new jersey

bar admission administrative agency:
 
secretary
new jersey board of bar examiners
p.o. box 973
trenton, nj 08625-0973
tel: 609/984-7785
fax: 609/396-9056
website: http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/
website: http://www.njbarexams.org/
website: http://www.njsba.com/
 
 
bar admission options:
 
without bar examination
law school teachers: an applicant for admission who has been engaged full time in the teaching of law at an approved law school in the state for 5 years immediately preceding the application may be admitted as an attorney of this state, without examination or completion of a skills and methods course, provided the applicant has been admitted, after examination, as an attorney of another state whose educational qualifications for admission to the bar are equal to those of this state. in determining the 5 year period the supreme court may grant credit for time spent on leave of absence from such law school.
in-house counsel: see regulation of in-house counsel, below.
 
with bar examination
examination required for all other applicants.
 
examination components:
1. academic: mbe, six state essays, and one mpt question. combined scaled score of 133 or above is required. (mbe 35%, essays 55%, mpt 10%).
note: candidates for admission to the bar of new jersey must take the mbe and the new jersey essay examination contemporaneously (mbe transfers not accepted). however, candidates may take the mbe in another jurisdiction on the wednesday before the new jersey essay examination.)
2. ethics: mpre scaled score of 75 is transferable from another jurisdiction; or a passing grade while in law school in a course on professional ethics.
 
examination dates: february (timely filing between september 1 and october 30 of the preceeding year); july (timely filing between february 1 and april 1 [postmark date]).
late application will be accepted with late fees.
 
application/admission fees: $500.00, plus $49.00 (fingerprint fee)
 
 
other state bar requirements:
 
1. minimum age: 18
 
2. graduate of a law school approved by the aba.
 
3. character check by the new jersey committee on character.
 
4. required annual fees: $0 (calendar year of admission); $28.00 (second calendar year after admission); $165.00 (3rd and 4th calendar years after admission); $190.00 (5th through 50th calendar years after admission); $0 (50+ calendar years after admission).
 
 
regulation of in-house counsel
 
effective january 1, 2004, attorneys not licensed in new jersey who are serving as in-house counsel in the state are required to be licensed to work in that capacity. the new jersey board of bar examiners is responsible for the licensing program.

attorneys who perform the new jersey in-house legal work of the business entity must obtain a limited license regardless of where they are physically located. an in-house counsel who does new jersey-related work may operate out of an office, full-time or part-time, in another state. in-house counsel who have offices in other jurisdictions but who work with outside legal counsel for the business entity in new jersey also fall within the scope of the rule and must obtain a limited in-house counsel license. an in-house counsel who has a primary office in another jurisdiction may still have to be licensed under the rule if he or she has substantial contacts with the business entity in new jersey.

the rule requires all applicants for a limited in-house counsel license to be in good standing in at least one other united states jurisdiction (as defined by the rule).

the new jersey supreme court is directing the commission on professionalism and the institute for continuing legal education to develop a special ethics/professionalism course for in-house counsel. all attorneys receiving a limited license under the rule will be required to complete the course within one year of it first being offered or one year of licensure, whichever occurs first.

the court has decided that newly hired in-house counsel should have sixty days from the date they commence employment within which to submit a completed application for a limited license under the rule. if the application is filed in a timely manner, the attorney will be permitted to continue working for the business entity pending the successful —or unsuccessful — conclusion to the licensing process.

for detailed information on the in-house counsel rule, go to http://www.njbarexams.org/bar1.htm.
 
 
bar association status:
 
[ ] mandatory
 
[x] voluntary
annual dues: $65.00 (admitted in 2002); $130.00 (admitted between 1997 and 2001); $225.00 (admitted in 1996 or before).
 
 
specialty certification
 
new jersey's certification plan is governed by the new jersey supreme court board on attorney certification, which both certifies programs and recognizes aba-accredited programs. attorneys certified as specialists by such approved programs may advertise that fact without including a disclaimer, provided that the information includes the name of the certifying organization and indicates that the certification has been awarded by the new jersey supreme court or by an aba-accredited organization. statements of certification by other programs (not approved by either the state board or the aba must contain a disclaimer. [rule 7.4(b)]
 
programs sponsored by the supreme court board on attorney certification
 
1. civil trial
2. criminal trial
3. matrimonial
4. workers' compensation
 
private certification programs
 
1. business bankruptcy
2. civil trial advocacy
3. consumer bankruptcy
4. creditors' rights
5. criminal law trial advocacy
6. elder law
7. estate planning law
8. family law trial advocacy
9. professional liability (accounting; legal; medical)