Supreme Court of Wisconsin

BE-270, 9/23 Information and Filing Instructions - 2024 Diploma Privilege Filing Instructions

BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS

110 EAST MAIN STREET, SUITE 310

P.O. BOX 2748

MADISON, WI 53701-2748

TELEPHONE: (608) 266-9760

INFORMATION AND FILING INSTRUCTIONS – ELECTRONIC APPLICATION

2024 Diploma Privilege Character and Fitness Certification (SCR 40.03)

Individuals seeking admission to the practice of law in Wisconsin via the diploma privilege are

required under Supreme Court Rule 40.06 to file an Application for Character and Fitness

Certification with the Board of Bar Examiners (BBE). A character and fitness investigation then

follows and typically takes three to six months to complete. Students who graduate in May and who

wish to participate in the large-group swearing-in ceremonies that are held in May must have their

files completed in advance of those swearing-in dates. The BBE determines when a file is complete.

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their files and will only be notified by the BBE

by email when they are certified for admission.

READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY AND RETAIN IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. All deadlines

are firm and will not be extended. Other than applications and forms that are eligible for filing through

the electronic application system, facsimile or email transmissions will not be accepted.

FILING DATES, DEADLINES, AND FEES:

Applications are timely filed pursuant to SCR 40.14. An application will not be considered filed until proper

payment is received. RETAIN A COPY OF THE APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRE AND AFFIDAVIT FOR

YOUR RECORDS. A fee will be charged for a copy of your application should you need it at a later date.

NOTE: An application is considered “Filed” when all three of the following items have been received:

1. An electronically submitted application

2. Authorization and Release form

3. Filing Fee (See fees below)

It is to your advantage to file an application as early as possible in order to avoid late fees. Applications

submitted to the BBE after the final deadlines noted below will not be accepted and Wisconsin law school

graduates will be required to write and pass the Wisconsin Bar Examination in order to be eligible for

admission to the practice of law in Wisconsin. Processing of an application file typically takes three to six

months to complete.

May 2024 Graduates

$210 if application is filed by December 15, 2023

$410 if application is filed from December 16, 2023 until July 1, 2024.

August 2024 Graduates

$210 if application is filed by March 15, 2024

$410 if application is filed from March 16, 2024 until October 1, 2024.

December 2024 Graduates

$210 if application is filed by July 15, 2024.

$410 if application is filed from July 16, 2024 until February 1, 2025.

BE-270, 9/23 Information and Filing Instructions - 2024 Diploma Privilege Filing Instructions

If you experience any technical difficulties while completing the online application, please contact

E-file Support at 800-462-8843 or ecourts.administration@wicourts.gov.

In order for your application to be considered filed, the following three items must be received by the final

filing deadline:

(1) Online admissions site: By using the electronic application program, the Applicant Questionnaire

will be generated. The Applicant Questionnaire is an affidavit signed electronically with your PIN.

When you create your application account a PIN will be assigned to you by email. The BBE will

address any omissions and misrepresentations under its character and fitness rule, SCR 40.06. You

may wish to bookmark the site to more easily check the status of your application once it

has been submitted.

(2) Authorization and Release Form (BE-002): Applicants must complete this form, print it, and have it

notarized. Applicants will then need to scan and upload the signed, dated, and notarized form into

their electronic application. The authorization and release form may be used to confirm information

contained in the application and to examine law school records.

(3) Filing Fee: The applicable filing fee (See the fees on Page One) must be remitted by electronic

payment, or by check or money order made payable to the Board of Bar Examiners. Electronic

payment may be made through the electronic application program and must be made at the time of

submission. If electronic payment cannot be made with the submission of an application, payments

may be made electronically at https://www.wicourts.gov/services/payment/paymentbbe.htm or

made by check or money order, which may be sent to the Board of Bar Examiners, P.O. Box 2748,

Madison, WI 53701. If paying by check or money order, applications will not be considered filed until

payment is received by the BBE. Checks and money orders must include the applicant’s name.

Checks and money orders that do not have the applicant’s name on them will be returned, thereby

delaying the filing of the application. Veterans Fee Waiver: A fee waiver exists for qualified veterans

applying for admission to the Wisconsin Bar. Eligibility for this fee waiver is determined by the

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Go

to https://dva.wi.gov/pages/educationemployment/feewaiver.aspx (external link) for more

information and to apply for the eligibility code. When you receive the email with your eligibility code,

upload a copy of that email with your application to have your filing fee waived.

