LOSP

Big News for Law Office Study Program Students

March 20, 2026

Big News for LOSP Students: You Can Now Get Real Courtroom Experience Before the Bar Exam

Published: March 20, 2026
Category: News & Updates
Program: Law Office Study Program (LOSP)

On March 19, 2026, the California Supreme Court approved a rule change that opens a new door for Law Office Study Program students. Here’s what you need to know, explained as simply as we can make it.

The Short Version

Starting June 1, 2026, LOSP students who have finished their first year of study and passed the FYLSX can apply to the Certified Law Student Program. This program lets you represent real clients and appear in real courtrooms — under the supervision of a licensed attorney — while you continue your studies.

Previously, only students at traditional law schools could participate. Now LOSP students can too.

What Is the Certified Law Student Program?

It’s a State Bar program (governed by Rule 9.42 of the California Rules of Court) that lets qualifying law students do real legal work before they’ve passed the bar. Think of it as supervised, hands-on legal practice.

Once you’re certified, and with your Supervising Attorney’s approval, you can:

  • Negotiate on behalf of clients
  • Give legal advice to clients
  • Appear in depositions (your Supervising Attorney must be present)
  • Appear in court for trials, hearings, and proceedings (your Supervising Attorney must be present, and you need written consent from the client)
  • Handle minor criminal prosecutions for government agencies (your Supervising Attorney doesn’t have to be in the room, but must have approved it in writing and be immediately available)

This is not a mock trial or a classroom exercise. This is real legal work with real clients and real consequences — with a licensed attorney supervising you every step of the way.

What Changed on March 19?

Two things:

1. LOSP students can now participate. Before this rule change, only students at ABA-approved, California-accredited, or California-registered unaccredited law schools were eligible. LOSP students were excluded. That exclusion is now gone.

2. The ban on judge-supervised LOSP students was lifted. The old rules said that if you study under a judge, you were completely blocked from the Certified Law Student Program. That blanket ban has been replaced with a common-sense rule: you and your supervisors must make good faith efforts to avoid conflicts of interest. The most obvious example — if you study under a judge, don’t appear before that same judge when you’re representing a client.

Am I Eligible?

Under the new Rule 9.42(c)(4), LOSP students must meet all three of these requirements:

1. You have finished your first year of study — meaning you’ve completed Year 1 of the Law Office Study Program (or one full year at a law school). This is Year 1 specifically, not the entire four-year program.

2. You have passed the FYLSX — the First-Year Law Students’ Examination.

3. You are still actively studying through the Law Office Study Program — or you have completed the full course of study (with a 30-day window after completion to apply).

In plain English:

  • Year 1 students: You are not yet eligible. Finish Year 1, pass the FYLSX, and then this opportunity opens up for you in Year 2.
  • Year 2, 3, or 4 students who have passed the FYLSX: You are eligible to apply starting June 1, 2026.
  • Students who just finished all four years: You have 30 days after completing your studies to apply. This lets you practice law under supervision while you wait for and take the bar exam.

How Do I Apply?

Here are the basic steps. Note: The State Bar may update its forms and procedures before June 1. We’ll share any updates as they become available.

Step 1: Confirm you’re eligible. You’ve passed the FYLSX and are in Year 2 or beyond.

Step 2: Register as a general applicant with the State Bar’s Office of Admissions, if you haven’t already. You likely did this when you started the LOSP.

Step 3: Find a Supervising Attorney for the Certified Law Student Program. This is important — read carefully:

Your CLS Supervising Attorney is the licensed attorney who will oversee your legal work in the program. This may or may not be the same person as your LOSP supervising attorney. They are two separate roles with their own requirements. The CLS Supervising Attorney must:

  • Be an active licensee in good standing of the State Bar
  • Have practiced law for at least 4 years in any U.S. jurisdiction
  • Have actively practiced law in California, or taught law at a California law school, for at least 2 years immediately before they begin supervising you

Talk to your LOSP supervising attorney about this. They may be able to serve in both roles, or they may be able to recommend someone.

Step 4: Gather your application materials. You’ll need:

  • The application fee (check the State Bar’s Schedule of Charges and Deadlines)
  • A declaration from your LOSP supervising attorney or judge — signed within the last 30 days — confirming that you meet the eligibility requirements
  • A Supervising Attorney Declaration from your CLS Supervising Attorney — signed within the last 30 days — confirming they meet the requirements and agree to supervise you

Step 5: Submit your application through the State Bar’s Applicant Portal.

Step 6: Wait for approval. Do not begin any CLS activities until the State Bar has approved your application and issued your Notice of Law Student Certification. Doing legal work without certification could have serious consequences.

Three Things You Need to Understand

1. CLS hours do NOT count toward your LOSP study hours.

The administrative order is clear about this. Any time you spend representing clients, appearing in court, or doing other CLS activities does not reduce or replace your regular LOSP study requirements. Your study hours, semi-annual reports, and monthly exams with your supervising attorney all continue as normal. The Certified Law Student Program is an additional opportunity — not a shortcut.

2. If you study under a judge, there are extra considerations.

You can now participate (the old ban is gone), but you and your supervisors must make good faith efforts to prevent conflicts of interest. The California Supreme Court specifically noted that you should avoid appearing before the same judge who supervises your LOSP studies when you’re representing a client in the CLS program. Discuss this with your supervising judge before applying.

3. Your certification will eventually end.

Your CLS certification terminates when:

  • You receive results for the first California Bar Examination you’re eligible to take
  • You fail to take the first bar exam you’re eligible for
  • You fall out of compliance with your LOSP study requirements (Rule 4.29)
  • You request early termination
  • The State Bar revokes your certification

If you complete your LOSP studies and then take the bar exam, you can continue participating in the CLS program until bar results are released. This means you can keep getting courtroom experience right up until you find out whether you passed.

Why Should You Care?

You’ll have real experience when it counts. When you walk into the bar exam, you won’t just be reciting rules you memorized — you’ll have applied them in real cases. When you interview for your first job, you won’t just have a study certificate — you’ll have courtroom experience.

You’ll build your professional network. Working with a Supervising Attorney on real cases introduces you to judges, opposing counsel, court staff, and clients. These connections matter when you’re starting your career.

You’ll know what being a lawyer actually feels like. There is a significant difference between studying the law and practicing it. The Certified Law Student Program bridges that gap while you still have a safety net.

What Should You Do Right Now?

If you’re in Year 1: Focus on your studies and passing the FYLSX. This opportunity will be here when you’re ready.

If you’re in Year 2 or beyond and have passed the FYLSX: Talk to your supervising attorney. Discuss whether the CLS program is right for you, whether they can serve as your CLS Supervising Attorney (or recommend someone who can), and start thinking about what kind of legal work interests you.

Everyone: The new rules take effect June 1, 2026. The State Bar has not yet updated its application forms and guidance for LOSP students. We will share that information as soon as it’s available.

We are providing this information to help you understand the rule change, but LA Law Institute does not administer the Certified Law Student Program — the State Bar does. For specific questions about the application process, eligibility, or program requirements, please contact:

  • Your supervising attorney — they know your situation best and can advise you directly
  • State Bar Office of Admissions — admissions@calbar.ca.gov or 800-843-9053
  • LA Law Institute — support@lalawinstitute.org (we’re happy to help where we can, but we may need to refer you to the State Bar for program-specific questions)

Resources

We’re proud to see the California Supreme Court recognize that LOSP students deserve the same opportunities for practical training as traditional law school students. This is your path — and it just got wider.

LA Law Institute — Where technology and legal education support services meet.

Published On: March 20, 2026Categories: LOSP1525 wordsViews: 587

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