FAQs

Where can I find information about admission to the State Bar of Georgia?
Where can I find information about the Bar Exam?
Where can I file a complaint against my attorney or report a problem with my attorney?
I am a member of the State Bar of Georgia and my information in the online directory is incorrect. Who must I contact to fix it?
I wish to check my membership status, or check the membership status of an attorney. Who should I speak to?
Where can I get an attorney referral?
I can't find...
I am having technical problems with this site, or the above questions do not apply to my problem.
I have just been notified that I passed the Bar Exam. What do I do now in order to practice?
Now that I have passed the Bar, where can I get sworn in?
How can I be sworn in to practice in the higher courts?
I am not employed yet, should I wait to be sworn in?
What are the benefits of being inactive?
How do I change my status to inactive?
How do I change my status to active?
If I have not practiced in Georgia for a long period of time and have not changed my status to inactive, can I make my status inactive retro active back in time?
If I have already paid active dues for the year, would a portion of my dues be refunded if I become inactive?
If I live out of state and do not practice in Georgia, am I required to go inactive?
If I go inactive, how difficult is it for me to become active again?
Would I have to take CLE hours to regain my active status from inactive?
While on inactive status, would I have to take CLE hours? Are there other requirements to maintain inactive status besides paying inactive dues?
If I am inactive and wish to take CLE hours anyway are there any restrictions?
What happens if I do not pay my Bar Dues?
If I have decided I do not want to keep my membership, how do I resign?
How do I obtain information about Admission on Motion (Reciprocity)?
I have to appear in court but my dues are unpaid, can I still appear in court?
I have a hardship right now and cannot pay my dues. Is there a hardship exemption I can apply for or can I make payments?
I need a copy of my application to the Bar, how do I obtain a copy?
Where can I find information regarding the application process to appear pro hac vice in Superior and State Courts in Georgia?
Where can I find information regarding the application process to appear pro hac vice before the State Board of Workers' Compensation?

Where can I find information about admission to the State Bar of Georgia?
The Office of Bar Admissions is the administrative arm of the Supreme Court of Georgia responsible for the admission of attorneys to the practice of law in Georgia. This office has a website separate from the State Bar of Georgia's which can be accessed by clicking here: Office of Bar Admissions
Where can I find information about the Bar Exam?
The Office of Bar Admissions administers the Bar exam. Their website, which contains helpful links and contact information, can be accessed by clicking here: Office of Bar Admissions
Where can I file a complaint against my attorney or report a problem with my attorney?
The Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) of the State Bar of Georgia handles problems between attorneys and clients. CAP has many ways to help solve your problems. For general and statistical information about CAP, please see the CAP Web page. If you wish to speak to a CAP Administrator, please call 1-800-334-6865 and ask for the CAP line, or dial direct to 404-527-8759. CAP cannot receive inquiries by e-mail.
I am a member of the State Bar of Georgia and my information in the online directory is incorrect. Who must I contact to fix it?
The Online Directory is a direct reflection of the State Bar of Georgia's membership database. To change this information, please use the online Address Change Form, write an e-mail to membership@gabar.org, or send a fax to the Membership Department at 404-527-8747.
I wish to check my membership status, or check the membership status of an attorney. Who should I speak to?
The State Bar of Georgia's Membership Department maintains and updates each bar member's status. For information about your membership status, or to make sure an attorney is in good standing, please check our online membership directory which is updated daily. If you still have questions call the Membership Department at 404-527-8777 or e-mail membership@gabar.org.
Where can I get an attorney referral?
The State Bar of Georgia is a mandatory membership organization and cannot refer an attorney since we have an obligation to represent each of our members equally. Please see our list of Local/Voluntary Bars for full contact information of the Bar Associations near you. Many Local or Voluntary Bars offer Attorney Referral Services. For additional information on choosing an attorney, visit our online pamphlet "How to Choose a Lawyer".
I can't find...
The State Bar of Georgia's website is equipped with two tools to help you navigate our site -- the Site Map and the Search function at the top of the page. The Site Map is a detailed listing of all major areas of the State Bar of Georgia's website. The Search function allows you to search the entire site for specific information. Both tools are available at the top of every page.

