some answers for your important questions!
No, law apprenticeship programs are available in 4 states in the United States. Although each program differs depending on the state and the corresponding Bar Associations that design and oversee the program.
These states offer legal apprenticeship as a complete alternative to law school: Washington state, Vermont, and Virginia. If you are interested in learning more about legal apprenticeship outside of California, please see this guide from our community partner, The Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC).
If you are interested in Esq. Apprentice's support fellowship, it is currently only available in the greater Bay Area (based out of Oakland, CA).
Some basic information about states’ rules for bar admission for apprentices. Please see each state’s bar admissions rules for additional details and information on how to register as an apprentice.
For up-to-date information regarding CA Bar's Law Office Study Program requirements and regulations, visit https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admi....
For more information, the requirements for admission and parameters for completing CA Bar's LOSP to practice law in California are contained in the Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards. For the specific requirements, refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29.
Once educational requirements are met, California LOSP apprentices are responsible for finding a supervising attorney, pay the $158 registration fee and submit with their supervising attorney, a Notice of Intent to study Law in a Law Office or Judge’s Chamber to the CA Bar’s office of admission by the start date of their apprenticeship.
Apprentices must follow the curriculum submitted by the supervising attorney in the Notice of Intent under the supervising attorney’s supervision for at least 18 hours a week, for 4 years over a 48 consecutive weeks per year.
The supervising attorney must give written examinations at least once a month and submit a semiannual (every 6 months from admission) report to the bar noting topics covered and materials used, along with $105 submission fee, and the questions and answers of the monthly test.
After the first year participants must pass the “Baby Bar” or the California First Year Law students (CAFYLS) examination, usually administered in JUNE and OCTOBER.
After 3 more years of consistent reporting and good standing with the CA Bar's LOSP, the apprentice then qualifies to sit for the California Bar examination, which is given in July and February. During this final year the apprentice will also need to submit other qualifying documentation that once they pass the Bar Exam they become eligible to become a licenced attorney in California!
The Law Office Study Program (LOSP) is the official name of California Bar Association's legal apprenticeship program. More information is available here.
For the specific requirements, Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards (refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29)
If you are interested in supervising an apprentice in our program, visit our Become a Supervising Attorney page, or please email info@esqapprentice.org for more information.
Generally, supervising attorneys must be active with the California bar continuously for five years prior to being eligible to supervise apprentices. In addition, a supervising attorney may supervise no more than two apprentices at a time. Review State Bar Rule 4.29(B) here for general information.
This is where partnerships matter! Esq. Apprentice will work with you to craft a plan to support you and your apprentice, from access to bar prep, legal skills curriculum, and more.
Yes! You can sponsor an apprentice today. Your donation of just $30/month can cover an entire year of apprentice fees. Visit our Donate page for more information.
The California State Bar Association is the entity that mandates the topics and process for how the California Bar First-Year Law Students' Examination is administered. They do periodically change these details, so be sure to confirm exam related details with them.
The best place to check for any updates regarding the details of the California Bar First-Year Law Students' Examination is: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/First-Year-Law-Students-Examination
For information on grading and scope of the exam: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/First-Year-Law-Students-Examination/First-Year-Exam-Grading-and-Scope
Or to contact them directly at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Contact-Us
The California State Bar Association is the entity that mandates the topics and process for how the California Bar Exam is administered. They do periodically change these details, so be sure to confirm Exam related details with them.
The best place to check for any updates regarding the details of the Bar Exam is at the California Bar Examination page: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination
The webpage for information on what is covered in the CA Bar Exam: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination/California-Bar-Examination-Scope
Or to contact them directly at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Contact-Us
The Law Office Study Program (LOSP) is the official name of California Bar Association's legal apprenticeship program. More information is available here.
For the specific requirements, Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards (refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29)
No. The State Bar requires higher education credits (roughly equivalent to the units necessary to complete an Associate’s degree) or tests demonstrating equivalency. Review State Bar Rule 4.25 here and the education page at the CA Bar website here for more information.
For the specific requirements, Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards (refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29)
No, law apprenticeship programs are available in 4 states in the United States. Although each program differs depending on the state and the corresponding Bar Associations that design and oversee the program.
These states offer legal apprenticeship as a complete alternative to law school: Washington state, Vermont, and Virginia. If you are interested in learning more about legal apprenticeship outside of California, please see this guide from our community partner, The Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC).
If you are interested in Esq. Apprentice's support fellowship, it is currently only available in the greater Bay Area (based out of Oakland, CA).
Some basic information about states’ rules for bar admission for apprentices. Please see each state’s bar admissions rules for additional details and information on how to register as an apprentice.
Applications for our Cohort are currently CLOSED!
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No, you may complete the California apprenticeship program on your own!
For more information on how to register on your own and rules of the apprenticeship program, visit the California bar website on apprenticeship here.
For up-to-date information regarding CA Bar's Law Office Study Program requirements and regulations, visit https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admi....
For more information, the requirements for admission and parameters for completing CA Bar's LOSP to practice law in California are contained in the Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards. For the specific requirements, refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29.
