Exam Transfer: to transfer to another exam date, contact the State
Board of Law Examiners at P.O. Box 30104, Lansing, MI 48909, phone
(517) 373-4453.
Re-Exams: for re-exam forms, contact the State
Board of Law Examiners at P.O. Box 30104, Lansing, MI 48909, phone
(517) 373-4453.
Board
of Law Examiners - Frequently Asked Questions
How long is my C&F certification valid?
Six exams (starting from the one initially applied for) or three years
from the date of the approval issued by the Board of Law Examiners, whichever
is longer.
What is required to receive certified bar examination
results?
The Board of Law Examiners must receive certification of the applicant’s:
- Graduation from law school,
- Character & Fitness, and
- Passing score on the MPRE.
Who do I notify if I will not be able to sit at the
exam for which I applied?
Notify the State Board of Law Examiners in writing at:
Board of Law Examiners
P.O. Box 30104
Lansing, MI 48909
I need to re-take the exam. How do I sign up?
The Board of Law Examiners sends out a re-exam form with notification
of failing bar exam scores. Complete the re-exam form and return it to the Board
of Law Examiners. If Character & Fitness has been certified, generally it
is valid for 3 years from the certification date or the first exam date for which
you applied. If your C&F certification has expired, you will be required
to complete a new Affidavit of Personal History (bar application) and pay additional
fees.
Should I send in my application without my out-of-state
criminal clearances or driving records?
Yes. Only items listed on the F-13 form need to be turned in with
the initial application.
How do I transfer my MBE score?
See the F-2 form or contact the Board of Law Examiners at (517)
373-4453.
I need special accommodations when I take the bar
exam. How do I make arrangements?
The Board of Law Examiners administers the bar exam. Please call
or write them for information about accommodations, location, schedule and other
exam related questions.
When will I get my admission certificate for the
bar examination?
The State Board of Law Examiners sends out admission certificates and
information about the bar examination around the first week of the month of your
scheduled bar examination.
What can I bring to the Bar Exam?
The Board of Law Examiners has implemented a new policy regarding items
that may be brought into the examination room and/or testing area, effective
with the giving of the February 2006 bar examination. Please see the Board
of Law Examiner’s website for specific information.
How do I know if the State Bar of Michigan has received
my application?
Please mail your application certified with a return receipt requested,
use a courier with a tracking number system, or enclose a self-addressed, stamped
postcard with the application. We will gladly date stamp your card and return
it to you, usually the same day the application is received.
Other bar applicants have received their Character & Fitness
certifications, and I haven’t received mine.
If the C&F Investigators need additional information from you,
you will be notified by letter prior to sitting for the bar exam. Periodically “Status” letters
are sent to bar applicants notifying them of information missing from their applications.
The sooner you respond to our requests for additional information and follow
up with outside agencies to prompt them to send your information to the State
Bar, the more quickly we will be able to complete your file and move it on to
the next step, either approval or District Committee interview. Your
Character & Fitness does not have to be complete before sitting for the bar
exam for the first time. However, you may not take the bar exam again until your
Character & Fitness has been certified.
Do I need a certified driving record from a state
in which I lived but never held a driver’s license?
Yes, you must obtain a certified driving record even if you did
not possess a driver’s license in that jurisdiction. You are responsible
for obtaining a certified copy of your driving record for each
state (including District of Columbia and other U.S. possessions) in which you
have lived, worked, attended school or visited/vacationed for more than two consecutive
weeks during the ten years preceding the date of your Affidavit of Personal History.
My out-of-state criminal clearances haven’t
been received yet. Will I be charged late fees?
Only the items listed on the F-13 form need to be sent in with
your initial application. Do not delay the submission of your application materials
while waiting for an out-of-state criminal history report. You may forward the
criminal history reports to the State Bar of Michigan as soon as they are received
by you. You are responsible for following-up with the agency in writing and retaining
copies of your correspondence to ensure the materials are received timely. Keep
our office informed in writing of problems and explanations for delay.
I have moved many times and do not have five people
to list for references. What do I do?
You must supply a written explanation if a reference person has not known you
for the required five-year time period, and ask for a waiver of that requirement.
You are required to list the names of five individuals who have known you for
five years or longer on your Affidavit of Personal History (Question 56). Anyone
related to you through blood or marriage may not serve as a reference, although
your references may be related to each other.
What if I cannot remember the complete address
for my residence or employment history?
Please be as specific as possible by providing all available information to
the best of your recollection. For example, if you do not recall the dormitory
or apartment number for a previous residence, indicate the street address or
dormitory name with the city and state. Do not provide mailing addresses (such
as post office boxes), but rather the addresses of the places where you actually
resided. When completing your employment history, list the address of the location
where you worked, not the company’s corporate headquarters.
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