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.
- 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.
2019 July Exam
- Exam Dates: July 30-31, 2019
- Deadlines: April 15, 2019 (timely filing) & May 30, 2019 (late filing with $350 late fee).
- Location: Use the following link for a discounted hotel rate:
Red Lion Hotel on the River - Jantzen Beach
909 N. Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR 97217
2019 February Exam
All successful and eligible exam applicants will receive a letter including information on the admission ceremony, bar membership, bar number, the New Lawyer Mentoring Program and other relevant information. The admissions ceremony is on May 23, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. in Smith Auditorium on the Willamette University campus in Salem.
Successful applicants who can not attend the ceremony may be sworn-in separately, though not before May 23. You may contact staff after April 26 for details.
(Willamette Campus Map) (Oath of Office) (Registration Form).
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 Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virgin Islands
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- 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 Admission
The following have applied for admission under the Pro Bono, Reciprocity, House Counsel, Foreign Law Consultant or Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) 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 Department, Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners, P.O. Box 231935, Tigard, OR 97281-1935.
Reciprocity: Anne Renee Vankirk, Bonnie Alieen Calhoun, Caleb Elliott Ginsberg, Carla Scarsella, Daniel Albert Serot, Daniel Clinton McGill, Elizabeth Lee Divekar, Gerald Lynn Hilsher, J. Patrick Kravetz Gunning, James Marcus Boyer, Joseph Michael Cooper, Joshua Michael Hood, Justin Edward Murphy, Justine Meredith Elliot, Katrina Romero Durek, Kingston David Bowen, Krista Suzann deBoer, Leah Eccles Watson, Peter Jaret Abbarno, Richard Stephen Doughty, Ryan Neal DuBose, Stephanie Camelio LaCarrubba, Wendy Suzanne Goffe
House Counsel: Roisin Elizabeth Comerford
UBE Transfer Score: Austin Michael Watkins, David Laurence Sieck, David Nicholas Pruitt, Ethan Brooks Harter, Hari Kumar, Joshua Edward Campbell, Margaret Mansfield Burgess
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
General Forms
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Address Change Form
[1 page] -
Certificate of Graduation
[1 page] -
Supreme Court Certificate Order Form
[1 page]
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
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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.
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Testing Accommodations Info Package and Forms
[54 pages: 9 forms are included along with directions]
Staff Contacts
Admissions Director
twood@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 310
Vickie Hansen
Admissions Coordinator
vhansen@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 419
Sergio Hernandez
Admissions Specialist
shernandez@osbar.org, (503) 620-0222 ext. 405
Board of Bar Examiners
| Ms. Wong, Caroline M | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Franco Lucero, Angela M | Vice Chair | |
| Mr. Bofferding, Todd E | Member | |
| Mr. Casper, Michael A | Member | |
| Mr. Isaak, Misha | Member | |
| McLeod-Skinner, Cassandra C | Member | |
| Ms. Perini-Abbott, Joanna T | Member | |
| Hon. Ryan, Thomas M | Member | |
| Hon. Skye, Kelly | Member | |
| Mr. Slauson, Michael J | Member | |
| Ms. Tuttle, Stephanie J | Member | |
| Mr. Warren, Ernest | Member | |
| Green, Randall | Public Member | |
| Kolbell, Richard | Public Member | |
| Ms. Nordyke, Vanessa A | BOG Contact |