The Rules Committee of the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners (BBX) has proposed amendments to the Oregon Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys (RFAs) affecting applicants seeking a Temporary Practice License (Rule 13.70-13.85), and applicants with a Limited License seeking to gain full membership in the Oregon State Bar (RFA 15.10). The BBX seeks public comment on proposed amendments by November 17, 2022 at admissions@osbar.org.
The Oregon State Bar's Provisional Licensing Program (PLP) application is now available on the OSB web site. The PLP is available to applicants who took the Bar Exam in February 2022, when issues at the test site likely affected performance of many test takers. The Oregon Supreme Court approved this alternative mechanism for the Board of Bar Examiners to examine competency of applicants.
More information and a new application is available here.
All fingerprint and notary requirements have been suspended. Once you have filled out the application and C&F Reference Forms, just sign the declaration at the end of the application and send it in with your payment. Please do not contact the Admissions Department to confirm this statement. We will place a new announcement here if this changes. Thank you.
2023 February Exam
- Exam Dates: February 21-22, 2023
- Deadlines: November 15 (timely filing) & December 15 (late filing with $375 late fee).
- Location: The February 2023 Bar exam will take place in Salem, Oregon at the Salem Convention Center, which is located at 200 Commercial Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301.
- Standard Hours of Testing Operations for Exam: Registration on both days of the bar exam will open sometime between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. Applicants should be at the Convention Center at or near those times. Traveling near the State Capitol can have delays due to traffic, road construction or political events. We recommend checking traffic apps to ensure on-time arrival. Once parked, there are ample amenities and food establishments within walking distance of the Convention Center
- Covid-19 Protocols: The BBX anticipates instituting a mask mandate and a social distancing requirement, although these decisions will be informed by circumstances in Oregon as the date approaches. Applicants who have had covid symptoms or exposure will be required to present documentation of a negative test, taken within two days of the first day of the exam.
- Seating Capacity: Seating capacity will be set by the BBX Chair in mid- to late December. If seating capacity is not reached by the late filing deadline, seating will be opened to current OSB members. This application will be published no later than December 21, 2022, and the deadline for members to submit applications will be 5:00 p.m. on December 30, 2022.
- Hotels: The Salem Grand Hotel is connected to the Convention Center. However, we have no blocked rooms reserved for this event. There are approximately 30 hotels within a 30-minute commute to the Convention Center.
- Driving to the Bar Exam: The Convention Center is approximately five miles west of I-5 in the Salem area, and five blocks west of the Oregon State Capitol. Applicant's driving from Portland will take Exit 260A near Kaiser (99E-Business South/MLK Jr. Parkway) from I-5 South. Applicant's driving from Eugene will take Exit 253 in Salem (OR-22 toward 99E-Business North).
- Out-of-state applicants - flying to the exam: Salem has a municipal airport that is closed to any non-local air traffic. You will need to fly into Portland's International Airport (PDX) or Eugene's regional Public Airport (EUG). Depending on the time of day and your travel methods, it should take between one-hour and 15 minutes to two-hours of travel time from either airport.
- Getting from PDX (Portland International Airport) to Exam Site – three most common options:
1) Uber/Lyft/Ride-Share Options - 1.25 to 1.5 hours - Quotes range from $80 to $130 each way;
2) Rental Car - 1.25 to 1.5 hours - Quotes range $80 - $130/day;
3) Greyhound Bus - Public Train (Cost $2.50 - Max Red Line from PDX (stop ID 10579) to Old Town (stop ID 8378) with a 0.5 mile walk to Greyhound Station located at 1090 NW Station Way, Portland, Oregon) & Bus ride from PDX Greyhound Station to Salem Greyhound Station (Cost $11-$18 for One-hour trip with two departing time options 7:35AM or 6:45PM) & Public/Private Transportation from Salem Greyhound Station (510 13th Street SE) to Convention Center with 0.75 mile walk or Salem public/local-taxi/Uber/etc.
- Getting from EUG (Eugene Airport) to Exam Site – three most common options:
1) Uber/Lyft/Ride-Share Options - 1.25 to 1.5 hours - Quotes range from $120 to $160 each way;
2) Rental Car - 1.25 to 1.5 hours - Quotes range $72 - $120/day;
3) Greyhound Bus - Eugene does not have a Greyhound Bus Station. They have one bus stop located at 131 E. 5th Ave., Eugene, Oregon. You must buy a ticket online for one of its two options 6:20 AM or 4:00PM. Bus rides from the Eugene to Salem Greyhound Station Costs $11-$16 each way. The trip takes approximately one-hour and 45-minutes.
- Out-of-Town/State Applicants - Consider Amtrak: There are numerous train departure options from both Eugene and Portland Amtrak stations to Salem most days. Price ranges from $10 to $24. Amtrak costs from Seattle to Salem range from $31 - $74, and from Los Angeles to Salem from $84 to $162.
- Exam Site Parking - Three complimentary parking locations:
1) Convention Center: Some limited underground parking available at exam site; enter from the front of the Grand Salem Hotel at 201 Liberty Street SE, SalemOR. This will likely fill up early;
2) Pringle Parkade at 325 High Street SE (1 Block/5-minute walk) Southeast of Grand Hotel; some complimentary rooftop parking for Convention Center attendees (enter from High Street); and
3) 300 Chemeketa Parkade at 300 Chemeketa Street NE (3 Blocks/10-minute walk) North of Convention Center (enter from Commercial Street, south of Chemeketa).
