California Law Student Admission

Rule 9.42 of the California Rules of Court governs law student admission.

Eligibility
Law students must:

  • Have successfully completed one full-year of study (minimum of 270 hours) at a law school accredited by the ABA or the California Bar or have passed the First Year Law Students’ Exam.
  • Have been accepted into, and be enrolled in, the second, third, or fourth year of law school while in good academic standing or have graduated from law school, subject to the time period limitations specified in the rules adopted by the Board of Governors of the California Bar.
  • Have either successfully completed or be currently enrolled in courses in evidence and civil procedure.

Practice
Law students may:

  • Negotiate for and on behalf of the client subject to final approval by the supervising attorney or give legal advice to the client, provided the law student:
  • Obtains the supervising attorney’s approval to engage in the activities.
  • Obtains the supervising attorney’s approval regarding the legal advice to be given or plan of negotiation to be undertaken.
  • Performs the activities under the general supervision of the supervising attorney.
  • Appear on behalf of the client in depositions, provided the certified law student:
    • Obtains the supervising attorney’s approval to engage in the activity.
    • Performs the activity under the direct and immediate supervision and in the personal presence of the supervising attorney (or, exclusively in the case of government agencies, any deputy, assistant, or other staff attorney authorized and designated by the supervising attorney.
    • Obtains a signed consent form from the client (or, exclusively in the case of government agencies, from the chief counsel or prosecuting attorney) approving the performance of such acts by the certified law student or generally by a certified law student.
  • Appear on behalf of the client in any public trial, hearing, arbitration, or proceeding, or before any arbitrator, court, public agency, referee, magistrate, commissioner, or hearing officer, to the extent approved by the tribunal.  The law student must:
    • Obtain the supervising attorney’s approval to engage in the activity.
    • Perform the activity under the direct and immediate supervision and in the personal presence of the supervising attorney (or, exclusively in the case of government agencies, any deputy, assistant, or other staff attorney authorized and designated by the supervising attorney).
    • Obtain a signed consent form from the client (or, exclusively in the case of government agencies, from the chief counsel or prosecuting attorney) approving the performance of such acts by such certified law student or generally by any certified law student.
    • As a condition to such appearance, either presents a copy of the consent form to the arbitrator, court, public agency, referee, magistrate, commissioner, or hearing officer, or files a copy of the consent form in the court case file.
  • Appear on behalf of a government agency in the prosecution of criminal actions classified as infractions or other such minor criminal offenses with a maximum penalty or a fine equal to the maximum fine for infractions in California, including any public trial:
    • Subject to approval by the court, commissioner, referee, hearing officer, or magistrate presiding at such public trial.
    • Without the personal appearance of the supervising attorney or any deputy, assistant, or other staff attorney authorized and designated by the supervising attorney, but only if the supervising attorney or the designated attorney has approved in writing the performance of such acts by the certified law student and is immediately available to attend the proceeding.