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Character and Fitness Process

The Board of Bar Examiners evaluates the Character and Fitness of all Petitioners for Admission to the Massachusetts Bar

The Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) considers sufficient acquirements and qualifications to be those that are necessary to demonstrate a lawyer’s good character and fitness to practice law.  The Board of Bar Examiners Rules V defines "good character to embody that degree of honesty, integrity and discretion that the public and members of the bench and the bar have the right to demand of a lawyer."  In evaluating a petitioner's character and fitness for admission, the BBE takes into consideration all available pertinent information as to past conduct of the candidate.

Admission by Motion

Petitioners seeking admission by motion will be subject to a character and fitness investigation that is initiated and prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (the "NCBE") with follow up investigation conducted through an internal Board investigation.

Admission by Examination

For petitions for admission by bar examination, the Board will conduct an internal investigation of the petitioners' character and fitness for admission based on the responses to questions provided in the Petition for Admission.  

Contact   for Character and Fitness Process

Phone

Office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm M-F.

Fax

Fax: (617) 542-5943

Address

John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square, Suite 5-140, Boston, MA 02108

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