Many aspiring lawyers wonder if they can take the California Bar Exam without actually going to law school. The short answer is yes, they can.No. Each start has their own requirements for admission into their bar and the vast majority require a Juris Doctorate degree. Before you can apply to take the California Bar Exam, you must first register as a law student with the State Bar's Office of Admissions. It is generally not possible to take the bar exam without having completed law school. Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process. Complete the required pre-legal education. In most states, attending law school is a prerequisite for taking the bar exam. However, there are exceptions. Bar reciprocity in the United States is a concept that allows attorneys to practice law in a state other than the one in which they're licensed.