Character and Fitness on New Jersey Bar Application

We would like to congratulate everyone who passed the July New Jersey Bar Exam. Prospective lawyers who passed must also be certified by the Committee on Character. This Committee reviews   candidates’ personal records and their Certified Statement to determine if that person has the character needed to practice law in the state of New Jersey.

All prospective lawyers whose character files need additional investigation will be notified and, if necessary, they will have to appear for a hearing.  This hearing is before a three member Panel and a staff attorney.  If that Panel chooses to withhold admission or to grant it pursuant to conditions, an applicant is permitted to appeal.  However, no additional testimony, exhibits, documents or other proofs, or oral argument will be considered on appeal unless the Appeal Panel so directs.  It is therefore extremely important to have an attorney represent you at your initial hearing. A qualified attorney will ensure your hearing goes smoothly and gets the best possible results.

If you have not yet applied for admission to the NJ Bar, but believe you will have a character and fitness flaw in your New Jersey application, hire an experienced attorney to help you through the process.  Your attorney can make sure you provide all the proper documentation to the Committee and make sure you fulfill your obligation to keep your application up-to-date throughout the entire process.

Marisa Ciarrocki is experienced at assisting prospective lawyers with the character and fitness portions of their New Jersey Bar applications.  Call (215) 567-1530 to inquire about scheduling a consultation, or email [email protected].

Published November 1, 2017