If you cannot find what you are looking for on the State Bar of Georgia's website, you might wish to search the World Wide Web. You can do so by going to Search Engines on our Online Resources page.
I am having technical problems with this site, or the above questions do not apply to my problem.
For technical questions about the site, please contact the Webmaster by phone at 404-527-8761 or e-mail at jennifer@gabar.org. Please keep in mind that the Webmaster is a technology professional, not a legal professional, and cannot answer any legal questions.
I have just been notified that I passed the Bar Exam. What do I do now in order to practice?
In the next few days, you will receive a CD from the State Bar of Georgia with all of the information and forms necessary to become a member of the Bar. You must be assigned a Bar Number before you can practice law.
Now that I have passed the Bar, where can I get sworn in?
Any Superior Court Judge in the State can swear you in. You can make an appointment by contacting the clerk of the court in the county that you choose.
How can I be sworn in to practice in the higher courts?
You can contact the clerk of the court that you wish to practice in and they will arrange for you to be sworn in. You must first be admitted in Superior Court before you can be sworn in to the higher courts. Some of the telephone numbers for the higher courts are listed below:

Supreme Court - 404-656-3470
Court of Appeals - 404-656-3450
U.S Court of Appeals - 404-335-6100
U.S. Northern District - 404-215-1660
U.S. Middle District - 478-752-3497
U.S. Southern District - 912-650-4020

In order to be notified of any mass swearing in ceremonies for the higher courts, email the YLD Director of the State Bar of Georgia at marym@gabar.org
I am not employed yet, should I wait to be sworn in?
You have one year from the date you received your certificate of eligibility from Bar Admissions to be sworn in. If you do get sworn in, you have 60 days from the date you were sworn in to apply for admission to the State Bar of Georgia. If you passed the July exam and are not practicing, you can save ½ year of dues by waiting until after January 1 to be sworn in. Or if you passed the February exam and are not practicing, you can save ½ year of dues by waiting until after May 14 to be sworn in.
What are the benefits of being inactive?
As an inactive member, you are not required to complete CLE hours and your dues are lower. However, inactive status requires that you do not practice law in Georgia. A possible disadvantage is the fact that if you plan to use your Georgia license to be admitted by reciprocity to another jurisdiction, the other jurisdiction often requires that you have been active 5 of the last 7 years.
How do I change my status to inactive?
If you have already paid active dues, you may send an email to membership@gabar.org and request that your status be changed. Be sure to include your Bar Number and the effective date. If you have not paid your dues, the change can be indicated on the dues notice and you may pay the inactive dues amount shown on the notice.
How do I change my status to active?
If you have not paid your dues for the year, simply mark your dues notice and pay the active dues amount. If you have already paid inactive dues for the year, mail a check for the difference between inactive and active dues along with a note and your Bar Number to: State Bar of Georgia, PO Box 102054, Atlanta, GA 30368-2054. If you are unsure of the amount to send, email membership@gabar.org and someone will be happy to assit you.
If I have not practiced in Georgia for a long period of time and have not changed my status to inactive, can I make my status inactive retro active back in time?
You can make your status effective back to the date you stopped practicing by indicating the date and the fact that you have not practiced in Georgia on your correspondence to us.
If I have already paid active dues for the year, would a portion of my dues be refunded if I become inactive?
Due to the complexities and time involved with refunds for status changes, we do not refund any portion of the active dues.
If I live out of state and do not practice in Georgia, am I required to go inactive?
You are not required to change to inactive status. In order to eliminate the CLE requirement if you are not practicing in Georgia and live out of state, you may file an out of state exemption. Please contact CLE at 404-527-8710 for additional information about CLE.
If I go inactive, how difficult is it for me to become active again?
You would simply need to send a check for the difference in active and inactive dues for that year. Be sure to include your Bar Number and a note that you would like to become active. The check should be sent to:

