First, celebrate. Next, accept our warm congratulations. You are now eligible to join one of the best state bar associations in the country, a 79-year old institution with an unmatched reputation for integrity, excellence, and outstanding service to its members and the public.
Here's what comes next:
All persons who are licensed to practice law in Michigan must be members of the State Bar of Michigan. In order to become a member of the State Bar, you must first take steps to become admitted. If you've recently passed the bar exam, the Board of Law Examiners has mailed you a certificate of qualification. A current, active member of the State Bar must file this certificate and a motion seeking your admission to the State Bar in the Supreme Court or a circuit court. You must also appear personally in open court to be administered the oath of office. View the rule describing the steps to follow in taking the oath of office as a lawyer.
First, you must be sworn in to one of the circuit courts or the Supreme Court of Michigan. Any member in good standing of the State Bar of Michigan can move your admission. Many local bar associations hold a bar admission swearing-in ceremony.
Next, you will need to complete a membership application and pay your membership dues. To complete the State Bar of Michigan new member application online and pay your member dues with a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, visit the Bar's Member Area and create an account as a "Prospective New Member & Non-Member." Do not create an account online until you have been sworn in. If you wish to complete the paper application and pay your member dues with a check, download the new member application form.
Finally, you must provide the State Bar with a true or certified copy of the Order of Admission certified by the County Clerk. Some courts provide the Order of Admission directly to the State Bar. If you wish, you may mail your true or certified copy of the Order of Admission signed by the County Clerk to the State Bar of Michigan, Attention Finance, 306 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48933.
You have come to the end of a long and difficult road and now begin a journey that holds the promise of great satisfaction and achievement. The State Bar will be there to help.
