The Supreme Court of Ohio - Supreme Court - State of Ohio

Office of Bar Admissions
The Office of Bar Admissions supports the Supreme Court
in its constitutional responsibility to regulate the admission of
applicants to the practice of law in Ohio. The office processes
applications for admission, including registration applications,
applications to take the bar examination and applications for
admission without examination; oversees character and fitness
investigations of applicants; coordinates and administers semiannual
bar examinations; and organizes admission ceremonies
during which eligible applicants take the oath of office.
The Office of Bar Admissions also issues miscellaneous
certificates relating to bar admission, including legal intern
certificates for law students working in clinical programs,
temporary certificates for attorneys licensed in other states and
working in law school clinical programs or other legal services
programs, and certificates for foreign legal consultants. The
office provides support to the Board of Bar Examiners and the
Board of Commissioners on Character & Fitness.
In 2008, the office processed more than 3,100 applications,
including 1,226 law student registrations, 1,770 bar exam
applications, and 120 applications for admission without
examination. The office also issued 485 legal intern certificates,
11 new temporary certifications and two renewal certifications.
The office administered the bar exam to 1,640 applicants —
434 in February and 1,206 in July.
Additionally, office staff worked closely with the Office of
Network & Technology Resources throughout the year to
implement a new computer application to streamline the bar
admissions process and provide better tracking. The first phase
of the project was completed and the office began to enter data
in the new system. Work on this major project continues.
Board of Commissioners
on Character & Fitness
Lee Ann Ward, secretary
J. Patrick Apel
Gregory L. Arnold
Mary Asbury
Andrew J. Dorman
John C. Fairweather
Hon. Nancy D. Hammond
Todd C. Hicks
Hon. Michael L. Howard
G. Scott McBride
Suzanne K. Richards, chair
Hon. David Tobin
Adolfo A. Tornichio
Board of Commissioners on Character & Fitness
The Board of Commissioners on Character & Fitness is
responsible for ensuring each successful applicant for admission
to the practice of law possesses the requisite character, fitness
and moral qualifications for admission. The board has 12
members appointed by the Court, who must be members
of the Ohio bar. Pursuant to Gov. Bar R. I, Sections 10-13,
the board’s essential functions are to promulgate admission
standards and applications; supervise the work of local bar
admissions committees; review the character, fitness and moral
qualifications of each applicant for admission; and hear appeals
from admission applicants who receive adverse admission
recommendations from local bar admission committees.
56
2008 Annual Report • The Supreme Court of Ohio