You must register with the State Bar in the Applicant Portal. Law students must register within 90 days of beginning the study of law.Listed below is basic information on these three exams. California-accredited law school or complete 4 years of law study at a law school registered in California and pass the First-Year Law Students'. Exam. The State Bar of California is planning to administer its own bar exam as early as February 2025. You are eligible to take the California Bar Exam if you are a qualified lawyer in your home country. You only need to provide a certificate of good standing. Yes, you don't need LL.M. to sit for California bar exam. You will need one for NYS bar exam.