Rule 711: Educational Qualifications

(a)   Degrees Required. An applicant for admission to the Kansas bar must hold the following degrees:

(1)   a baccalaureate degree based on a full course of study from a college, university, or other institution of higher learning; and

(2)   a Juris Doctor degree or Bachelor of Laws degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant’s graduation.

(b)   Official Transcripts Required. An applicant must ensure that an official transcript from each institution conferring a degree required under subsection (a) is submitted to the Attorney Admissions office. The transcript must show that the applicant obtained the required degree.  

(1)   Deadline. The Attorney Admissions office must receive each official transcript no later than January 15 for the February examination and June 15 for the July examination.

(2)   Exception.

(A)   If an applicant’s official law school transcript will not be available by the deadline in subsection (b)(1), the law school must provide a certification that the applicant obtained a law degree. The Attorney Admissions office must receive the certification no later than January 15 for the February examination and June 15 for the July examination.

(B)   The applicant must ensure that the law school provides the official transcript showing conferral of the law degree when it becomes available.

(C)   The applicant will not be admitted to the bar until the Attorney Admissions office receives the official law school transcript showing conferral of the law degree.

(c)   Examination Prior to Law School Graduation. An applicant who will graduate from law school no later than 30 days after the administration of the bar examination may take the bar examination on a conditional basis.

(1)   The applicant’s law school must provide certification that the applicant is currently enrolled in a course of study that will result in graduation if satisfactorily completed.

(2)   The applicant must ensure that an official transcript showing conferral of a law degree is submitted to the Attorney Admissions office when it becomes available. 

(3)   The applicant will not be admitted to the bar until the Attorney Admissions office receives the official law school transcript showing conferral of the law degree.

[History: New rule adopted effective July 1, 2022.]