Office of Bar Admissions
The Office of Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of South Carolina is responsible for processing applications for admission to practice law in South Carolina. This includes regular admission under Rule 402 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules, limited certificates to practice law and pro hac vice applications. The Office assists the Board of Law Examiners in conducting the South Carolina Bar Examination and the Committee on Character and Fitness in processing applications for admission. The Office processes applications for licensing as a foreign legal consultant. Additionally, the Office provides certificates of good standing for those licensed to practice law in South Carolina and processes trial experiences and death penalty certifications. For additional information on each of those areas, please click a link on the menu bar which appears above.
Announcements
The Court has released an order regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures for the July 2021 Bar Examination (available at https://www.sccourts.org/whatsnew/displaywhatsnew.cfm?indexID=2597)
The results of the February 2021 Uniform Bar Examination administered in South Carolina were posted on this page at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021. Additionally, a letter notifying each bar applicant of his or her score was uploaded into each examinee's account on the Bar Admissions web page. Telephonic requests for information about these results will not be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 26, 2021.
Results of the February 2021 Uniform Bar Examination
The results of the February 2021 Uniform Bar Examination will be posted on the Bar Admissions page at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021.
July 2021 Bar Examination and the Coronavirus Pandemic
The July 2021 Bar Examination will be conducted as a live, in-person examination on July 27 and 28, 2021. While it appears the danger posed by COVID-19 will be significantly lessened by the end of July, the Supreme Court of South Carolina (Supreme Court) will continue to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic, including state and federal directives and guidance, to determine if this examination can be safely conducted, and will impose appropriate measures to mitigate the risks posed by the pandemic.
All applicants will be required to wear a face mask while taking the examination, and while on the grounds of the testing facility, including its parking lots and sidewalks. It is anticipated that applicants who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the examination will not be required to comply with any further mitigation measures prior to or during the examination.
It is anticipated that those applicants who have not been fully vaccinated prior to the examination will have to comply with mitigation measures similar to those imposed for the February 2021 Examination. See Order of the Supreme Court February 4, 2021 (available at https://www.sccourts.org/whatsnew/displaywhatsnew.cfm?indexID=2567). These measures include restrictions on travel to the examination, a 14 day "semi-quarantine period" prior to the examination, mandatory COVID-19 testing immediately prior to the examination, and medical screening prior to and during the examination. Further, since all applicants should have ample opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination prior to the examination,1 only limited seating capacity will be provided for applicants who have not been fully vaccinated. 2 In the event there is not enough seating for all the unvaccinated applicants, unvaccinated applicants may be chosen by random or by such other method as the Supreme Court may determine is appropriate to fill these seats, and those not selected will be rescheduled for the February 2022 examination. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
The Supreme Court will issue an order specifying the mitigation measures for the July 2021 Examination at a later date. Later guidance will provide additional information on how applicants should provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
1 Most states are either currently vaccinating persons 16 years or older, or intend to start doing so before the end of April 2021. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-a-state-by-state-guide-11611703769.
2 Based on the greater risk posed by proximity to unvaccinated applicants, the Supreme Court intends to provide greater spacing between unvaccinated applicants than between vaccinated applicants. With approximately 470 applicants anticipated to take this examination, only a limited amount of seats can be made available with this greater spacing.
Required COVID-19 Testing for Applicants Taking the February 2021 Bar Examination
As indicated by the Order of the Supreme Court of South Carolina dated February 4, 2021, (available at https://www.sccourts.org/whatsnew/displaywhatsnew.cfm?indexID=2567), applicants will be required to take a COVID-19 test prior to the February 2021 Bar Examination. A document containing detailed guidance regarding this required testing has been e-mailed and posted to the bar admissions account of each applicant.
February 2021 Bar Examination and the Coronavirus Pandemic
The February 2021 Bar Examination is scheduled to be conducted on February 23 - 24, 2021. As it did for the July 2020 Examination, the Supreme Court of South Carolina has determined that the February Bar 2021 Examination will be conducted as a live, in-person examination. The Supreme Court will continue to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic, including state and federal directives and guidance, to determine if this Examination can be safely conducted, and will impose appropriate measures to mitigate the risks posed by the pandemic.
For the July 2020 Examination, various mitigation measures were imposed as reflected by the Order of the Supreme Court dated July 2, 2020, which is available at https://www.sccourts.org/whatsnew/displaywhatsnew.cfm?indexID=2517. The Supreme Court intends to impose similar measures for the February 2021 Examination, and additional enhancements to the measures are being considered, such as requiring applicants to be tested for COVID-19 shortly before the Examination, to further reduce the risk.
The Supreme Court is aware that applicants may be hesitant to take the Examination in February due to the risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, or that some applicants may not desire to take the Examination under the mitigation measures which will be imposed. Therefore, if an applicant withdraws his or her application to sit for the February 2021 Bar Examination by January 29, 2021, the applicant will be allowed to apply for the July 2021 Bar Examination without paying any additional filing fee.
The
Supreme Court deeply regrets the impact the COVID-19 crisis will have on the applicants taking the February 2021 Bar Examination.
The results of the July 2020 Uniform Bar Examination administered in South Carolina were posted on this page at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020. Additionally, a letter notifying each bar applicant of his or her score was uploaded into each examinee's account on the Bar Admissions web page. Telephonic requests for information about these results will not be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 12, 2020.
You must have Adobe Reader installed to view the results. A free download is available at http://get.adobe.com/reader
Results of the July 2020 Uniform Bar Examination
The results of the July 2020 Uniform Bar Examination will be posted at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020.
