In California, you may complete your legal education by attending law school or participating in a program of legal studies within a law office or a judge’s chambers, also known as the Law Office Study (LOS) Program.  

The requirements for students in the LOS Program are stated in Business and Professions Code §6060 and rule 4.29 of the Rules of the State Bar.

About the program

A student in the LOS Program must complete four years of study in a law office under the supervision of a licensed California attorney who has been active, in good standing, and actively practiced law for at least the last five consecutive years, or in a judge’s chambers under the supervision of a judge of a court of record in California.

The LOS Program is not a work program, and simply working in a law office or judge’s chambers is not sufficient to receive credit for study.

Study requirements

Each six-month period, or one-half year, of study in the program must consist of at least 18 hours a week for a minimum of 24 weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks. A six-month study period that consists of less than 24 weeks or more than 26 weeks will not receive credit.  

Studies in the program must be completed in the supervising attorney’s law office or the judge’s chamber during regular business hours. The supervising attorney or judge must personally supervise the applicant for at least five hours a week.

Progress exams and reporting

A student in the LOS Program must be examined in writing at least once a month by their supervising attorney or judge. At the end of each six-month study period, the applicant must submit the required fee, a report in the Applicant Portal on the studies they completed during those six months, and include copies of the graded examinations and study materials.

Please note that you must enroll in the State program for four years. After the first year, you must take the FYLSX until you pass . You may not transfer in or use credit from any other programs.

Questions?

For questions related to the LOS Program, please contact the Office of Admissions at Admissions@calbar.ca.gov or at 800-843-9053.