IMPORTANT NOTICES

 
9/18/2020 NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE 2020 JULY, SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER BAR EXAMS
The Committee is not able to accommodate applicants who withdrew from the exam and now wish to rescind that action. Please do not contact the Committee on Admissions for information on the forthcoming court order to be issued September 28. We do not have any additional information.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS TO THE OCTOBER REMOTE BAR EXAM
Today is the last day to complete registration and installation of Examplify and to upload the Mock Exam. Applicants who are experiencing technical difficulties should contact ExamSoft support by email. Only applicants with a support ticket from ExamSoft dated no later than today will be granted an extension to upload the Mock Exam after today.

9/15/2020 The DC Court of Appeals issued an order granting, in part, the request included in an emergency petition to allow law school graduates to practice law in DC without taking the bar exam ("diploma privilege"). (PDF) The Court expects to issue emergency rules on Monday, September 28, expanding current provisions allowing temporary practice under supervision and potentially providing emergency exam-waiver admission (referred to as "diploma privilege" by the petitioners) for qualifying applicants. The Committee on Admissions staff does not have additional information on the content of the September 28 rules.

9/15/2020 NOTICE TO APPLICANTS FOR THE OCTOBER REMOTE EXAM REGARDING SELFIE AND GOVERNMENT PHOTO ID UPLOAD. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 25, 2020, 5:00pm Eastern Time.
For applicants who have not yet successfully saved your ID verification documents please note the change in the instruction under #5:

1. Convert your selfie and government issued photo ID to PDF files
2. Log into your account
3. Under "My Account Links", Select "MY DOCUMENTS"
4. Select UPLOAD
5. When you save your documents, please enter the following information in the CODE box: First Name Last Name_Selfie01 and First Name Last Name_ID02. You may shorten your name. Please note that the filename must be unique each time you attempt to save the documents. If you try saving and are unsuccessful change the two digit number in the file name
6. Enter your first and last name in the NAME box

9/9/2020 NOTICE TO APPLICANTS TO THE OCTOBER REMOTE EXAM
ExamSoft FAQs (PDF)

9/4/2020 NOTICE TO APPLICANTS TO THE OCTOBER REMOTE EXAM – EXAM SCHEDULES FOR APPICANTS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS

• Standard Administration Testing Schedule (PDF)
• For Accommodated applicants with up to 15 minutes additional time for breaks ONLY (PDF)
• For Accommodated applicants with up to 23 minutes additional time for exam or breaks (i.e. 25% additional time) ONLY (PDF)
• For Accommodated applicants with up to 45 minutes additional time for exam or breaks (i.e. 50% additional time) ONLY (PDF)
• For Accommodated applicants with up to 50% additional time for exam plus breaks (PDF)
• For Accommodated applicants with 100% Additional Time (PDF)
• For Courtesy Accommodation - Breastfeeding (PDF)

8/31/2020 NOTICE TO OCTOBER REMOTE EXAM APPLICANTS CORRECTION TO EXAM INFORMATION MEMO #2
Desktop computers ARE permitted for the exam. External webcams and external microphones ARE ALLOWED.

8/28/2020 NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION
We are investigating some technical issues with the application site. Please do not use it to upload documents or access your application files. Deadlines will be extended if necessary. We are examining the issue and will provide an update as soon as possible. Please check back periodically for updates.

8/20/2020 UPDATE TO NOTICE REGARDING RECIPROCITY FOR THE OCTOBER 2020 REMOTE EXAM FOR BAR ADMISSION
The District of Columbia Committee on Admissions is pleased to announce that we have entered a reciprocity agreement with Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont for the portability of scores from the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam. The Committee on Admissions will continue to seek reciprocity with other jurisdictions offering the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam. Applicants who do not wish to have their scores reported to other jurisdictions must opt out prior to taking the exam. More details will be posted on our website in the coming weeks. To be eligible to apply under the reciprocity agreement, applicants must attain a passing score as set by the jurisdiction to which they wish to apply as well as meet all other admission requirements for that jurisdiction.

8/17/2020 NOTICE TO APPLICANTS TO THE OCTOBER REMOTE EXAM FOR BAR ADMISSION
Thank you to those of you who have already uploaded your selfie and photo ID to your application account through the COA website. Please accept our apology for the inconvenience if you have attempted to upload these items and were not able to, because the specified tab is missing from your account. We will notify you by email as soon as we have resolved the issue or have an alternate secure method.

8/14/2020 NOTICE TO APPLICANTS TO THE OCTOBER REMOTE EXAM FOR BAR ADMISSION
The Committee on Admissions is emailing applicants today with information regarding the October exam. We have received reports that the link within the email to the informational memo is not functioning. The problem has been remedied and the email will be resent. Due to the large number of applicants, some applicants will receive the email later in the day. Thank you for your patience.

