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Connecticut Bar Examining Committee
Frequently Asked Questions about Admission to the Connecticut bar

 
General Questions  
  1. Educational requirements - bar examination and admission without examination
  2. How do I satisfy the Professional responsibility requirement?
  3. Transferring an MBE Score
  4. Can I take the admission oaths outside Connecticut?
  5. Where can I find out if someone is licensed as an attorney in Connecticut?
  6. How do I find a lawyer who can help me with my specific legal problem?
  7. Where do I get a certificate of good standing?
  8. After I have been admitted to the bar, when will I receive my juris number and when can I begin to practice law?
  9. When can I use "attorney" or "Esq." with my name?
  10. How do I contact the Bar Examining Committee?
  11. Directions to the Bar Examining Committee office
  12. U.S. Driving Record Repositories - PDF
  13. Foreign Driving Histories
  14. Connecticut and Federal Background Checks
  15. Are there any other websites to obtain further information?
  16. Reinstatement after Suspension, Disbarment or Resignation
 
 

More FAQs

Admission without exam
Admission by exam
Admission by UBE Transfer Score
New Admittees
Taking the exam

Attorney Links



 


1. Educational requirements - bar examination, admission without examination and authorized house counsel

Educational qualifications to take the bar examination To qualify to take the bar examination you must have a JD from an approved law school,or foreign legal education approved by the Bar Examining Committee pursuant to Art. II-3 of the CBEC regulations. All ABA-approved law schools are also approved by the Committee. In addition, the Committee has approved the Massachusetts School of Law. Non-approved law degrees or LLM degrees do not qualify. (An exam applicant who (1) has been admitted in another state, DC, Puerto Rico or a US District Court for at least 10 years, AND (2) has actually practiced law in that jurisdiction for five of the last seven years, AND (3)  intends actively to practice law in Connecticut AND (4) intends to devote the major portion of the applicants working time to the practice of law in Connecticut may sit for the bar examination without meeting these educational qualifications.)

Educational qualification for admission without examination All applicants for admission without examination must have a JD from an approved law school, or foreign legal education approved by the Bar Examining Committee pursuant to Art. II-3 of the CBEC regulations. All ABA-approved law schools are also approved by the Committee. In addition, the Committee has approved the Massachusetts School of Law. Non-approved law degrees or LLM degrees do not qualify.

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2. How do I satisfy the Professional Responsibility requirement?
A scaled score of 80 is required on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
Register for the MPRE here. In lieu of the MPRE, the requirement may be satisfied with a grade of C or better in a course in professional responsibility at a law school approved by the Committee. CLE courses and law school courses with a professional responsibility "component" do not meet the requirement. The requirement must be fulfilled before a candidate can be recommended for admission. Moreover, this requirement must be fulfilled within four years before or one year after the applicant files for admission. The requirement must be fulfilled within four years of the date the applicant files for admission. If, for example, an application is filed on November 1st 2010, a valid course or MPRE score must be no older than November 1st 2006. But that same candidate would have only until November 1st 2011 to meet the requirement. After that date the candidate would have to retake the bar examination.

The four year age limit for a valid MPRE score does not apply to applicants for admission without examination who are full-time faculty members or full-time clinical fellows at an accredited Connecticut law school.

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3. Transferring an MBE Score

(a) Score Transfers TO Connecticut from Another Jurisdiction

Connecticut will accept MBE scores from other jurisdictions and from prior administrations of the examination. Scores are valid for three administrations:


Examination Date Valid prior scores

7/2015

2/14, 7/14, 2/15

2/2016

7/14, 2/15, 7/15

7/2016

2/15, 7/15, 2/16
2/2017 7/15, 2/16, 7/16
7/2017 2/16, 7/16, 2/17

There is no required minimum score. The Committee does not provide any advice regarding whether a particular score should be transferred.

An applicant may also sit for the concurrent MBE in another jurisdiction as a part of a bona fide bar exam in that jurisdiction and take only the Connecticut essay examination.


(b) Score Transfers FROM Connecticut to Another Jurisdiction

The Bar Examining Committee may transfer MBE scores obtained in Connecticut. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the transfer request form (Form 47) and the proper fee are received in the Committee’s office in time to meet the transfer deadline set by the jurisdiction to which the score will be transferred.

4. Can I take the admission oaths outside of Connecticut?
The court’s rules do not permit you to be sworn in by anyone other than a judge in Connecticut.

5. Where can I find out if someone is licensed as an attorney in Connecticut?
Connecticut attorney look-up service.

6. How do I find a lawyer who can help me with my specific legal problem?
Attorney Referral Services

Connecticut Judicial Branch Libraries – Finding Legal Help

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7. Where do I get a certificate of good standing?
Certificates of good standing are available from either the:

Clerk of the Superior Court
Hartford Judicial District
95 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel: (860) 548-2700

or from the:

Statewide Grievance Committee
287 Main Street
2nd Floor, Suite 2
East Hartford, CT 06118
Tel: (860) 568-5157

Note that for some purposes, a certificate is required from the highest court of the jurisdiction in which the attorney is admitted – requests for such certificates must be made to the Clerk of the Superior Court, Hartford Judicial District. For some purposes, a certificate is required from the disciplinary authority in the jurisdiction in which the attorney is admitted – requests for such certificates must be made to the Statewide Grievance Committee. Finally, for some purposes, separate certificates are required from the highest court and from the disciplinary authority – separate requests must be submitted to both Clerk of the Superior Court, Hartford Judicial District, and to the Statewide Grievance Committee.

