Becoming a Grader

The Committee of Bar Examiners (Committee) invites applications from qualified attorneys to serve as graders for the California Bar Exam on a semiannual basis. It is the policy of the Committee to select, retain and advance Graders for the exams administered by the Committee on the basis of ability, educational attainments, and experience without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, or national origin. 

Deadline to submit Grader Interest Form is July 8, 2024.

Minimum qualifications

To be eligible for selection as a Grader or Apprentice Grader, an applicant must:

  • Be an active licensee in good standing of the State Bar of California;
  • Have been admitted to the State Bar of California not less than one year prior to the examination for which the grader is to be selected; and
  • Have passed the California Bar Examination on the first or second attempt.

Note: Applicants must not have any professional affiliation with a law school or bar review course, nor maintain a close relationship with an individual who is taking the bar exam.

Submission of interest

To submit your interest in becoming a grader, please fill out the Apprentice Grader Interest Form and submit it to examinations@calbar.ca.gov with your current resume. Form submissions to become an Apprentice Grader are specific to each exam cycle; those for the February bar exam are available in early January, while those for the July bar exam are available in early June.

Compensation

Pay for all preparatory tasks, attendance at the apprentice orientation session, and participation in three grader calibration meetings amounts to $725. Additionally, compensation for grading exam answers includes a book fee of $4.00 for each essay and performance test response.

Selection process

Selected individuals are required to begin as Apprentice Graders. While Apprentice Graders are not actively engaged in grading tasks except in instances of an emergency or in the event of a vacancy within their grading panel, they are expected to maintain readiness and availability throughout the three-month grading cycle, and prepared to undertake grading responsibilities if called upon.

Orientation (if selected)

Apprentice Graders are required to attend an orientation session, complete all preparation assignments, complete an Implicit Bias training, and participate in the calibration process, which includes mandatory attendance at three Saturday calibration sessions. The orientation session and calibration meetings will be held on Zoom.