Becoming a licensed attorney in Indiana requires navigating a regulated, multi-stage process overseen by the Indiana Supreme Court and administered by the Indiana Board of Law Examiners. This path demands a significant investment in education, successful completion of a rigorous examination, and a thorough demonstration of personal and ethical fitness to practice law. Understanding the specific requirements for each phase, from pre-law studies to post-licensure maintenance, is necessary for any prospective lawyer in the state.
Educational Prerequisites
Before a candidate can apply to law school, the foundation of their legal career must be established with an undergraduate degree. The American Bar Association (ABA) mandates that all applicants for an ABA-approved law school possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. While no single undergraduate major is required for admission, law schools generally seek candidates who have developed strong analytical, research, and communication skills. Degrees in fields like political science, history, philosophy, and business are commonly pursued by pre-law students.
Law School Requirements and the LSAT
The first hurdle for aspiring lawyers is the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which is required for admission to nearly all ABA-approved law schools. This standardized examination measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning, providing law schools with a consistent benchmark for evaluating applicants. A strong LSAT score is a major factor in the competitiveness of a candidate’s application.
To qualify for the Indiana Bar Examination, an applicant must graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the ABA. The J.D. program typically takes three years of full-time study and mandates completion of a specified number of credit hours. This coursework must include at least two cumulative semester hours of legal ethics or professional responsibility.
Navigating the Indiana Bar Examination
Indiana employs the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), a standardized test developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) that allows for the portability of scores to other UBE jurisdictions. The UBE is administered over two days and is composed of three distinct parts: the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). The overall scaled score is calculated by weighting the components: the MBE accounts for 50% of the total, the MEE for 30%, and the MPT for the remaining 20%.
The MBE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering seven core subject areas, including Constitutional Law, Contracts, and Torts. The MEE requires examinees to write six essays on various legal topics, which may include Business Associations, Family Law, and Secured Transactions. The MPT presents two practical tasks that assess lawyering skills like legal analysis and communication, using a provided file and library.
To pass the UBE in Indiana, an applicant must achieve a minimum scaled score of 264 out of a possible 400. In addition to the UBE, candidates must pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a scaled score of at least 80, achieved no earlier than two years before the Indiana bar examination. Applicants must also complete the Indiana Law Course, a jurisdiction-specific component on state law, within six months of being admitted to the bar.
Character and Fitness Review
The Indiana Supreme Court requires applicants to demonstrate the good moral character and fitness necessary to practice law. This comprehensive investigation, conducted by the Indiana Board of Law Examiners, begins with a detailed application that requires full disclosure of the applicant’s history. The burden of proving the requisite character and fitness rests entirely on the applicant.
The review is an ongoing process that often starts while the candidate is still in law school, and applicants have a continuing duty to inform the Board of any relevant facts. The Board considers a wide range of factors, including criminal history, academic misconduct, employment record, and the observance of fiduciary responsibility. Neglect of financial responsibilities, acts involving dishonesty, or evidence of drug or alcohol dependency are also relevant considerations. The review process requires a personal, in-person interview with a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness. The Committee may require additional information or a personal appearance before the full Board to address concerns.
Admission to the Indiana Bar
After successfully passing the Uniform Bar Examination and receiving a positive certification from the Character and Fitness Committee, the final administrative steps for admission must be completed. This process culminates in the formal induction into the profession, typically marked by a swearing-in ceremony. These ceremonies are often conducted by the Indiana Supreme Court or a local court designated by the Board of Law Examiners.
Once sworn in, the new attorney must complete the required initial registration with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. This administrative step places the attorney on the official roll of those authorized to practice law in the state.
Maintaining Licensure
Indiana attorneys are required to participate in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) to ensure their knowledge remains current and to maintain good standing. The general requirement is for attorneys to complete at least 36 hours of approved CLE credit every three-year reporting cycle, with a minimum of six hours required annually.
This required education includes a specific ethics component, with attorneys needing at least three hours of ethics credit within the three-year cycle. All licensed attorneys must pay annual registration fees to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. Newly admitted attorneys have a modified requirement in their first three-year cycle, which includes attending a six-hour “Applied Professionalism” program.