HB 822: Courts; prohibit inclusion of Georgia-specific content on all future Georgia bar examinations for attorney licensure

Georgia's bar exam, which people must pass to become licensed attorneys in the state, is currently allowed to include questions specific to Georgia law. This bill amends the Official Code of Georgia Annotated section governing bar exam rules (O.C.G.A. § 15-19-3) to change that. The bill keeps the existing rules letting the Georgia Supreme Court's justices set the schedule, format, and locations for bar exams, and it keeps the rule that exam-taking is not limited to people with college degrees. It adds a new provision saying that starting July 1, 2025, bar exams for admission to the Georgia bar cannot include content specific to Georgia law. The bill does not specify what would replace that content or how the Board of Bar Examiners should adjust its testing materials.

• Adds a new rule to Georgia's bar exam law banning any exam content specific to Georgia law, starting July 1, 2025.
• Leaves in place the Georgia Supreme Court justices' authority to set the timing, format, and locations of bar exams.
• Leaves in place the existing rule that bar exam eligibility is not limited to people with college degrees.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this change.

Aspiring attorneys who plan to take the Georgia bar exam after July 1, 2025, the Board of Bar Examiners, which administers the test, and the Georgia Supreme Court, which sets exam rules under this code section.

If enacted, people seeking to become licensed Georgia attorneys would no longer be tested on Georgia-specific legal rules as part of the bar exam, changing what knowledge is verified before someone can practice law in the state.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 15-19-3(a), keeping the Supreme Court justices' power to set exam times, places, and manner, including holding exams in up to three cities.
• Section 1 keeps subsection (b), which says bar exam eligibility is not limited to people with college training.
• Section 1 adds subsection (c), prohibiting Georgia-specific legal content on bar exams starting July 1, 2025.
• Section 2 repeals any other state laws that conflict with this change.

1. 2025-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-21House Hopper (House)

• Karen Lupton (D, HD-83)Primary sponsor
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-98)

• bar exam
• attorney licensing
• legal profession
• Georgia Supreme Court