These parking facilities can fill up quickly; applicants are encouraged to find parking before 7AM on exam days. Paid parking may be available nearby, but metered parking is not recommended as applicants will not be able to leave their exam room to pay for parking.
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.
Mandatory CLE Requirements for Comity Admission
All applicants for Comity 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 Admission
Pursuant to RFA 6.10, as part of an applicants character and fitness review, each applicants name must be published at least 45 days prior to admission. In compliance with this rule, below is a list of applicants who have applied for Comity, Score Transfer, and House Counsel admission. The link below includes a list of applicants who have applied for the administration of the Uniform Bar Examination in Oregon. The Board of Bar Examiners requests that members examine these lists and bring to the boards attention any information that might influence the board in considering the moral character of any applicant for admission. Send correspondence to Admissions Department, Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners, P.O. Box 231935, Tigard, OR 97281-1935. Correspondence can also be emailed to admissions@osbar.org.
Comity
The following names will expire on Friday, December 30, 2022:
Jordan L. Couch, Anthony J. Shively, Melissa A. LeBlanc, Michael R. Audley, David A. Boyer, Joseph M. Dallas, Edit Szanto, Stefani E. Shanberg, Hugh J. Barber, Jessica A. Braverman, Jennifer D. Baetje, Jennifer S. Willis, Michael J. Mahoney, Samuel Aintablian II, Ariel R. Test, Felisa C. Martin, James G. Fick
The following names will expire on Monday, January 23, 2023:
David A. Schwartz, David K. Bandstra, Emma C. Nowacki, John Anwesen, Joshua R. Purtle, Lara R. Hruska, Mark A. Horey, Mark D. Tyler, Michael S. Keim, Olivia M. Miller, Pamela E. Hinchliffe, Sheryl A. Hatcher, Victoria C. Beasley
Score Transfer
The following names will expire on Friday, December 30, 2022:
Nicole D'Ambrogi, Jacob T. M. McCormack, Basil P. D'Souza, Sydney A. Nguyen, Cole T. Johnson, Trevor J. Rowland, Jeremy Wheeler Conkling, Ashley A. Hill, Caroline Martin
The following names will expire on Monday, January 23, 2023:
Richard R. Hood
Other Applicants
The following names will expire on Friday, December 30, 2022:
Kristina S. Kelchner
The following names will expire on Monday, January 23, 2023:
Folasade C. Mapaderun
Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) Transfer Information
MCLE Requirements for UBE Applicants (following admission):
MCLE Rule 1.8 provides that a person is a new admittee from the date of initial admission as an active member of the Oregon State Bar through the end of his or her first reporting period.
MCLE Rule 3.3(b) provides that new admittees shall complete 15 credit hours of accredited CLE activity in the first reporting period after admission as an active member, including two credit hours in ethics, and ten credit hours in practical skills. One of the ethics credit hours must be devoted to Oregon ethics and professionalism and four of the ten credits in practical skills must be devoted to Oregon practice and procedure. New admittees must also complete a three credit hour OSB-approved introductory course in access to justice. The MCLE Program Manager may waive the practical skills requirement for a new admittee who has practiced law in another jurisdiction for three consecutive years immediately prior to the member's admission in Oregon, in which event the new admittee must complete ten hours in other areas. After a new admittee's first reporting period, the requirements in Rule 3.2(a) shall apply.
Application Forms
Temporary Practice Application Forms
General Forms
-
Address Change Form
-
Annual House Counsel Certification Packet
-
House Counsel Reinstatement Form
-
Bar Exam Confirmation Letter
-
Certificate of Graduation
-
Supreme Court Certificate Order Form
-
Admission Files Order Form
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.
-
COVID-19 Oath form
Comity Info
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
Provision of Legal Services Following Disaster (Not in Effect)
Staff Contacts
Regulatory Counsel
twood@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 310
Vickie Hansen
Admissions Coordinator
vhansen@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 419
Sarah Haugstad
Admissions Specialist
shaugstad@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 364
Jenni Abalan
Admissions and Regulatory Services Assistant
jabalan@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 330
Brandi Norris
Regulatory Services Coordinator
bnorris@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 343
Board of Bar Examiners Members
| Ms. Tuttle, Stephanie J | Chairperson | |
| Dr. Rosilez, Anthony J | Vice Chair | |
| Ms. Perini-Abbott, Joanna T | Member | |
| Ms. Matthews, Kendra M | Member | |
| Mr. Ujifusa, Glen H | Member | |
| Hon. Skye, Kelly | Member | |
| McLeod-Skinner, Cassandra C | Member | |
| Ms. Doornink, Christy Amber | Member | |
| Hon. Franco Lucero, Angela M | Member | |
| Ms. Smith, Adrian Tobin | Member | |
| Hon. Alarcon, Jacqueline Lizeth | Member | |
| Mr. Slauson, Michael J | Member | |
| Mr. Cauble, Christopher | BOG Contact | |
| Corey, David | Public Member | |
| Kolbell, Richard | Public Member |
Board of Bar Examiners Meeting Dates
Please note that the Board may transition to in-person meetings in the summer or fall.
3/23/2022 |
Wednesday |
9:00AM – 4:00PM |
Zoom (Committee Mtgs.)
|
3/24/2022 |
Thursday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
Zoom Meeting
|
4/22/2022 |
Friday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
Zoom Meeting
|
5/20/2022 |
Friday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
Zoom Meeting |
6/24/2022 |
Friday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
Zoom Meeting |
8/25/2022 |
Thursday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
TBA |
9/16/2022 |
Friday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
TBA |
10/21/2022 |
Friday |
8:30AM – 12:30PM |
TBA |