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.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. Complete the required pre-legal education. Some states allow you to take the bar exam without attending an accredited law school. The most important is California. Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process. In most states, attending law school is a prerequisite for taking the bar exam. However, there are exceptions. Can anyone take the California Bar Exam?