Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

with a law degree can you practice in a state and federal court?


Asked on 3/24/14, 4:43 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Only if you also pass the bar exam. Then you can be admitted to practice in the state whose exam you passed, as well as to federal courts within that state. You can take the exam in multiple states if you want to. After you are licensed in one jurisdiction, some others may be willing to license you even without making you take another exam.

Passing the bar exam will not automatically admit you to practice; you will also have to file some forms and pay some fees. In most (probably all) states, you will also have to demonstrate good moral character. A handful of people who finish law school and pass the bar exam fail the moral fitness test and are not allowed to practice. That rarely happens, and the people it happens to almost always know ahead of time that this might be a problem for them.

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Answered on 3/24/14, 4:54 pm
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Not without passing the Bar Exam and the required background check in your state, and being formally admitted by both the state and federal court system, seperately.

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Answered on 3/25/14, 1:26 pm


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