There are several routes to admission with the Oregon State Bar, primarily through the bar exam and reciprocity with most other states. Information follows on all manners of admission.
Please Note:
Admissions does not handle certain transactions. Links follow to assist you with these processes:
- Address Changes – OSB members seeking to update their contact information may do so via email, or mailing a form to the bar, or logging in to the website.
- Certificates of Good Standing – Submit a request online. Questions? Contact the Public Records Coordinator, regsvcs@osbar.org or 503-620-0222, ext. 330;
- Status Changes – Forms are available online. Questions? Contact the Regulatory Services Coordinator, regsvcs@osbar.org, or 503-620-0222, ext. 343.
- Pro Hac Vice admission – Information is available here and forms are available here. Questions? Contact the Regulatory Services Coordinator, regsvcs@osbar.org, or 503-620-0222, ext. 343.
2017 February Exam
- Exam Dates: February 21-22, 2017
- Deadlines: November 15 (timely filing) & December 15 (late filing with $350 late fee).
Deadlines are date for postmark, not receipt in the office. - Location: Holiday Inn - Portland Airport
2016 July Exam
All successful and eligible exam applicants will be sent a detailed packet of information including information on the admission ceremony, bar membership, bar number, the New Lawyer Mentoring Program and other relevant information. The admissions ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in Smith Auditorium on the Willamette University campus in Salem, Oregon.
Successful applicants who can not attend the ceremony may be sworn-in separately, though not before Sept. 29. You may contact staff after Sept. 16 for details.
(Willamette Campus Map) (Oath of Office)
Please contact the office of the Board of Bar Examiners with any questions.
Some lawyers may be admitted without taking the bar examination. Each of these alternate routes has specific requirements which must be satisfied. Applicants are encouraged to review these rules carefully. Applicants for admission via an alternate route must still demonstrate good moral character pursuant to ORS 9.220.
Qualifying jurisdictions for reciprocity with Oregon
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District Of Columbia
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Mandatory CLE Requirements for Reciprocity Admission
All applicants for Reciprocity Admission must take 15 credit hours of continuing legal education as approved by the Board.
Mandatory Subjects: At least two (2) credit hours must cover Legal Ethics (Oregon Code of Professional Responsibility) Four (4) credit hours must cover introductory Civil Procedure (Oregon State Court and United States District Court of Oregon local rules) At least three (3) hours must cover Oregon State Court civil procedure, emphasizing the unique aspects. Not more than one hour can be on United States District Court of Oregon local rules.
Elective Subjects: Nine (9) of the credit hours must be taken in one or more of the following subject fields emphasizing Oregon law, provided the credit hours have been accredited by the Oregon State Bar Minimum Continuing Legal Education Administrator. Oregon Administrative Law, Oregon Constitutional Law, Contracts, Corporations, Criminal Law and Procedure, Decendent's Estates, Oregon Domestic Relations, Employment Law, Evidence, Local Federal Court Practice and Procedure, Legal and Equitable Remedies, Oregon Legislation, Partnerships, Oregon Court Practice and Procedure, Real Property, Torts, Trusts, U.C.C. II - Sales, U.C.C. III - Negotiable Instruments/Commercial Paper, U.C.C. IX - Secured Transactions.
Applicants for Reciprocity Admission
The following have applied for admission under the reciprocity, house counsel or law teacher rules. The Board of Bar Examiners requests that members examine this list and bring to the board’s attention in a signed letter any information that might influence the board in considering the moral character of any applicant for admission. Send correspondence to Admissions Director, Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners, P.O. Box 231935, Tigard, OR 97281-1935.
Reciprocity: Joshua Leigh Brothers; Amy Hanks Cornelius; Timothy Sean Crisp; Erin P. Fraser; Daniel J. Garfield; Siriwong Bruce Hiran; William Jay Hunter Jr; Jason Thomas Loos; William Albert Mark; Gregory James Morphew; Patricia M. Mulvihill; John Michael Myers; Joseph Anthony Napiltonia; Robert Charles Reynolds Jr; Douglas Paul Smith; and Matthew Brady Welde.
House Counsel Applicants: Vasiliki P. Filippakos, Cloudette Marie Pass and Mark David Robertson.
Application Forms
-
Bar Exam Application
[42 pages] -
House Counsel Application
[36 pages] -
Law Teacher Application
[35 pages] -
Reciprocity Application
[41 pages] -
Rule 3.05 Affidavit A & B
[4 pages]
General Forms
-
Address Change Form
[1 page] -
Certificate of Graduation
[1 page] -
Supreme Court Certificate Order Form
[1 page]
Laptop Exam Information
Oath Form
- Please note: The Oath must be filed with the Supreme Court. Please do not send this form to the Oregon State Bar as it may delay your date of admission. Please send to: Oregon Supreme Court, 1163 State St. Salem, OR 97301.
-
Oath form
[1 page]
-
Registration form
[1 page]
Reciprocity Forms
Testing Accomodations
-
Any applicant requesting testing accommodations must submit accurate and fully complete request forms (on the forms provided by the Board) and file them with the Board no later than April 15th for the July bar exam and November 15th for the subsequent February bar exam. RFA 5.10.
-
Testing Accommodations Info Package and Forms
[54 pages: 9 forms are included along with directions]
Staff Contacts
Admissions Director
cschulz@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 310
Vickie Hansen
Admissions Coordinator
vhansen@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 419
Tanya Tkach
Admissions Specialist
ttkach@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 364
Board of Bar Examiners
| Tuttle, Stephanie J | Chairperson | |
| Robbins, Nicole L | Vice Chair | |
| Franco Lucero, Angela M | Member | |
| Howes, Jeffrey Alan | Member | |
| Isaak, Misha | Member | |
| Lloyd, Jennifer S | Member | |
| Hon Ryan, Thomas M | Member | |
| Skinner, Cassandra C | Member | |
| Hon Skye, Kelly | Member | |
| Starr, Renee E | Member | |
| White, David F | Member | |
| Wong, Caroline M | Member | |
| Green, Randall | Public Member | |
| Kolbell, Richard | Public Member | |
| Spier, Richard G | BOG Contact |