The State Bar of California, Office of Admissions: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about State Bar of California

State Bar of California requirements in detail

Two very different tracks

An attorney fully admitted in another country, without restrictions, may take the California Bar Exam without proving any education and without additional US law study (Help Center: foreign-admitted attorneys).

The only foreign document the State Bar then needs is the certificate of good standing, and that is where the translation rule bites: the certificate, if it is in another language, goes in with an English translation by a certified translator and the original (Proof of admission and good standing in another jurisdiction).

A foreign law graduate who is not admitted anywhere follows Rule 4.30 instead (rules): an evaluation showing the first degree in law, then a year of US law study, typically an LL.M. of at least 20 units, before registering and applying (guidelines, Foreign legal education).

The State Bar treats the agency's findings as advisory and decides credit itself.

What the approved agencies ask for the translation

The State Bar's list (Approved credential evaluation services) includes World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, the International Education Research Foundation and Educational Perspectives, which accept translations from professional services; WES asks for a word-for-word translation by a professional translator (WES), and ECE for a complete, literal one (ECE).

The Evaluation Company and Josef Silny & Associates, also on the list, take outside translations made in the US only from ATA-certified translators; see the ATA section below.

For the LL.M. route the guidelines also accept the LSAC Credential Assembly Service International Credential Evaluation (Guidelines for foreign-educated applicants with a first degree in law).

Where the State Bar's pages differ

The Help Center tells foreign-admitted attorneys to mail an original certificate (Help Center: foreign-admitted attorneys), while the proof-of-admission page now accepts electronic certificates from some foreign jurisdictions (Proof of admission and good standing in another jurisdiction).

The registration page asks for the Summary form "with a certified transcript" of all legal studies (Registration requirements); the foreign education page does not mention it. Either way, the translation goes with the document it translates.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Certificates of admission and of good standing from a foreign bar or law society
• Law degree certificates and diplomas
• Law school transcripts, for the agency evaluation
• Disciplinary history statements from the foreign admitting authority

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to State Bar of California

• Mail the original certificate with its English translation to the State Bar of California, Attn: Office of Admissions, 845 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017, or, if your jurisdiction is on the electronic list, upload both to your Applicant Portal case with the Declaration of Authenticity (Proof of admission and good standing in another jurisdiction).

• For the evaluation route, the translation goes to the approved agency with your records under that agency's instructions; the agency then completes the Foreign Law Study Evaluation Summary form for the State Bar (Foreign legal education).

If you need a translator certified by ATA

Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:

To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for State Bar of California, what it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).

We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.

For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions