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Applying for the bar in Minnesota and other states is an extensive and time-consuming process. Admission requirements vary by state, and students are urged to research the requirements, timelines, and standards for the bar(s) of the state(s) in which they intend to apply at least six months in advance of the scheduled exam date. For a comprehensive guide to the bar application process from the National Conference of Bar Examiners, consult: www.ncbex.org/fileadmin/mediafiles/downloads/Comp_Guide/CompGuide.pdf
For information about application to the Minnesota bar, see: www.ble.state.mn.us/
Certificates of Graduation (See Scholastic Requirement Rules 2-5)
State bars require that the Law School certify applicants as having met all Juris Doctor degree requirements in order to sit for the bar exam. The Law School Registrar’s Office tracks the deadlines and certification requirements for each state to which graduates intend to apply, and keeps detailed lists of certifications by state and by student. State bar certification forms are prepared by the Registrar’s Office based on students’ Graduation Assessment forms and their transcript records. Certifications are forwarded to the Dean or Dean’s delegate for signature, and then submitted directly to the bar examiners in each state.
Students intending to apply for the bar outside of Minnesota should submit the appropriate state bar certification form to the Registrar’s Office at least one month prior to the certification deadline. The Registrar’s Office carefully tracks the bar certification deadlines for each state bar in order to ensure that completed certifications are received in a timely fashion.
Until a bar applicant has completed allJuris Doctor degree requirements, the Law School cannot forward a bar certification, and the applicant may not be able to sit for the bar exam. Students with incomplete coursework are responsible for finishing all required assignments, and for following up with the faculty member and Registrar’s Office to ensure a grade is entered.
A Certificate of Graduation is a formal certification signed by the Dean of Academic Affairs certifying a student’s dates of enrollment, graduation date, degree, and attesting to the student’s character fitness. Certificates of Graduation are typically submitted to a states’ bar examiner’s office in order to verify a student’s /alumni’s legal education. To request a Certificate of Graduation, send or fax a request to the Office of the Registrar. Please include in your written request your name, student I.D. or Social Security number, year of graduation, where the Certificate should sent, and your handwritten signature.
Requests should be addressed to:
Attn: Assistant Registrar
Office of the Registrar
University of Minnesota Law School
229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Fax: (612) 626-1874
Character and Fitness
The Character and Fitness evaluation process is a critical part of bar admission in most states, and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the expectations for practice early in their law school careers. To help with this, representatives of the Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners address first-year students at Orientation and again prior to students’ graduation in the third year. For information about Minnesota’s Character and Fitness evaluation process, see: www.ble.state.mn.us/character_and_fitness.html. For admissions standards in other states, consult the applicable state bar admissions Web site.
Student records, including law school applications, may be reviewed by the Board of Law Examiners as part of the Character and Fitness evaluation process. Inconsistencies between the information disclosed on a student’s law school application and his or her bar application may subject the applicant to further scrutiny, and require an amendment to his or her law school application. Students seeking to amend their law school application should consult the Assistant Dean of Students.
Other bar admission questions and concerns of a confidential nature also may be addressed to the Assistant Dean of Students. Students are especially encouraged to meet with the Assistant Dean of Students early in their law school career if they have a history of alcohol or chemical dependency, criminal matters, academic misconduct, significant mental health impairments, or other concerns that may relate to the ability to meet requirements of practice. Students should note that no single condition or incident will automatically prevent admission to the bar; rather, bar examiners encourage students to directly address and treat any condition that may lead to a conduct concern or impair an individual’s ability to comply with practice standards.
Some states, including Minnesota, have also introduced a Conditional Admissions process, which allows a bar applicant with recent impairments to be admitted to practice under certain conditions and supervision. Evidence of current fitness and rehabilitation from past impairments are often important considerations in the Character and Fitness evaluation process. Therefore, seeking appropriate support or treatment is strongly encouraged.
To qualify for a Letter of Good Standing a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.667 (C-) or higher and have no honor code violations for the classes of 2008 and 2009.
Students in the class of 2010 and subsequent classes must have a cumulative weighted numerical GPS of 2.000 (C) or better, and have received no more than two grades below a C- in the first year to be in good academic standing.
A Letter of Good Standing is printed on Law School letterhead and signed by the Registrar. The letter confirms attendance, satisfactory progress and estimated term of graduation.
A Letter of Good Standing may be requested at the Law School Information Desk or by mail or fax, and must include your written signature.
Requests should be sent to:
Attn: Assistant Registrar
University of Minnesota Law School
229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Fax: 612-626-1874
Contact Angela Huckleby, Assistant Registrar, if you have questions.
A J.D. student may enroll for no more than 2 credits of Independent Research in any academic year. After consultation with a faculty member, the Dean may authorize a student to enroll for additional credits.
A student who wishes to enroll for Independent Research must prepare a description of the proposed Independent Research paper and submit it to the supervising faculty member for approval. If the faculty member approves the proposal, the faculty member will set a due date for the paper. A copy of the proposal (with the faculty member’s signature) and an Independent Research form must be filed with the Registrar before the student is allowed to register for Independent Research credits.
Please note: The proposals, as well as the papers, are matters of public record, available for examination.
