Every person who seeks a license to practice law in the state courts of the State of Maryland must demonstrate that he or she possesses the legal competence and character and fitness necessary for admission to the Maryland Bar. Legal competence is demonstrated by presenting the requisite educational credentials and passing the Maryland Bar Examination. A candidate demonstrates the requisite character and fitness by submitting to an investigation of his or her background conducted by the Character Committees and the State Board of Law Examiners. The Court of Appeals of Maryland, the State’s highest court, reserves to itself the authority to decide whether to admit a Bar applicant after receiving a recommendation from the State Board of Law Examiners.

Recent law school graduates and attorneys who do not possess the qualifications to take the Out-of-State Attorneys’ Bar examination, must take the General Bar examination, which is offered at the end of February and July each year. The General Bar examination presently consists of a written test of five hours and forty minutes duration usually offered on Tuesday, and the Multistate Bar Examination, a 200 item, six hour multiple choice test offered on the last Wednesday of February and July. The written test includes ten essay questions prepared by the State Board of Law Examiners and the Multistate Performance Test.

Experienced attorneys who meet the eligibility standards of Bar Admission Rule 13 may take a special essay examination limited in scope to the Maryland Rules on practice and procedure in civil and criminal matters and the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct. The attorney examination is offered in February and July on the same day as the essay test for the General Bar examination (usually, Tuesday).