Category: DC Bar Exam

Wow, DC totally screwed people over today by giving MEE topics that are non consistent with what they have given in the past, and leaving out topics that have been consistently testing for years… I guess they want to make their ultra-low pass rate even lower… My heart goes out to all the poor folks I saw today retaking the exam… Seriously, it was a sad sight, people looked so dejected and defeated both before and especially after the exam, I felt bad for them… Lots of older folks too :(

MPTs were as expected though, so hopefully that helped everyone out! Good luck on the MBE tomorrow, knock it out…

I received a letter in the mail this weekend from the DC Court of Appeals Committee on Admissions. Basically, it was confirmation that my application was accepted for processing and they expect to mail my admission ticket and further details on Tuesday February 10, 2009. It also gave the testing location and time of the bar exam.

I’m glad I got something in the mail… It was nice to get a confirmation and details on when the admission ticket would be sent… Although they like to cut it close by sending out the ticket 2 weeks before the bar exam…

After getting some emails and in-person questions about the DC bar exam, I figured I’d post my experiences with the application process and requirements to help others out. I hand-delivered my application to the Bar Examiner’s office at the Courthouse in DC so I can confirm that my application was done correctly.

First and foremost, the application and the character and fitness are one in the same. It’s the NCBE online application that’s available at ncbex.org. You fill this out online, finalize the application, and print it out. (NOTE: The instructions say that it must be “typewritten”, but simply printing out the completed online form is what they are looking for)

The DC Specific Forms (Filename: ExamInstructionsAndForms.pdf) are also required. Unless you have special testing requirements, you will only need 2 pages from these forms: 1) The BAR EXAMINATION TESTING REGISTRATION QUESTIONNAIRE, and 2) CERTIFICATE “A”. Certificate “A” must be completed by your law school. Both of these DC Specific Forms may be handwritten. So, basically, there is no need for a typewriter for any of the DC Bar Exam Application.

Take your completed application (which will have 3 release forms and 1 attestation form) to a notary and get all 4 of those pages notorized. Then, make a photocopy of the entire thing. This is what is required when you submit your application. (NOTE: If you want any sort of “proof” or “receipt” of submission, then make ANOTHER photocopy of the entire application. They will stamp this copy “RECEIVED” and give it back to you as your proof of submission.)

Finally, for payment, you will need FOUR separate money orders. (NOTE: Be careful with certified checks, no form of payment that has an expiration date less than 1 year will be accepted by the DC Bar Examiners. My bank’s certified/bank checks had a 90-day expiration so I had to get money orders instead.) So, I would recommend going to the post office and getting Money Orders from them. And remember, even though 3 of the checks are made payable to the same payee, the National Conference of Bar Examiners, they must all be separate. Do NOT combine them into one large money order.

The deadline without a late fee for the application is Monday Dec 15, 2008.

That’s about it. Any questions, feel free to send me an email or leave a comment here on the blog.