Proof of Admission and Good Standing in Another Jurisdiction

If you are an attorney licensed in a U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Admission or a Certificate of Good Standing when you submit an application to the State Bar, such as the registration, moral character, or bar exam applications.

Below are the requirements for providing proof of admission and good standing in another jurisdiction. Please note that all foreign-language documents must be accompanied by an English translation by a certified translator; the original foreign-language documents must also be submitted.

Certificate of Admission requirements

To be valid, a Certificate of Admission must:

  • Be issued by the entity that has the highest regulating bar admissions authority for that jurisdiction.
  • Contain your license number.
  • Indicate the date you were admitted to practice law in that jurisdiction.
  • Contain a signature, stamp, or seal from the jurisdiction.
  • Be issued within six months of submission of the current application's submission.

Certificate of Good Standing requirements

A Certificate of Good Standing must:

  • Be issued by the entity that has the highest regulating bar admissions authority for that jurisdiction.
  • Contain your license number.
  • Indicate the date you were admitted to practice law in that jurisdiction.
  • State that you are currently in good standing.
  • Indicate your disciplinary history.
  • Contain a signature, stamp, or seal from the jurisdiction.
  • Be issued within six months of submission of the current application's submission.

If you are submitting multiple applications, a Certificate of Good Standing issued within six months of submission of the current application is sufficient for multiple application types.

Uploading your certificate

The Office of Admissions now accepts electronic copies of Certificates of Admission and Certificates of Good Standing from jurisdictions in the United States and some foreign jurisdictions.

An electronic copy of a certificate must be submitted either:

  • Directly to the Office of Admissions from the other jurisdiction; or
  • The applicant may upload a legible copy of the certificate directly to the applicable case in the Applicant Portal and a completed declaration attesting to its authenticity.

Uploaded documents that are blurred, unclear, or difficult to read will not be accepted. To ensure the certificate is legible and accepted by the Office of Admissions, please scan the document rather than photograph it. Generally, scanned documents preserve the clarity and precision of text, making them easier to read and process.

To upload the certificate and declaration to a case through your Applicant Portal:

  • Log in to the Applicant Portal.
  • Scroll down to "My Applications."
  • Click the case number associated with your application.
  • Click the text box labeled "Post" to add relevant comments.
  • Click the paper clip icon below the text box to attach the documents.

You must retain and submit, upon request, the original paper copy of your certificate if one was provided to you.

Mailing requirements

If you are providing a certificate from a foreign jurisdiction that is not on the list of those providing only electronic certificates, you must mail your original certificate to:

State Bar of California
ATTN: Office of Admissions
845 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Original certificates are typically processed within 7 to 10 business days after receipt.

For any questions, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@calbar.ca.gov or 800-843-9053.

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