExamSoft currently does not support iPads. Your laptop must have a functioning internal microphone.