Once educational requirements are met, California LOSP apprentices are responsible for finding a supervising attorney, pay the $158 registration fee and submit with their supervising attorney, a Notice of Intent to study Law in a Law Office or Judge’s Chamber to the CA Bar’s office of admission by the start date of their apprenticeship.
Apprentices must follow the curriculum submitted by the supervising attorney in the Notice of Intent under the supervising attorney’s supervision for at least 18 hours a week, for 4 years over a 48 consecutive weeks per year.
The supervising attorney must give written examinations at least once a month and submit a semiannual (every 6 months from admission) report to the bar noting topics covered and materials used, along with $105 submission fee, and the questions and answers of the monthly test.
After the first year participants must pass the “Baby Bar” or the California First Year Law students (CAFYLS) examination, usually administered in JUNE and OCTOBER.
After 3 more years of consistent reporting and good standing with the CA Bar's LOSP, the apprentice then qualifies to sit for the California Bar examination, which is given in July and February. During this final year the apprentice will also need to submit other qualifying documentation that once they pass the Bar Exam they become eligible to become a licenced attorney in California!
The California State Bar Association is the entity that mandates the topics and process for how the California Bar First-Year Law Students' Examination is administered. They do periodically change these details, so be sure to confirm exam related details with them.
The best place to check for any updates regarding the details of the California Bar First-Year Law Students' Examination is: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/First-Year-Law-Students-Examination
For information on grading and scope of the exam: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/First-Year-Law-Students-Examination/First-Year-Exam-Grading-and-Scope
Or to contact them directly at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Contact-Us
The California State Bar Association is the entity that mandates the topics and process for how the California Bar Exam is administered. They do periodically change these details, so be sure to confirm Exam related details with them.
The best place to check for any updates regarding the details of the Bar Exam is at the California Bar Examination page: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination
The webpage for information on what is covered in the CA Bar Exam: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/California-Bar-Examination/California-Bar-Examination-Scope
Or to contact them directly at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Contact-Us
In California, after the CA Bar Association has approved your admission to the LOSP, apprenticing for about four years, and completing all testing and reporting requirements; apprentices will be eligible to sit for the California bar. If you pass the California bar (and moral character requirements) you will be a licensed California attorney. You can learn more about admissions requirements, the bar exam, and what it means to be licensed in California here.
100% of your donation will go towards programming that offers personalized learning support, mentorship, and coaching, to help marginalized women of color build a more diverse and justice-centered legal profession.
You can learn more about the women in our program by reading their first-hand narratives of entering the legal profession.
Legal apprenticeship offers a debt-free pathway to the law for low-income women of color who have been historically excluded from the profession. Women of color make up over half of all people living in poverty. For those seeking a legal career, law school–and the tens of thousands of dollars of debt that comes with it–just isn’t a viable option. For those who must balance work and higher education with caregiving duties, as Black women in particular are more likely to do, law school–and the strenuous, full-time requirements that come with it–just isn’t a viable option.
The Law Office Study Program (LOSP) is the official name of California Bar Association's legal apprenticeship program. More information is available here.
For the specific requirements, Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards (refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29)
No, law apprenticeship programs are available in 4 states in the United States. Although each program differs depending on the state and the corresponding Bar Associations that design and oversee the program.
These states offer legal apprenticeship as a complete alternative to law school: Washington state, Vermont, and Virginia. If you are interested in learning more about legal apprenticeship outside of California, please see this guide from our community partner, The Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC).
If you are interested in Esq. Apprentice's support fellowship, it is currently only available in the greater Bay Area (based out of Oakland, CA).
Some basic information about states’ rules for bar admission for apprentices. Please see each state’s bar admissions rules for additional details and information on how to register as an apprentice.
For up-to-date information regarding CA Bar's Law Office Study Program requirements and regulations, visit https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admi....
For more information, the requirements for admission and parameters for completing CA Bar's LOSP to practice law in California are contained in the Rules of the State Bar of California, Title 4 - Admissions and Educational Standards. For the specific requirements, refer to Title 4, Division 1, Chapter 3, Rule 4.29.
Once educational requirements are met, California LOSP apprentices are responsible for finding a supervising attorney, pay the $158 registration fee and submit with their supervising attorney, a Notice of Intent to study Law in a Law Office or Judge’s Chamber to the CA Bar’s office of admission by the start date of their apprenticeship.
Apprentices must follow the curriculum submitted by the supervising attorney in the Notice of Intent under the supervising attorney’s supervision for at least 18 hours a week, for 4 years over a 48 consecutive weeks per year.
The supervising attorney must give written examinations at least once a month and submit a semiannual (every 6 months from admission) report to the bar noting topics covered and materials used, along with $105 submission fee, and the questions and answers of the monthly test.
After the first year participants must pass the “Baby Bar” or the California First Year Law students (CAFYLS) examination, usually administered in JUNE and OCTOBER.
After 3 more years of consistent reporting and good standing with the CA Bar's LOSP, the apprentice then qualifies to sit for the California Bar examination, which is given in July and February. During this final year the apprentice will also need to submit other qualifying documentation that once they pass the Bar Exam they become eligible to become a licenced attorney in California!