Mandatory Survey regarding COVID-19
The Supreme Court is requiring all bar applicants who are taking the July 2020 Bar Examination to respond to a survey regarding COVID-19 symptoms and precautionary measures. The Court is using SurveyMonkey to send the survey to each bar applicant. You will receive an email with a link to the survey. Please check your junk or spam email folders if you do not see an email in your inbox. Initial responses to the survey are due by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2020. You will be able to change your answers after this time if your situation changes.
The Court has issued the following Order Regarding COVID-19 Mitigation Measures for the July 2020 South Carolina Bar Examination.
July 2020 Bar Examination and the Coronavirus Pandemic
The Supreme Court of South Carolina intends to administer the July Bar Examination on July 28-29, 2020. The Court will continue to evaluate the COVID-19 crisis, including state and federal directives and guidance, to determine if the Bar Examination can be safely administered in July. If it is not possible to conduct the examination in July, the Court intends to administer the Bar Examination on September 9-10, 2020, to the applicants who would have taken the Examination in July.
Regardless of whether the Bar Examination is conducted in July or September, applicants should be aware that they may be required to wear face masks or comply with other requirements to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 infection during the administration of the Examination. Any applicant who fails to fully comply with these requirements, or exhibits fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 infection, may be excluded from the Examination. Further, the time to register applicants before each session may be significantly longer than normal. Applicants will be advised of the COVID-19 related requirements in the letter authorizing them to sit for the July Examination, and it is anticipated this letter will be sent out by July 1, 2020.
The Court is aware that applicants may be hesitant to take the Examination in July due to the risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, or that some applicants may not desire to take the Examination under the restrictions which may be imposed. Therefore, if an applicant withdraws his or her application to sit for the July 2020 Bar Examination by July 1, 2020, the applicant will be allowed to apply for the February 2021 Bar Examination without paying any additional filing fee.
The Court deeply regrets the stress and uncertainty the COVID-19 crisis has caused the applicants for the July 2020 Bar Examination.
This webpage will be updated to reflect any changes that are made to the status of the July Bar Examination.
The results of the February 2020 Uniform Bar Examination will be posted at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020.
The results of the February 2020 Uniform Bar Examination administered in South Carolina were posted on this page at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020. Additionally, a letter notifying each bar applicant of his or her score was uploaded into each examinee's account on the Bar Admissions web page. Telephonic requests for information about these results will not be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2020.
You must have Adobe Reader installed to view the results. A free download is available at http://get.adobe.com/reader.
INFORMATION ABOUT BAR ADMISSIONS AND COVID-19
The Court is monitoring developments regarding COVID-19. The Office of Bar Admissions is operating, and staff are working remotely to handle various requests and other matters. Staff may be reached by calling 803-734-1080. There are no plans at this time to cancel or alter the July 2020 bar exam. We recognize this is a fluid situation, and the status of the July 2020 bar exam may change. Please carefully monitor this website for further developments. You may also monitor NCBE’s information posted at http://www.ncbex.org/ or http://www.ncbex.org/ncbe-covid-19-updates/.
Results of the July 2019 Uniform Bar Examination and Swearing-In Ceremony
Results of the July 2019 Uniform Bar Examination
The results of the July 2019 Uniform Bar Examination will be posted at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 11, 2019.
Swearing-In Ceremony Cancelled Due to Hurricane Florence
Due to Hurricane Florence, the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Monday, September 17, 2018, has been cancelled. The Office of Bar Admissions will contact the bar applicants involved to reschedule their swearing-in ceremony.
Announcement Concerning Computer-Based Testing for July 2018 Uniform Bar Examination
Applicants interested in using laptops to complete their answers to the written components of the July 2018 South Carolina Uniform Bar Examination must complete and return the attached "Request to Participate" form by Friday,June 8, 2018.
Revised Website for the Office of Bar Admissions
The Website for the Office of Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of South Carolina has been revised completely. This revised website provides detailed information about various areas of responsibility assigned to the Office of Bar Admissions, including links to applicable court rules and forms. Among other things, these areas include the admission of persons to practice law in South Carolina (including limited certificates of admission), pro hac vice admissions, licensing of foreign legal consultants, and the issuance of certificates of good standing.
Rule Amendments Regarding the Uniform Bar Examination
Beginning in February 2017, South Carolina will use the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. To implement this change, the Court has filed an order amending Rule 402 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules.
As indicated by the amended rule, a UBE score of 266 or higher will be required for admission in South Carolina. Further, applications seeking admission based on an existing UBE score from another jurisdiction will not be accepted until May 1, 2017.
In place of the Bridge the Gap Program which is currently required for admission, the amended rule requires applicants to successfully complete a Course of Study on South Carolina Law. This Course of Study will be an on-line course that can be completed in less than 8 hours. The South Carolina Board of Law Examiners is currently developing this Course of Study, and it is anticipated that this Course of Study will be available by January 1, 2017, at the latest.
Persons desiring to take the bar examination in South Carolina should carefully review the amended rule to determine the filing deadlines and other requirements.
As indicated by the order, these amendments have no impact on the July 2016 South Carolina Bar Examination. Instead, the version of Rule 402 prior to these amendments continues to govern all aspects of admission based on South Carolina Bar Examinations conducted prior to February 2017
Office Location:
Supreme Court Building
1231 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Excluding state holidays
Mailing Address:
Office of Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of South Carolina
P.O. Box 11330
Columbia, SC 29211
ALL OVERNIGHT DELIVERIES MUST USE OFFICE LOCATION ADDRESS
Voice: (803) 734-1080 *
FAX: (803) 734-0394
TTY: (803) 734-6365
* The Office of Bar Admissions accepts telephone calls between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00
p.m.