jd admissions

To be considered for admission into the Juris Doctorate program, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

1.	Hold a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution;
2.	Hold an Associate's Degree from an accredited institution;
3.	Completed at least 60 semester units or its equivalent in academic subjects at an accredited institution; or
4.	Meet the special student status requirements described below.

Special Student Status

A limited number of exceptional men and women who do not meet the educational requirements described above may be admitted to Esquire College. The Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California doe not require law school applicants to have taken the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). However, applicants seeking admission to Esquire College under Special Student Status are additionally required to take the LSAT and score above the 50^tthpercentile on the test, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on any college course work completed, exhibit maturity, and a record of personal accomplishment. All special students must take and pass the three College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests to include the English Composition examination.

Students who meet the admissions requirements may apply for admission and will be judged based on the following:

1.	Academic transcripts - GPA and level of coursework.
2.	A completed application for admission
3.	LSAT scores (if applying for Special Student Status)
4.	Letters of Recommendation
5.	Maturity

THE COMMITTEE OF BAR EXAMINERS FOR THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENTS

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that he/she complies with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California rules. All students who desire to practice law in California must register with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California within three months after beginning the study of law. A copy of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California and registration forms can be obtained from the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California at 1149 S. Hill St., 4th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90015, or by calling (213) 765-1500.

Additionally, the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California requires Esquire College to have complete files on each student within 45 days after classes begin. Therefore, all students must submit all required documentation to the Office of Admissions in a timely manner if the student is to be permitted to remain as a regular student.

COMMITTEE OF BAR EXAMINERS OF THE STATE BAR
OF CALIFORNIA POLICY

REGISTRATION
The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California regulates admission to the practice of law in California. Those persons who wish to seek admission to practice law in California are required to register with the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California within ninety days after beginning the study of law. This is in accordance with Rule V, Section 2, of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California. It is the student's responsibility to comply with the rules of the Committee of State Bar Examiners. A copy of Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California is available at the Esquire College Administration office or may be obtained from the Committee of Bar Examiners, 1149 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90015-2299.
Non-bar students are not required to register.

Students may begin the study of law after filling out the proper paper work and being accepted by the Admissions office. Each trimester consists of not less than 7 units for a total of 21 units per year. Esquire College requires study and preparation of at least 864 hours per year for four years. This is in accordance with Rule VII, Section 4, of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California.

FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENTS' EXAMINATION
Upon completion of one year of law study, all first-year students at Esquire College will take the First Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSE), which is administered twice a year by the Committee of Bar Examiners in June and October.

According to Rule VIII, Section 6 of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California, all law students/applicants required to take the FYLSE shall not receive credit for any law study until they have passed the First Year Law Students' Examination. If they fail, they will continue to take this examination on subsequent administrations while taking upper-level classes. They will not, however receive credit for these upper-level classes until they pass the examination within three consecutive administrations. Those who do not pass the examination within three consecutive administrations of first becoming eligible to take the examination but who subsequently pass the examination shall receive credit for their first year of law study only. Audit classes are available. Non-Bar students are not required to take this examination.

QUALIFYING LIMITATIONS
Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination in other states or satisfy the requirements to practice law in other states. Therefore, if a student intends to seek admission to practice law in a state other than California, the student should contact the admitting authority in that state for information regarding the legal education requirements for admission to practice law.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS - SCHOOL LAW

REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMITTEE OF BAR EXAMINERS OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
Law students in the State of California whose objective it is to seek admission to practice law in this state must register with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California within 90 days after commencing the study of law. The form needed to file with the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California will be supplied by the School at least 30 days prior to the filing date. When the registration form is completed, it should be mailed with the appropriate fee by certified mail to:

The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
1149 South Hill Street, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 765-1500
Registration is also available through the
Committee's Website: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/

After the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California has processed the registration form, a notice of registration as a law student and registration number will be mailed in about six months.

MORAL CHARACTER DETERMINATION
Prior to commencing the senior year, students must file an application for determination of moral character with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. The current State Bar of California Moral Character Determination Form can be found on www.calbar.ca.gov . Failure to file a timely application may result in a delay in admission to practice law once the bar exam has been passed.

The Committee of Bar Examiners wants to be informed of any matters known to the Dean or contained in the graduate's record that may bear adversely on the graduate's moral character and fitness for admission to The State Bar of California.

The following questions are included on the form signed by the Dean or Associate Dean:"Do the records in your office reflect that the applicant has been..."

Denied admission to practice law in any other state?
Arrested or otherwise charged formally or informally with a violation of the law?
Accused of a violation of trust?
Knowingly delinquent to any financial obligation?
Disciplined by any educational institution?
Disciplined by a licensing authority?
Diagnosed or treated for a medically recognized mental illness, disease, or disorder that would interfere with his/her ability to practice law?
Diagnosed or treated for a chemical dependency that would interfere with his/her ability to practice law?
If the answer to any part of the question (a-h) was "yes" or you have any reason to question the applicant's fitness for admission to practice law, please comment."

ADMISSION TO PRACTICE LAW IN CALIFORNIA
Admission to the practice of law in the State of California is regulated by the state legislature and the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.

Students who wish to sit for the Committee of Bar Examiners for the State Bar of California exam and who successfully complete their first year of law study at Esquire College of Law must take the First-Year Law Students' Examination administered by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Students at all California non-accredited law schools who wish to take the California Bar Examination are required to take and pass the First-Year Law Students' Examination to be eligible to continue law study beyond the first year. This examination is given twice each year and covers Contracts, Torts, and Criminal Law.

It is every law student's responsibility to comply with the rules of the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Accordingly, new students are advised to read "Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law" published by, and obtainable from, the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.

Link to CA State Bar