What Is The California Moral Character Application?

What Is The California Moral Character Application?

Taking and passing the Bar Exam in California isn’t the only thing required to practice law. Other requirements, such as a successful moral character determination, are required. So what exactly is the moral character application? Let’s find out!

What Is The California Moral Character Application?

The Moral Character Application Generally

The moral character application is a necessary step if you want to practice law in California. It ensures that candidates to the California State Bar possess certain qualities.  These include qualities such as honesty, fairness, candor, trustworthiness, and so on. The application is essentially a very detailed background check! For example, students will be asked to provide references, past addresses, and include the details of arrests or other misconduct. The application is designed to be a holistic evaluation of a student’s life. Therefore, no one instance of prior misconduct is automatic grounds for disqualification.

When Should I Fill Out the Moral Character Application?

The moral character application in California can take up to six months to process. 3Ls that plan to take the July Bar Exam should complete the application in November of the year prior. This ensures that enough time is provided for the application to be processed prior to the July Bar Exam. While the application can take up to six months to process, many are processed within six months.

A Flagged Moral Character Application

If a moral character application is flagged for additional review, the six-month processing time is no longer applicable. Students who receive notice that their applications are subject to additional review will likely face longer processing times. These wait times can stretch into the following year in some cases. The initial letter to the applicant alerting them to the additional review is addressed as follows:

“A review of your Application for Moral Character Determination (Moral Character Application) has been completed.  We are unable to complete the processing of your application within the 180-day period specified in the Rules of the State Bar of California (Admissions Rules) because further inquiry and analysis is needed.”

Often these letters request more information from a student in the form of a written response. If a student’s written response is insufficient, the California State Bar will require the student to attend a hearing.

Why Are Applications Flagged?

Moral character applications can be flagged for a number of reasons, but the most common reason is related to truthfulness.  For example, if a candidate has exhibited evidence that he or she was involved in a crime of moral turpitude. Applications may also be flagged if a student exhibited evidence that he or she was involved in academic dishonesty. Students who fail to disclose something on the application also often have processing issues. Lastly, applications are often flagged for prior instances involving drugs or alcohol.

Tips To Avoid A Flagged Moral Character Application

Here are some helpful pieces of advice designed to make students more comfortable with the application process. First, it is generally advised to be truthful on the application, even if that means disclosing negative information. Honesty is the best policy.

Second, make sure to double and triple-check the application before submitting it. Processing delays are often caused by incomplete applications.

Lastly, make sure the application is not only complete but also accurate. For example, list all of your previous addresses even if you only lived at a certain location temporarily.

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