Proof of Admission and Good Standing in Another Jurisdiction

If you are an attorney licensed in a U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, you may be required to submit 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.

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 an original ink signature, stamp, or seal from the jurisdiction.
  • Be issued within six months 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 an original ink signature, stamp, or seal from the jurisdiction.
  • Be issued within six months of the current application's submission.

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

Mailing requirements

Please mail your original Certificate of Admission or Certificate of Good Standing 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.

Uploading electronic certificates

If the jurisdiction that issued your Certificate of Good Standing issues only electronic certificates, you may upload a copy of the electronic certificate to your application through the Applicant Portal. To do so:

  • 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 any documents.

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

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