Application to Register as a Candidate for Admission

1. Application is filed with the Office of Bar Admissions (1 month)
2. Background investigation conducted by the NCBE. (2-4 months)
3. Following conclusion of investigation, the application and NCBE report is forwarded to local bar association for interview. Interview takes place, and committee conducts additional investigation, if warranted. (1-3 months)
4. Local bar association makes recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness:
   1. Approval
   2. Approval with Qualifications
   3. Disapproval
5. If the bar association recommends approval, then the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness reviews. (up to 6 months)
   • Most applicants are approved by the Board. You will not receive notice until 3 weeks prior to the exam you have applied for.
   • The Board may determine that a sua sponte investigation is needed.
   • If an applicant has a felony conviction, there is a mandatory review by the Board.

6. If the bar association recommends disapproval or approval with qualifications:
   • Applicant may appeal to the Board and request a hearing.
   • If applicant does not appeal then application is considered withdrawn.

7. Supreme Court of Ohio review occurs when one of the following takes place:
   1. If the Board recommends an applicant be disapproved.
   2. Or if an applicant has been convicted of murder, aggravated murder, or a 1^st or 2^nd degree felony, even if the applicant is approved by the Board.

NOTE: You must file an Application to take the Bar Examination. This application is required to sit for an examination. Please note the deadlines on our website.  No exceptions can be made after the final deadline.

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have a bachelor’s degree or doctoral-level degree
• Have a JD from an ABA approved law school
• Receive final character and fitness approval prior to sitting for the exam
• 85 or higher on the MPRE
• 270 or higher on the UBE
• 80% or higher on the Ohio Law Component (OLC)
• Take the Oath of Office

Before you create an account, you must first complete the NCBE Applicant’s Character Questionnaire. You will need your NCBE number, and the barcode number found at the bottom of your questionnaire. Note: It is encouraged that you do not wait until the last minute to complete these steps. Please review the below steps.

1. Create an account with the NCBE.
   
2. Once you have created an account with NCBE, you will need to:
   1. Complete and finalize the character questionnaire.
   2. Upload the NCBE authorization and release form.
   3. Submit payment to the NCBE.
3. You will then receive your NCBE (ex: N10552222) number and NCBE barcode number. To find the barcode number, click on “View all Character & Fitness Applications” from the right side of your NCBE dashboard. Choose “View Application” to see your Ohio questionnaire. The barcode can also be found at the bottom of each page. Be sure you are viewing the correct completed application, which displays the word “FINALIZED” next to the barcode.
4. You can now create an account on the Bar Admissions Portal. Please note that in order to create an account, you will need your NCBE number and NCBE barcode number.
   

You can update your contact information, submit an application for admission, contact the Office of Bar Admissions, view the status of your application, amend your application, and make payments.

Log into the portal, select “Update Contact Information”, provide the updated information, and select “Update Information.” It is imperative that your contact information be always up to date.

It is recommended that you use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

At the Bar Admissions Portal log in screen, please use the “Forgot Password?” or “Forgot Username?” link to retrieve your credentials.

If you are not able to access your account using the Forgot Password or Forgot Username tools, you will need to contact the Office of Bar Admissions at 614-387-9340 or baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.

You can update your log in credentials on the portal by selecting “Update Account Profile.”

An applicant will have access to their portal indefinitely.

You are not required to provide your SSN; however, it is strongly encouraged that you provide it.

You can access all receipts for payments made to the Supreme Court of Ohio in your portal by selecting “Receipts.”

You can contact our office with questions through the portal, by sending an email to baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov, or calling our office at 614.387.9340.

All applications for admission to the practice of law in Ohio must be submitted on the Bar Admissions Portal.

Before you create an account, you must first complete the NCBE Applicant’s Character Questionnaire. You will need your NCBE number, and the barcode number found at the bottom of your questionnaire. Once you have created an account on the Bar Admissions Portal, please complete the following to submit an application. 

1. Select “Submit an Application”
2. Select the application you wish to submit
3. Select “+Create New Application”
4. Upload all applicable documents
5. Select “Submit Application” on the bottom of the page
6. Read and acknowledge notices by clicking each check box
7. Select “Submit and Pay”
8. Submit payment

The timely deadline is November 15^th of your second year of law school.  All applications submitted after the deadline are considered late.

The Supreme Court of Ohio registration fee is determined by the date you first began the study of law.  If your application is filed by Nov. 15 of your second calendar year of law school, the fee is $75.  If filed after your second calendar year of law school, the fee is $275.

Investigation fees are set by National Conference of Bar Examiners.  The fee schedule can be found here: Ohio Fee Schedule | NCBE (ncbex.org).

All required documents are listed in the Application to Register as a Candidate.

You may mail the original form to our office, or the law school may email the form directly to baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.

You may mail the original transcript to our office, or the institution may email the transcript directly to transcripts@sc.ohio.gov.

You must submit a course by course evaluation completed by either World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).  Once you submit your application on the Bar Admissions Portal account, you will be directed by a staff member to submit the $150 foreign education evaluation fee. Please see the Guidelines for Requesting Evaluation of Foreign Education.

One 7A Authorization and Release form is required.

You may upload the document under “If applicable, supplemental documentation.”

If you make a mistake on the Applicant’s Character Questionnaire, please amend your application with the NCBE portal first. Then submit the amendment page(s) on the Bar Admissions Portal using the “Provide Supplemental Documentation” option.

Upon review by the Office of Bar Admissions, an application may be rejected or returned if the applicant is not eligible for admission or if the applicant does not respond to requests for additional information. In the event that this does occur, an applicant will receive a refund of the Supreme Court of Ohio fee.

If you are required to submit the petition fee, you will be notified by Supreme Court Staff.  You can submit the petition fee by the following:

• Select “Submit an Application”
• Select “Application to take the Bar Examination/Application for Re-Examination”
• Select “Submit Application”
• Select “Submit and Pay”

Yes. The Office of Bar Admissions is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. Please keep in mind that we strongly encourage you to submit documents through the portal.

You can still submit your application if documents are missing. Once you submit and pay, and your application is reviewed by a staff member, the missing documents will be added to your account.

After you submit and pay for your application, your application will remain in “Submitted-In Review” status until reviewed by a staff member. Upon review, you will receive notice in the Bar Admissions Portal.

You can check the status of your application on the Bar Admissions Portal. Under Applications Submitted, select View Status.

Please visit Login - NCBE Account (ncbex.org), then select “Create an Account”.

Credit card, check, or money order.

Applicants should use the Contact feature on the NCBE’s website.

The investigation typically takes 2-4 months. Please note that incomplete or inaccurate responses may cause a delay in your investigation.

Fax: 608.442.7999

Mail: National Conference of Bar Examiners, Character and Fitness Investigation Services, 302 South Bedford Street, Madison, WI 53703-3622

Email: cfdocs@ncbex.org (PDFs preferred)

If your reference does not have access to the inquiry from the NCBE, they can email the following information to baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.   

• How long have you known the applicant?
• Under what circumstances have you known the applicant?
• From your personal knowledge, do you believe the applicant’s reputation with respect to honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, and reliability to be good?
• Do you unequivocally recommend that the applicant be admitted to the bar?
• Please provide your name and occupation.