What To Know About California Bar Exam Accommodations

What To Know About California Bar Exam Accommodations

If you need accommodations for the California Bar Exam, it is important that you apply for accommodations as soon as possible.  In this post, we provide information regarding applying California Bar Exam accommodations.

What To Know About California Bar Exam Accommodations

First of all, a request for accommodations must be made separate from your application to sit for the California Bar Exam.  You can submit your application for accommodations as soon as you register with the State Bar, even if you have not yet submitted your application to sit for the bar exam.

What Kind Of Accommodations Are Available?

California has identified a non-exhaustive list of the types of accommodations an applicant can seek for the California Bar Exam.  These include:

• Wheelchair access
• Permission to dictate to a typist or digital recorder
• Extended testing schedule
• Separate testing room
• Customized exam materials (e.g., Braille, large print, etc.)
• Extended testing days
• Permission to bring and use specific items or medical aids

Thus, it is important to note that the applicant is responsible for requesting the accommodations that he/she believes are necessary – the State Bar of California will not simply dictate what accommodations will be given for a specific condition or circumstances. 

When Should You Apply?

The State Bar of California has stated that the initial review of a petition seeking accommodations will take a MINIMUM of 60 days to review.  Furthermore, the State Bar stated, “Applicants who wait to file their requests near the final filing deadline for the examination they intend to take generally are not able to exhaust all administrative remedies before administration of the examination, such as appealing a denial of some or all of an applicant’s request for testing accommodations.”  In other words, if you wait until the exam filing deadline to submit your application for accommodations, you may not have time to complete an appeal in the event that your application for accommodations is denied!

As indicated above, you can begin your application for accommodations as soon as you register with the State Bar of California, which can be done well in advance of when you plan to sit for the bar exam.  It appears that you can register with the State Bar of California at any time; the only downside to registering before you fully decide that you will be taking the California Bar Exam is that you will pay the non-refundable registration fee.  So, you could register during your second year of law school.  But, if you decide not to take the California Bar Exam (perhaps you decide to take the Uniform Bar Exam in another state), California will not refund the registration fee.

Finally, if you have to unexpectedly file a request for accommodations after the filing deadline has passed, California allows “emergency” petitions.  Be sure to check the State Bar’s website for the specific requirements of an emergency petition.

What if Your Application Is Denied?

The State Bar has a process for appealing a denied application for accommodations.  Appeals are due by the first business day of the month in which the exam is being administered.  Given the length of time the initial petition review takes (minimum 60 days), appeal may not be an option for applicants who do not submit the application for accommodations early enough!

For more information, and to find the application forms and required documentation, be sure to check out the State Bar of California website.

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