State Bar of Georgia
P.O. Box 102054
Atlanta, GA 30368-2054
Would I have to take CLE hours to regain my active status from inactive?
You will owe CLE for the year you activate in as well as any hours that you owed CLE from prior years when you deactivated. These hours would need to be completed by March of the following year. NOTE: You will owe CLE for the current year even if you are only active for one day, week, etc. during the year. Be sure to consider this when you are activating at the end of a year.
While on inactive status, would I have to take CLE hours? Are there other requirements to maintain inactive status besides paying inactive dues?
You are not required to take CLE hours while you are inactive. There are no other requirements to maintain your inactive status. You may remain inactive for an unlimited amount of time. While you are inactive it is very important to keep your address updated with the Bar and pay your dues. You may change your address by accessing Address Change under Member Essentials on the home page of this website.
If I am inactive and wish to take CLE hours anyway are there any restrictions?
Up to two years of CLE hours (24 credit hours) taken while inactive can be carried over and applied when you reactivate.
What happens if I do not pay my Bar Dues?
A late fee of $75 is assessed after 8/1 and you are ineligible to practice after 9/1. Another late fee of $100 is assessed after 1/1 (Total Late Fee $175). After the second year of unpaid status, your membership status is changed to administratively suspended. Your membership will remain as administratively suspended for a five year period starting from the first year that you did not pay your annual dues. During this five year period, you may reinstate by being recertified thru the Fitness process with Bar Admissions, completing several administrative requirements and paying additional penalty fees, dues and late fees. After the five-year period, you will be required to retake the Bar Exam to be readmitted.
If I have decided I do not want to keep my membership, how do I resign? If I decide to reinstate after I have resigned, can I do that?
In order to resign, you may either call us at 404-527-8777 or email us at membership@gabar.org to request a resignation package. The package consists of a copy of the Bar Rule related to resignation and a form that needs to be signed, notarized and returned to us. The process after resignation is similar to the process above for non-payment of dues, except the fees are less to reinstate. After the five-year period, you will be required to retake the Bar Exam to be readmitted.
How do I obtain information about Admission on Motion (Reciprocity)?
In order to be admitted in Georgia without taking the exam, you need to be admitted in another state that also recognizes Reciprocity. All admissions are handled by Bar Admissions at 404-656-3490. A helpful chart is available on their website at www.gabaradmissions.org or on the State Bar of Georgia website under Member Essentials on the home page and then select Admission on Motion.
I have to appear in court but my dues are unpaid, can I still appear in court?
After 9/1 of each dues year, unpaid members are ineligible to practice law until their dues are paid.
I have a hardship right now and cannot pay my dues. Is there a hardship exemption I can apply for or can I make payments?
Dues must be paid in full by the 9/1 date or you will be ineligible to practice. If you are not practicing, you can pay inactive dues and later in the year convert to active.
I need a copy of my application to the Bar, how do I obtain a copy?
Typically, an attorney when applying for admission to another jurisdiction raises this question. The other jurisdiction normally is interested in a copy of the Bar Admission application, not the data enrollment form for the State Bar of Georgia. A copy of the Bar Admission's application can be obtained by calling 404-656-3490.
Where can I find information regarding the application process to appear pro hac vice in Superior and State Courts in Georgia?
Out-of-state attorneys seeking admission pro hac vice to appear in Superior and State Courts of Georgia should review Uniform Rule of Superior Court 4.4 and its appendix.This rule, amended in November 2005, requires pro hac applicants to send a copy of their motion to appear to the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia. (There is no prescribed form for the motion/application.) In most circumstances, a per case per attorney fee of $200 is required. (The $200 fee can be paid by check or money order, made payable to the State Bar of Georgia). Applicants should file their notarized original motion with the court in which they seek to appear, and send a copy of the application to the Office of the General Counsel at: Office of the General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, 104 Marietta Street NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Where can I find information regarding the application process to appear pro hac vice before the State Board of Workers' Compensation?
Out-of-state attorneys seeking admission pro hac vice to appear before the State Board of Workers' Compensation should review State Board of Workers' Compensation Rule 102(A)(2), which requires out-of-state attorneys to comply with Uniform Rule of Superior Court 4.4 and its appendix. (There is no prescribed form for the motion/application.) In most circumstances, a per case per attorney fee of $200 is required. (The $200 fee can be paid by check or money order, made payable to the State Bar of Georgia). Applicants should file their notarized original motion with the Board of Workers' Compensation in the case in which they seek to appear (either to the judge or to the Settlement Division, as applicable) and send a copy of the motion to the Office of the General Counsel at: Office of the General Counsel, State Bar of Georgia, 104 Marietta Street NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303.
See: http://sbwc.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/14/23/40438236Rules2007.pdf