All applicants must submit the following items:

(1) Official Transcripts: The BBE now accepts electronic transcripts that originate directly from

educational institutions that are located in the United States and from certain recognized

vendors. Electronic transcripts will only be accepted directly from a U.S. education institution or

from vendors approved by the Board. Electronic transcripts are to be sent to

april.ashley@wicourts.gov. Educational institutions that do not currently issue electronic

transcripts must instead mail them directly to the Board of Bar Examiners. Transcripts are

required for the following:

a. Undergraduate transcripts: The BBE requires an official transcript from undergraduate

schools (including College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations) that

conferred a degree, including an associate degree. The BBE may require official

transcripts from undergraduate schools attended but which conferred no degree.

Applicants will be notified if this is required.

STEP ONE: BEGINNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP TWO: COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

BE-270, 9/23 Information and Filing Instructions - 2024 Diploma Privilege Filing Instructions

b. Law school transcripts: The BBE requires an official transcript showing that you have

completed a minimum of 50 credit hours. A final law school transcript is not required.

c. Other transcripts: The BBE requires a transcript from all schools attended after an

undergraduate degree was conferred, including other law schools you may have attended,

summer schools, foreign study (including foreign exchange programs), technical schools,

graduate schools, medical schools, etc.

(2) Military Discharge Certificate: If you served in the Armed Forces, it will be necessary for you

to provide the BBE with a copy of your most recent DD-Form-214 (Report of Separation). If you

served in the National Guard, provide your most recent NGB-Form 22. This document may be

uploaded into your electronic application at the Document Upload screen.

(3) Character Reference Questionnaires: Select as character references (Question 36) persons

who have known you for no less than two years and who are familiar with your character and

fitness. Do not include any family members, in-laws, fiancé/fiancée, significant other(s), or

anticipated future family members. You are required to provide a valid email address for each

character reference. A questionnaire will be emailed to your references after the BBE has

determined that your application is filed. The email sent to character references will contain a

link to a questionnaire that they must complete and submit. The questionnaire link will only work

once for each reference, and the questionnaire may only be completed by the references listed

in your application.

The BBE must be able to correspond with all applicants and their character and

employment references by mail, phone, and email. Please verify that all contact

information supplied in your application is current and accurate. In order to receive

important timely email notifications from the Board of Bar Examiners, please verify that

your spam filters are not blocking emails from wibbe.admissions@wicourts.gov . If you

or your references experience other problems receiving emails from the Board of Bar

Examiners, please contact the office at (608) 266-9760.

(4) Employment Verifications: If you are legitimately unable to locate an email address for an

existing or prior employer, please enter the following email address: unknow[email protected],

AND then provide an explanation under the “reason you left job and sought another” section as

to why you are unable to provide an email address. Please be aware that failing to include an

email address for an employer may slow the application process.

(5) Wisconsin Driving Abstract: All applicants must arrange to have a Wisconsin driving abstract

sent directly to the BBE. For those who have held a Wisconsin driver’s license, an abstract may

be obtained online at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/other-servs/request-

record.aspx and then emailed directly to stuart.moeser@wicourts.gov. You must request a

driver’s record even if you do not hold or have never held a driver’s license in Wisconsin. If you

have never held a Wisconsin driver’s license, go to

www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/forms/mv2896.pdf for information and instructions about how to

obtain a “no record” DMV report. “No record” reports must be mailed directly to the BBE. Be

sure to put the BBE’s mailing address (P.O Box 2748, Madison, WI 53701-2748) in the box

labeled “Mailing Address” on the Driver Record Information Request form, MV2896.

(6) Wisconsin Criminal History: Applicants must arrange to have their Wisconsin criminal history

sent directly to the BBE. Criminal history reports indicating “no record” must be submitted to the

BBE. Create an account and order your Wisconsin background check online at

https://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/background-check-criminal-history-information#request.

Once the report is available, email the website link, username and password to

stuart.moeser@wicourts.gov.

BE-270, 9/23 Information and Filing Instructions - 2024 Diploma Privilege Filing Instructions

(7) Dean’s Certificate: The law school will send this directly to the Board of Bar Examiners.

(8) Other Requested Items: Typical items may include criminal history reports and driving

abstracts from jurisdictions other than Wisconsin. Please be aware that it can take some

agencies up to three months to process document requests.