Independent Research forms are available at the Law School Information Desk or from the link below, and should be submitted at the Law School Information Desk along with the summary of the project.
Class ranks are computed but not revealed to students or others except for two reasons: 1.) for qualifications for Order of the Coif, although ranking is not disclosed to students, and; 2.) for the limited purpose of application for judicial clerkships or academic teaching positions.
Individual students may receive their class rank for the limited purpose of application for judicial clerkships or academic teaching positions provided the student/alumni submits a list of potential judges and academic institutions to the Law School’s Office of the Registrar.
Although the Law School’s policy on releasing class ranks is widely accepted, a letter stating the Law School’s policy towards class ranks may be sent out by the Registar's office if requested.
The Law School releases quartile distributions that indicate the range of grade point averages in each quartile of a particular class. Many students/alumni disclose their grade point average in their resumes and often substitute quartile calculations for class ranks.
The University of Minnesota is supported by state taxes, and therefore gives tuition preference to residents of Minnesota. However, the University of Minnesota has tuition reciprocity agreements with several states and the Canadian province of Manitoba.
To download information about residency and reciprocity and to access the Resident Classification form, click here.
To download the Student Practice Information and the Certification form, click here.
Student Practice Certification– Minnesota
The Student Practice Rule adopted by the Minnesota Supreme Court allows students to represent government agencies and indigent clients in actual court and administrative agency proceedings under the supervision of a licensed attorney. The Student Practice Rules can be found in the Minnesota Rules of Court. There are two rules: Rule 1, General Student Practice and Rule 2, Clinical Student Practice.
Minnesota Student Practice Eligibility
To be eligible a student must be currently enrolled, have completed at least two semesters of full-time study (24 credits), and be in good academic standing (2.0 G.P.A). The rule also states that students must identify themselves as a student and be accepted by the client.
Rule 1 – General Practice Rule
Rule 1 applies to students working for a government agency or appearing on behalf of an indigent client. It does not apply to students working at private law firms representing clients for a fee. Students who work for private firms that contract to act on behalf of a government agency may be certified. For example, a firm that contracts to complete public defender cases may ask that a student be certified to represent those clients.
The Rule states that the government agency or persons representing an indigent client must submit in writing to the student’s law school the student’s name and a statement that the student will be properly supervised under the provisions of the rule. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to complete the Law School’s Student Practice Certification Form and obtain the practicing attorney’s signature to make a request to be certified under Rule 1. This requirement is found under Rule 1.03 of the Student Practice Rules.
Students seeking practice certification under Rule 1 should complete the Student Practice Certification Form, available on-line under w: Current Students / Forms / Student Practice. It must be completed and signed by the practicing attorney, and submitted to the Registrar’s Office at the 2nd floor Information Desk. Once the form is received, certification takes approximately one week.
Rule 2 – Clinical Student Practice
Rule 2 applies to students enrolled in a clinic course. Student names are automatically submitted to the Minnesota Supreme Court if they are in a clinic where there may be an opportunity to represent a client. When the drop/add period ends after the first week of school, student names are submitted to the attorney registration clerk. Within two weeks, students will be certified. Students will not be personally notified of their registration. Please see the registrar or law clinics office manager with questions regarding clinic student certification. Students who are not in good standing are ineligible to participate in the Clinics and for student practice certification.
Certification under one rule DOES NOT include certification under the other
Students who work for a government agency and who are also enrolled in a clinic course must be certified under each rule. The Supreme Court maintains a record of who is assuming responsibility for student activities in court. The University of Minnesota Law School accepts that responsibility under Rule 2, Clinical Student Practice. However, the employer must accept that responsibility under Rule 1, General Student Practice.
Length of certification
Both Rule 1 and Rule 2 certifications remain in effect for 12 months. You may be re-certified for an additional 12 months by request. Certification could terminate sooner if certain events occur as stated in Rule 1.03 or Rule 2.03 of the Student Practice Rules.
Student Practice Certification—Other States
Most states have court rules and procedures to certify an eligible law student to appear on a client’s behalf, under the supervision of a licensed attorney in that state. Students seeking practice certification outside of Minnesota are responsible for researching the certification requirement for the state in question, and submitting to the Law School Registrar’s Office all relevant forms and instructions. Questions regarding non-Minnesota student practice certification should be directed to the Registrar’s Office at lsserv@umn.edu.
Unofficial transcripts are available through the Law School Registrar’s office and may be requested at the Information Desk during regular business hours. Unofficial transcripts requested before 3:30 p.m. will be available after 9:00 a.m. the next business day. You must present your student I.D. card to pick up a copy of your transcript. Students may also print out an unofficial copy of their transcript by going to http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html
Both official and unofficial transcripts may be obtained from the Law School by completing a Transcript Request Form or by sending a written, signed request to the Assistant Registrar. Official transcripts are $5 each and checks should be payable to the University of Minnesota. We are not able to accept credit cards. There is no charge for unofficial copies.
Faxed transcript requests are accepted but must include your handwritten signature. If requesting an official transcript by fax, payment can be mailed separately. Email requests are not accepted at this time.
To print the Law School's Transcript Request form as a PDF file, click here.
Transcript requests may be mailed or faxed to:
Attn: Assistant Registrar
University of Minnesota Law School
229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
FAX: 612-626-1874
