Attorney Admissions:
Attorneys are admitted
to the practice of law in New York State through one of the four Appellate
Divisions of the Supreme Court. All individuals who are successful
on the New York State bar examination, as well as those seeking admission
on motion and foreign attorneys seeking to be licensed as foreign legal
consultants in the First Judicial Department, must pass through an
application process administered by the Committee on Character and
Fitness of the Appellate Division First Department. This process requires
that the applicant complete and file an application and appear for
a personal interview by a member of the Committee on Character and
Fitness. The First Department also requires that applicants attend
a mandatory orientation program prior to admission. After the Committee
on Character and Fitness certifies the applicant for admission the
applicant must participate in an admission ceremony conducted in open
court. The admission cycle in the First Department is conducted approximately
fourteen times each year. 
Admission By Examination And On Motion:
The
application forms for admission to the bar may be downloaded from The
New York State Board of Law Examiners. Do
not reformat questionaire or forms. Reformats will be returned. It is strongly recommended that
applicants for admission by examination in the First Judicial Department
file the application only after the applicant has received notification
that he or she has passed the bar exam and is certified to this Department.
Only complete applications will be accepted for filing. A complete
application consists of the application questionnaire and all additional
forms except the college and law school certificates which are sent
directly to the Committee on Character and Fitness by the institutions.
Experienced attorneys
seeking admission without examination should refer to the applicable
court rules [22 NYCRR Part 520] and must first apply to the New York
State Board of Law Examiners to be certified to the appropriate Judicial
Department. Attorneys certified to the First Judicial Department should
refer to this Department’s specific instructions and additional
guidelines and should carefully review 22 NYCRR §520.10 before
completing and filing the application.
License as a Foreign Legal Consultant:
Foreign attorneys seeking
to apply for a license as a foreign legal consultant should refer to
22 NYCRR Part 521 and send a written request for the application materials
to New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department,
Committee on Character and Fitness. The request should include the
following information:
- Country of Admission as an Attorney
- Date of Admission
- Dates and Location of Practice
- Nature of Practice
- Length of Time in the United States
Immediately Preceding Submission of Application Request
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