These items, except military discharge certificates and reference questionnaires, must be sent directly

to the BBE by the issuing institution or agency. Facsimile transmissions are not accepted. Applicants

should refrain from furnishing an addressed, stamped envelope to the institution, as this practice

makes the origin of the documents unclear. If, however, certifying officials require that you supply a

stamped envelope, use a plain white envelope, with a U.S. postage stamp affixed to it, and ask that

the office from which it is being mailed rubber stamp or type its name and address on the envelope

across the seal flap, as well as on the front.

Do not provide documentation that is not specifically requested in the application or in the filing

instructions. Once an application is reviewed, the BBE will contact applicants in by email to request

any other required documentation. Any such additional documentation must be obtained by the

applicant at the applicant’s expense. Applicants will not be certified for admission until all required

documents are on file. The BBE will close the file of any applicant whose file remains incomplete one

year from the date an application is filed with the Board, and Wisconsin law school graduates will then

be required to write and pass the Wisconsin Bar Examination in order to be eligible for admission to

the practice of law in Wisconsin. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their applications

by reviewing their electronic application file by calling the BBE office.

Applications must be kept current. All applicants are reminded of their continuing obligation to update a

pending application. This also applies to applicants during the pendency of an appeal from an adverse

determination from the Board.

Applicants wishing to augment or alter entries to their application affidavit, including name changes, are

advised to electronically file an Amendment to Application by logging into the electronic application file

and following the steps to submit an amendment using your PIN.

Applicants who change their names for any reason during the pendency of their application must execute

an Amendment to Application in the electronic application file, setting forth the former and present names,

the reason for the change, and the effective date of the change. Applicants must upload any relevant

documents, such as a marriage license, etc. Applicants must also update their account information

through their electronic application account. Additionally, applicants still enrolled in law school need to

change their names with the university and the law school.

The BBE will communicate its actions in writing to applicants at their last mailing address and/or email

address provided to the BBE within the electronic application file. Mailing address, email address, and

telephone number changes must be completed within the electronic application file. Select “Update

Current or Future Mailing Address” and follow the steps to submit the change of address. Written,

facsimile, or email transmissions are not accepted for a change of address. Changes to contact

information must be made in the electronic application program.

STEP THREE: CHANGES/AMENDMENTS TO AN APPLICATION

BE-270, 9/23 Information and Filing Instructions - 2024 Diploma Privilege Filing Instructions

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check the status of his or her pending file through the electronic

application system, or by contacting the BBE. To expedite the processing of an application, use care in

completing it. Applications that are carelessly or incompletely prepared cause delays in processing. Be

sure to answer all portions of each question completely. Provide as many details and as much information

as possible to avoid delay in processing your application. If unable to recall necessary details, applicants

must offer an explanation as to why the required information was not provided. State “not applicable” if

appropriate. Supply complete email and mailing addresses, including zip codes, where requested.

Account for any gaps as instructed on the application itself. Do not provide documents not specifically

requested in the application or in the filing instructions. If the BBE requires further documentation, its

staff will make a request in writing. It is imperative that applicants use current and valid email contact

information when creating their electronic filing account, and that they keep their electronic account

current. The Board of Bar Examiners will communicate with applicants primarily by email and, if

necessary, by U.S. Postal Service. Applicants must keep their electronic filing account and application

current with any changes to email or mailing address.

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application through their online account. The

BBE will notify all applicants via email when their files are complete and they are certified for admission.

The BBE will communicate its actions via email and will send those communication’s to the applicant’s

last email address.

Application files are confidential under SCR 40.12. Therefore, the BBE and its staff will discuss the

contents of an application only with applicants.

We recommend that applicants print a copy of their completed application, particularly since the BBE may

contact applicants about the information provided. You will be able to access your application and any

amendments made in your electronic application file until you have been admitted to practice law in

Wisconsin. After you have been admitted, you will no longer have access to your electronic application

file. To obtain a copy of your application and amendments, email a request to april.ashley@wicourts.gov

and be sure to include the electronic payment confirmation number in the email request. Payments should

be made electronically at https://www.wicourts.gov/services/payment/paymentbbe.htm. There is a

$10.00 fee for a regular copy or a $12.00 fee for a certified copy.

The following rules and forms are available online at www.wicourts.gov.

SCR Chapter 40

SCR Chapter 40 Appendix

Online admissions site

AVOIDING DELAY IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

COPIES OF APPLICATIONS

RULES & FORMS