Bar Admission

In order to work as a lawyer, you must become admitted to practice law in the jurisdiction in which you plan to work. Each state's highest court sets the requirements for admission to practice law. Requirements and application deadlines vary from state to state. So, we encourage you to check the information for the state(s) in which you are interested as soon as possible.

Admission to Practice Law in Colorado

For the most complete and up-to-date information about admission requirements and the application process, visit the . You should review all the information on that site, particularly the . The below checklist is provided for your convenience only.

To obtain a license to practice law in Colorado, you must:

  • Complete your graduation requirements.
  • Take the  offered by the Colorado Bar Association.
  • Pass the with a scaled score of at least 85.
  • Pass Colorado's Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) with a scaled score of at least 276.
  • Meet the character and fitness requirements set forth by the Colorado Office of Attorney Admissions.
  • Submit a complete for admission. We recommend you begin your application no later than January 1 for the July exam, and no later than September 1 for the February exam. Extensive personal histories and official records need to be compiled in order to complete the application; this information can take weeks to months to gather. A few notes on the application process:
    • When you apply for bar admission, the Office of Attorney Admissions will request a certificate of graduation and a copy of your law school application. The Law School will complete this on your behalf if you authorize us to do so.
      • To provide your authorization, if you are a current student or still have access to your CU IdentiKey and password, submit this  to the Law School. (If you have trouble accessing the form, first sign out of any google accounts you are signed into, then re-click on the link, then enter your IdentiKey user name and password.)
      • If you are a graduate without access to a CU IdentiKey and password you can either email to lawreg@colorado.edu from your @colorado.edu email address or turn in a hard copy to the FORMS box outside the Registrar's office.
    • You do NOT need to separately submit a Certificate of Law School Graduation to the Registrar's office. They will send these items directly to the Office of Attorney Admissions once all grades are finalized.
    • If you need your application notarized, several Law School staff members are notaries.
    • You will need fingerprints taken within 30 days prior to submitting your application. Click here for more information.
    • You will need to request an official copy of your driving record (possibly from more than one state).

Admission to Practice Law in Other States

Each state maintains its own rules and regulations regarding the licensing of attorneys and has its own bar examination. The ABA provides a , which contains a synopsis of each state’s bar admission requirements and relevant dates. We encourage you to look into these requirements and dates as soon as possible during your third year, as some of the requirements can take some time to complete (e.g., pro bono hours). 

is a free website that contains the bar exam information for all U.S. jurisdictions and presents it in any easy-to-use format to help you quickly and easily navigate the bar exam application process. This website includes deadlines, subjects tested, exam format, scoring, contact information, reciprocity, and more. However, you should always refer to the state’s office of attorney admissions website as the information can change at any time.

Please email lawreg@colorado.edu if you need specific paperwork filled out or your application forwarded to a state other than Colorado. If you need a transcript sent, You can find more information about how to order an official transcript here: /registrar/students/transcripts. Please include in your email any relevant due dates for these materials. Students and alumni who need information such as LSAT scores or their law school application should contact directly. Again, we will certify your graduation only after grades are final and you have completed all graduation requirements.