Supreme Court Amends Rule 402, SCACR
The Supreme Court has amended Rule 402 to state that applicants must submit proof of graduation or completion of all requirements for graduation from an ABA approved law school prior to being allowed to take the bar examination. Further, the order provides that bar admission ceremonies will be scheduled four times a year, and that applicants must submit proof of completion of all requirements for admission at least ten (10) days prior to these scheduled ceremonies. The amendment indicates that applicants who take the February Bar Examination are expected to have all requirements for admission completed for the May ceremony following the examination, and that applicants who take the July Bar Examination are expected to have all requirements for admission completed for the November ceremony following the examination. Admission ceremonies at other times (special ceremonies) are restricted to applicants with compelling circumstances. Applicants who fail to be ready for admission due to their failure to complete Bridge the Gap or the MPRE are not eligible to be admitted at a special ceremony.