Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 221, § 37 (2026)

Petition for examination for admission to the bar; fees

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 37. A citizen of the United States, if over eighteen, may file a petition in the supreme judicial court or superior court to be examined for admission as an attorney at law. Unless the court otherwise orders, the clerk of such court shall refer the petition to the board of bar examiners to ascertain his acquirements and qualifications. If the board reports that the petitioner is of good moral character and sufficient acquirements and qualifications and recommends his admission, he shall be admitted unless the court otherwise determines, and thereafter may practice in all the courts of the commonwealth. A petitioner to be examined for admission shall pay to the clerk of the court in which his petition is filed a fee of $800 upon the entry of his petition and a further fee of $800 upon the entry of any subsequent petition. A member of the bar of any other state who applies to be admitted without examination shall pay to the clerk of the court in which his petition is filed a fee of $1,000. Any person who requests to have their bar examination scores transferred to another jurisdiction shall pay a fee of $25 for each transfer. If the board determines to allow petitioners for examination to use approved computers in connection with any portion of the examination, petitioners who use such computers shall pay a fee of $75 for such use; provided, that such a fee shall not be assessed against any petitioner who is granted permission to use such a computer by reason of any physical or mental impairment or other disability that substantially and mentally limits the individual's ability to complete the bar examination. Such fees shall be paid over to the commonwealth.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 22 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1922–2025 · leading case: In re Prager, 661 N.E.2d 84 (Mass. 1996).

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In re Prager, 661 N.E.2d 84 (Mass. 1996). · cites it 3× “G. L. c. 221, § 37. See Matter of Allen, 400 Mass.”

Strigler v. Bd. of Bar Examiners, 864 N.E.2d 8 (Mass. 2007). · cites it 2× “G. L. c. 221, § 37. S.J.C. Rule 3:01, § 5.”

Osakwe v. Bd. of Bar Examiners, 858 N.E.2d 1077 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 2× “Admission to the bar of the Commonwealth is governed by G. L. c. 221, § 37, and SJ.C. Rule 3:01. Petitions for admission are filed in the county court and referred to the board to ascertain the qualifications of applicants.”

Wei Jia v. Bd. of Bar Examiners, 696 N.E.2d 131 (Mass. 1998). · cites it 2× “G. L. c. 221, § 37. If the board reports that an applicant is “of good moral character and sufficient acquirements and qualifications” and recommends his admission, the applicant shall be admitted “unless the court otherwise determines.”

In re Application for Admission to the Bar of the Commonwealth, 828 N.E.2d 484 (Mass. 2005). “See also G. L. c. 221, § 37. We have reviewed all the documents in the record and all submissions to this court and are left with significant doubts concerning the petitioner’s character and fitness to practice law.”

In re Keenan, 47 N.E.2d 12 (Mass. 1943). “It is required by G. L. c. 221, § 37, that applicants for admis *218 sion.”

In re Ulmer, 167 N.E. 749 (Mass. 1929). “Evidence supporting any want of moral probity or integrity, or showing misconduct of such nature that the respondent is unfit to be trusted by clients or by the court or to bear the responsibilities and perform the duties of an attorney at law is enough to warrant and to demand…”

Britton v. Bd. of Bar Examiners, 29 N.E.3d 184 (Mass. 2015). · cites it 2× “G. L. c. 221, § 37. See S.J.C. Rule 3:01, § 5.”

Desy v. Bd. of Bar Examiners, 894 N.E.2d 1135 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 2× “G. L. c. 221, § 37. SJ.C. Rule 3:01, § 5.”

Corliss v. Bd. of Bar Examiners, 773 N.E.2d 944 (Mass. 2002). “” G. L. c. 221, § 37. See S.J.C. Rule 3:01, § 1.”

Opinion of the Justices to the House of Representatives, 240 Mass. 611 (Mass. 1922). “G. L. c. 221, §§ 37, 38, 40, 41. All this is in conformity to the Constitution and creates no favored class.”

In re Application for Admission to the Bar of the Commonwealth, 392 N.E.2d 533 (Mass. 1979). “907 , 909 (1976); G. L. c. 221, § 37. The Bar Examiners thereafter found, inter alia, that the applicant has used judicial processes in a way inconsistent with the standard to be expected of a lawyer.”

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