Requests to the Statewide Grievance Committee must be in writing and must include the attorney’s name, address, daytime telephone number, juris number, and a copy of the attorney’s last attorney registration form (see Practice Book §2-27 (d) and (e), and §2-65). If the attorney requesting a certificate from the Statewide Grievance Committee does not submit a copy of their last attorney registration form, they must state in their request they are not submitting it, together with an explanation why it is not included.

The cost of a plain certificate of good standing from the Clerk of the Superior Court or the Statewide Grievance Committee is $10. A certificate of good standing with disciplinary history statement from the Statewide Grievance Committee is $20. Checks or money orders for certificates obtained from the Clerk of the Superior Court should be made payable to “Clerk, Superior Court.” Checks or money orders for certificates obtained from the Statewide Grievance Committee should be made payable to “State of Connecticut Judicial Branch.”

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8. After I have been admitted to the bar, when will I receive my juris number and when can I begin to practice law?
Approximately 15 days after the Statewide Grievance Committee is notified by the clerk of the court where your swearing-in took place, you will receive a notice containing your juris number. You need this number to file an appearance in court, but you are otherwise able to practice law immediately after you have been sworn in as an attorney in Connecticut.

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9. When can I use “Attorney” or “Esq.” with my name?
The Statewide Grievance Committee has held that the use of the title “Attorney” or “Esq.”, or any similar title, by one not admitted to the Connecticut bar may constitute a violation of C.G.S. §51-88. Generally unless you are admitted to the Connecticut bar, you should not use the title “Attorney” or "Esq.”

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10. How do I contact the Bar Examining Committee?
You can reach the Committee at this address:

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11. Directions to the Bar Examining Committee’s office

12. U.S. Driving Record Repositories  (PDF)

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13. Foreign Driving Histories - Additional countries will be added as they become available.

Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ
http://www.adpolice.gov.ae/en/

Australia
Government of South Australia
Department for Transport, Energy & Infrastructure
Safety Regulation Division
33-37 Warwick Street
Walkerville South Australia 5081

Australia (NSW)
Roads & Traffic Authority
CNR King & Fitzroy St.
Grafton, NSW 2460
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au
External Link

Belgium
Administration Communale de Waterloo
Rue Francois Libert, 28
Waterloo, Belgium
email: Administration@waterloo.be

Bermuda
Magistrates' Courts
23 Parliament Street
Hamilton, Bermuda HM12

France
Conseil de Paris
Conseiller de Paris
1er Adjoint au Maire du 17e Arrondissement
Rue des Batignolles
Paris, France 75017

Germany
Kraftfahrbundesamt (English - click on British flag)
http://www.kba.de
External Link

Great Britain
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Customer Enquiries Group, C1
Longview Road
Swansea, UK SA6 7JL

Ireland
Motor Taxation Office
Block B Blackhall Walk
Queen Street
Dublin 7
PH: 222-8000

Jamaica
Police Traffic Headquarters
16 Lower Elleston Road
Kingston 16

Jamaica
Island Traffic Authority
1-1/2 Manhattan Road
P.O. Box 101
Kingston 5
Jamaica

Netherlands Divisie Registrate en Informatie
Post bus 9000
9640 HA Veendam
Skager Rak 10
9642 CZ Veendam, Netherlands
http://www.rdw.nl
External Link

New Zealand
The Team Leader, Driver Licensing Enforcement
Land Transport NZ
Private Bag
Palmerston North

http://www.justice.govt.nz/privacy/index.html#application
External Link

Ontario
Ministry of Transporation
Office of the Registrar or Motor Vehicles
Bldg A
2680 Keele St.
Downsview, Ontario M3M 3E6
Canada

Puerto Rico
Departamento de Transportacion y Obras Publicas
Barrio San Antòn Carr. 887, Esq. 848
Carolina, P.R. 00985
(787) 701-3324; (787) 701-3327
http://www.dtop.gov.pr
External Link
servciud@act.dtop.gov.pr

Québec
Service de opérationa et de diffusion
Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
333, boul. Jean-Lesage
Case Postal 19600, C-3-44
Québec (Québec) G1K 8J6

Spain
http://www.bcn.es/hisenda External Link

Sweden
Pikspolisstyrelsen
Utvecklings och Strategienheten
Kirunasektionen
S-981 81 Kiruna
Sweden

United Kingdom
DVLA
Drivers Customer Services
CCT
Longview Road
Swansea
SA6 7JL
PH: 01792 786362
email: drivers.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk

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14. Connecticut and Federal Background Checks
The Connecticut Bar Examining Committee (CBEC) will request Connecticut and Federal background checks for all applicants. You must submit your fingerprints and the proper fees to CBEC so that a request can be made. Detailed instructions on submitting your fingerprints and the proper fees to CBEC can be found in the following document: Background Check Instructions. Background checks received from applicants will NOT be accepted. Those who have previously filed an application for admission in CT should check their first status sheet in order to determine whether the background checks must be updated.

The following documents will be sent to applicants with their first status sheets and should be reviewed prior to submitting your fingerprints and fees to CBEC.

15. Are there any other websites to obtain further information?

16. Reinstatement after Suspension, Disbarment or Resignation
The procedure for reinstatement after suspension, disbarment or resignation is set forth in Practice Book § 2-53. Effective January 1, 2014, the applicant shall pay to the bar examining committee $1000 and shall submit proof of such payment to the clerk of the superior court at the time the application is filed with the court.

Payment may be made by certified check or money order. The Bar Examining Committee does NOT accept credit cards, personal, corporate or law firm checks. If sending payment by mail, include your name and address, and indicate the court to which you will be applying for reinstatement. A receipt will be sent to you as proof of such payment.

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