Character & Fitness
Background investigations are a part of the admission process for all jurisdictions. NCBE conducts investigations and hosts applications for many jurisdictions, but not all jurisdictions use both or either of these NCBE services.
Demonstration of character and fitness, sometimes referred to as moral character, is among the essential elements required for bar admission. NCBE provides services related to character and fitness but makes no determinations nor recommendations regarding who is eligible or ineligible to practice law. Jurisdictions make this determination.
Jurisdiction Processes Vary
Requirements, deadlines, and processing times vary among jurisdictions. Application processes are determined solely by the jurisdiction to which you are applying. Contact your jurisdiction for specific application instructions and deadlines. Not all jurisdictions use NCBE's investigation services.
Get Started
Use the tool below to find your jurisdiction’s character and fitness information.
After choosing your jurisdiction, contact information and a link to your jurisdiction’s admission office will display.
Notice: Important Information About the Character Report Application
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) does not set policy for any jurisdiction regarding which information is requested to help determine an applicant’s character and fitness to practice law. NCBE provides this standardized application solely as a tool to support jurisdictional review processes. Decisions about which questions to require, modify, or omit on the application, and about how the information is evaluated to determine character and fitness for licensure, are made by the admitting authority in each jurisdiction.
Lawyers represent clients in important and often sensitive matters, and the evaluation of an applicant’s character and fitness reflects the responsibility of admitting authorities in every jurisdiction to protect the public. A character and fitness application may only be the first step in a jurisdiction’s character and fitness review. Further investigation may arise from the responses provided by applicants. For example, a question may only cover a certain period of time. However, a jurisdiction may go beyond this period if the responses require further investigation.
This application is maintained on an ongoing basis, and updates are made as needed.
Helpful Resources
Use Only as a General Guide
This information should be used only as a general guide. Contact the jurisdiction to which you are applying to verify application instructions and deadlines.