7/29/2020 Notice regarding Diploma Privilege (PDF)

7/24/2020 UPDATE TO NOTICE REGARDING RECIPROCITY FOR THE OCTOBER 2020 REMOTE EXAM FOR BAR ADMISSION
The District of Columbia Committee on Admissions is pleased to announce that we have entered a reciprocity agreement with Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont for the portability of scores from the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam. The Committee on Admissions will continue to seek reciprocity with other jurisdictions offering the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam. Applicants who do not wish to have their scores reported to other jurisdictions must opt out prior to taking the exam. More details will be posted on our website in the coming weeks. To be eligible to apply under the reciprocity agreement, applicants must attain a passing score as set by the jurisdiction to which they wish to apply as well as meet all other admission requirements for that jurisdiction.

7/10/2020 Order Extending Bar Application Deadline (PDF)

7/7/2020 NOTICE TO OCTOBER 2020 REMOTE BAR EXAM APPLICANTS
The District of Columbia Committee on Admissions is pleased to announce that we have entered a reciprocity agreement with Maryland and Massachusetts for the portability of scores from the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam. The Committee on Admissions will continue to seek reciprocity with other jurisdictions offering the October 2020 Remote Bar Exam. Applicants who do not wish to have their scores reported to other jurisdictions must opt out prior to taking the exam. More details will be posted on our website in the coming weeks. To be eligible to apply under the reciprocity agreement, applicants must attain a passing score as set by the jurisdiction to which they wish to apply as well as meet all other admission requirements for that jurisdiction.

7/1/2020 Fall Bar Exam Application FAQs (PDF)

6/25/2020 October 2020 Bar Exam Application Instructions (PDF)

6/10/2020 For the Court's June 10 Order on the October remote DC Bar Exam, click here.

6/8/2020 In light of continued pandemic conditions, recently released recommendations for reopening the District, and the overwhelming demand for seats for the DC Bar Exam, the Court of Appeals has decided to administer a remote DC Bar Exam with questions prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. This remote exam will be administered on October 5th and 6th and will test the same topics as the Uniform Bar Examination. The ongoing precautions due to the pandemic, space limitations, logistical challenges of social distancing in locations where hundreds of law school graduates would be taking the exam, and continuing health concerns made an in-person exam untenable. Accordingly, we have decided to offer this exam in lieu of the September Uniform Bar Examination. Per the Court's order last month, an alternative path to licensure would be announced if the September UBE could not be administered. The remote exam will be open to all who wish to apply (and are qualified under our rules for application by examination), including repeat test-takers and LLM graduates. It will not provide a portable UBE score, and, to our knowledge, no other UBE jurisdiction has announced that it will elect to accept a remote exam score. Per the court’s May 4th order, exam application fees are not refundable. If a registered applicant chooses not to take the October exam, fees already paid for the September exam are transferrable to another form of admission. The court will issue an order later this week making a formal announcement and providing details on reopening the application process.

5/29/2020 Bar Examination February 2020 Results click here.

3/23/2020 Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinion 24-20: Teleworking from Home and the COVID-19 Pandemic


COMMITTEE ON ADMISSIONS CONTACT INFORMATION

• For general admissions questions including application status updates, and certification: coa [at] dcappeals.gov
• For questions regarding wall certificates / plaques: nlane [at] dcappeals.gov
• For questions regarding withdrawals from the February 2020 Bar Exam: barexamwithdrawal [at] dcappeals.gov
• For pro hac vice applications and pro bono receipts: sparrish [at] dcappeals.gov
• For questions regarding unauthorized practice of law: cupl [at] dcappeals.gov
• For questions regarding accommodations for the July 2020 bar exam: dcaccommodations [at] dcappeals.gov
• For submitting oath statements and related questions: attyoath [at] dcappeals.gov
• For technical help with submitting applications: sparrish [at] dcappeals.gov
• For questions regarding Rule 46 admission requirements and Rule 49 extension requests: sshanks [at] dcappeals.gov

10/30/2019 Bar Examination July 2019 Results click here.

2/4/2019 Office of the Committee on Admissions and Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law Phone hours:
Monday through Friday 9 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 5 pm.

2/3/2019 NOTICE TO APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION on MOTION WHO ARE SUBJECT TO THE 360 DAY PRACTICE LIMITATION UNDER RULE 49
Pursuant to the amendment to D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49(c)(8), “Upon request and for good cause shown, the Director of the Committee on Admissions may extend beyond 360 days the period during which a person is authorized to practice under Rule 49(c)(8).” Please submit all requests in writing to: Shela Shanks, Director, COA/CUPL by email: sshanks [at] dcappeals.gov

2/1/2019 A Message of Thanks from the DC Court of Appeals

1/3/2019 Administrative Order 1-19 for Temporary Suspension of Rule Requiring Law Students Practicing in D.C. to Register with this Court and be issued a Student Bar Membership Card

1/8/2018 Certificates of Good Standing are now issued by the DC Bar on behalf of the Court of Appeals. Mail requests received by the Committee on Admissions will be returned to the requestor. For more information on the processing of Certificates please contact the DC Bar. Pro hac vice and pro bono applications continue to be issued by the Office of the Committee on Admissions.
 

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