California Bar Exam Accommodations FAQs

California Bar Exam Accommodations FAQs

Navigating the California Bar Exam process can be an overwhelming experience. For students with mental or physical disabilities, the California Bar Exam often presents a host of logistical and administrative questions. From how to apply for accommodations, to dealing with accommodation denials, many law students with disabilities often have similar questions. We’re here to provide a general overview of California Bar Exam accommodations and answer some popular questions. So, let’s get started!

California Bar Exam Accommodations FAQs

Who Can Apply For Accommodations?

The California Bar Exam provides reasonable accommodations to those with mental or physical disabilities. Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 7, Rule 4.82 of the Rules of the State Bar of California (try saying that 5 times fast) provides details as to what qualifies as a mental or physical disability. Some examples of qualifying disabilities include ADHD, dyslexia, blindness, and depression. In short, accommodations are usually granted because a student has a disability that causes them to experience substantial testing limitations. One common misconception is that students with a disability often expect to have all of their accommodations met. In reality, they are only entitled to reasonable accommodations that are designed to provide an even playing field.

How Do I Apply For Accommodations?

Applications for California Bar Exam accommodations must be submitted separate and apart from the normal California Bar Exam application. The mandatory forms and requirements can be accessed online at the State Bar of California’s website. Certain disabilities have certain required verification forms that must be submitted along with the application itself. It is highly recommended that students submitting accommodation applications do so as early as possible. This is because petitions are generally processed a minimum of 60 days from the date your application was submitted. Students who end up waiting and submitting applications on or near the deadline often don’t have time to file appeals.

Pro Tip: Your application for accommodation can be submitted at the same time you register with the California State Bar! This can be done irrespective of whether or not you have submitted your application to sit for the exam.

What Kind Of Accommodations Are Available?

Depending on the circumstances, reasonable accommodations for the California Bar Exam can vary. The goal is to provide each test-taker with an equal opportunity to perform on the test. That might mean granting more time to a student or allowing a student to take the test in a private area. Other examples may include providing specialized wheelchair access, enlarged font on the test, or permission to use certain medical aids.

How Do I Appeal Accommodation Decisions?

Students are entitled to appeal a denied accommodation petition, either in whole or in part. Like we mentioned above, you want to give yourself plenty of time to submit an appeal. Students who submit petitions less than 60 days before the deadline may not have enough time to file an appeal. Appeals need to be received in the San Francisco Office of Admissions within the appropriate window. The deadline to submit an appeal is the first business day of the month the examination is scheduled for administration.

Emergency Accommodation Positions

You may not be able to submit an accommodation petition for the California Bar Exam by the deadline. Things happen and life can sometimes get in the way of schedules and plans. If that’s the case, you can try filing an accommodation petition on an emergency basis. The fact that you were unable to get an appointment with a professional before the deadline isn’t grounds for consideration. These are granted on an extremely limited basis and should not be an option for anyone who can avoid it.

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