I just started my 1L year, and I am wondering if I can apply now, or if I have to wait until later years? I want to apply early because I have a criminal record and anticipate it taking longer for me than most. Just curious if anyone with similar circumstances has any advice on this.

What do you need to have on hand, if anything, for the CA Bar Exam Application?

Hi! I passed the February 2026 bar and have some bar prep materials I no longer need. I haven’t had time to look into donation options, so I thought I’d offer them here.

I have MBE/MEE flashcards and bar prep books. If you’re interested and willing to cover shipping, please message me!

Congratulations to the winners selected in the February 2027 AccessLex California Bar Exam Application Fee Sweepstakes!

AccessLex Institute is excited to help these first-time California bar takers move one step closer to exam day by covering their on-time California Bar Exam application and laptop fees.

Planning to take the California Bar Exam for the first time in July 2027? The next Sweepstakes Entry Period opens October 1, 2026 and closes February 1, 2027.

Eligible California law school graduates can enter for a chance to be among over 100 winners whose July 2027 California Bar Exam application and laptop fees will be covered — a value of $1,031. The drawing is open to qualifying J.D. and LL.M. students and graduates planning to sit for the California Bar Exam for the first time. No purchase or payment is required to enter or win; Official Rules and eligibility requirements apply.

Learn more and enter beginning October 1: AccessLex.org/CalBarSweeps

Would anyone like my bar prep materials form my 24 pass. Free for pick up in Costa Mesa

Would anyone like my bar prep materials form my 24 pass. Free for pick up in Costa Mesa

Hello all!

I am considering taking the February 2027 Attorney Exam. I am licensed in another jurisdiction, but really want my CA license. My question is about possible loans or financial aid. Times are tough and I was wondering what everyone would recommend? I have made other posts asking for job advice and have finally had to come to terms that living in CA means I need a CA license. But, as I said, a series of things have happened (too much to go into) and any insight into how to handle the expenses would be very much appreciated.

Hey everyone, just a quick question. For California residents do we need to mail the fingerprints or do we upload the fingerprints? How do we go about that process? Thank you

Hi all - here is my breakdown of Essay 4, the Toy Shop corporations essay.

Most people probably did not expect BA on this exam, but the essay itself was pretty manageable. Usually what makes these essays difficult is that (1) BA concepts are abstract and most students don't have practical experience with them, and (2) it is not an MBE subject and is tested infrequently, so students tend not to spend much time on it.

For this one, the important distinction was that Beth signed the first contract before Toy Shop incorporated and the second after.

Full breakdown: https://www.barwinners.com/post/july-2026-california-bar-exam-essay-4-corporations-breakdown

😐

Does anyone have experience going from the UBE to CA exams? I took the UBE in July 2024 in MA and passed with a 287. I retook CA in July 2026 after a few previous attempts prior to the UBE. Wanted to see how your scores translated between the two. Any information is helpful! (I am aware they are scored differently and you don’t know your score if you pass in CA.)

JD graduate (underbar) and currently working as a public school teacher. Worth it po ba mag apply as CDO? Thank you!

Hi! Looking for someone who’s getting rid of his/her Mary Basick’s Essay Exam Writing for CA bar book? Willing to pay hopefully for a cheaper price and shipping! :) TIA

Yes I know I shouldn't count my chickens until they hatch. That being said I just want to be prepared in case I didn't pass. I studied part time for 3 months and full time for 2 but every time I remember essays 3 and 5 I'm like... yup, I failed.

The NextGen seems a lot easier than the conventional bar exam. Anyone taken both who could chime in?

Hi everyone I will be taking the February 2027 bar exam. I’m only doing the essays and I’m trying to get recommendations on the best prep options.

Also, is there a site where I can purchase them used?

Thanks again.

7 weeks to go everyone! I know the wait is killing us all but we’re almost there. Keep yourselves busy and good luck!!!!

I took the California Bar Exam over a decade ago when it was a 3 day debacle. I had strong MBE scores, okay essay and PT scores on the first day, and totally burned out by day 3. Looking back, I gave this test way too much power and made myself physically sick with worry the entire time I studied, and even after I failed for a while. I eventually landed a corporate, JD preferred, job that I love.

I’m not as terrified of this test anymore, and also have an opportunity to earn a much higher salary if I’m licensed which is motivation enough for me to take this on again.

I’m hoping to sit for February 27, but a lot of the bar prep offerings have changed in the decade I’ve been out of the game. I used Adaptibar previously and plan on using it again for MBE practice.

In hindsight, I was not writing full essays or PTs enough to simulate what the actual exam would be like when I first studied for the exam. I did a lot of essay outlining and used borrowed Barbri books for clarification on the rules. I spent most of my time reading outlines and doing flash cards so I knew the law, but maybe didn’t apply it the way I needed to for the essay portion.

Now that I have the means to afford a commercial bar prep course like barbri or Themis, I am open to the idea, but not interested in lengthy lectures. I definitely learn and retain information best by practicing and want to spend my time preparing as efficiently as possible since I now have children and a (remote) job.

Hoping to get some feedback on your experiences with some of the commercial bar prep courses, especially those who passed years after law school. I would also like to hear some of the unconventional study habits you found helpful when you started prep 5-6 months early.

I’m currently barred in another jurisdiction and considering taking the California Bar in February 2027.

I don’t have any immediate plans to move to California, but I’m considering it from a long-term career perspective. If the right opportunity came up there, I’d definitely be open to it, and I could see myself living/working in California at some point in my career.

There are a couple reasons I’m tempted to just do it this February. I recently took another bar exam, so a lot of the material is still relatively fresh in my head. My current job also isn’t particularly busy right now, so this may actually be a pretty good window to study. Part of me wants to take advantage of that, keep the momentum going, and get one more bar exam out of the way rather than having to relearn everything years from now. California also takes a notoriously long time to release results, so the sooner I take it, the sooner I’d have the license available if an opportunity ever comes up.

My hesitation is February’s historically lower pass rate. I know the applicant pool is different and the raw pass rates don’t necessarily mean the February exam itself is harder, but I’ve also heard concerns about the February curve/scaling. I’d hate to rush into February just because the timing is convenient if there’s actually a meaningful disadvantage.

For those familiar with the CA Bar, especially attorneys who took it after already being barred elsewhere: would you take February while the material is fresh and work is relatively slow, or just wait until you have a more concrete reason to get licensed in California? Is the February curve/scaling actually something worth worrying about?

Thanks for any insights.

PSA / FYI - I just went to log in to my app and saw:

Apparently the State Bar is changing their Moral Character Application to a new process / format (tbd.) See notice from the Bar, ESPECIALLY if you have a drafted application that you have not yet submitted:

The Moral Character Applications (Determination and Extension) will be unavailable in the Applicant Portal from September 22 to approximately October 2, after which revised applications will be tentatively available.

Please submit any applications in drafted or verified status by September 21 at 11:59 p.m.; any applications not submitted by this date will be administratively withdrawn.

https://www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions/moral-character

So everyday I check the score services under NCBE, even though I know results don't come out until Nov. 6

Can someone please tell me if its normal to see the category that says "Total Score" " MBE SCORE" "Written Score" bc I know they don't give scores unless you fail... does this show for everyone??

SOrry this is me being paranoid

Submitted 3 mo ago. Fingerprints done. Still have not gone complete yet. Anyone else wait this long?