Swearing In FAQs

Swearing-In for the NC State Bar in Mecklenburg County
Frequently Asked Questions

The 26th Judicial District Bar/Mecklenburg Bar Association offers two in-person swearing-in ceremonies each year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring.

Q:  When is the next in-person Swearing-In Ceremony?

A. The next in-person swearing in ceremony will be held in October 2026. See pictures from our Fall 2025 ceremony and Spring 2026 ceremony.

Q:  When are the virtual swearing-in ceremonies held?

A. The Mecklenburg County Courthouse hosts virtual swearing-in ceremonies once per month on Thursdays via Webex at 12:00 p.m. Attorneys wishing to be sworn-in should contact the courthouse via email at Mecklenburg.Oaths@nccourts.org. Attorneys must have either their law license or official Bar card to be sworn in. Note: The letter from the Board of Law Examiners is no longer accepted. Attorneys without a sponsor may introduce themselves to the court during the virtual session. Note: You must contact the courthouse, the Mecklenburg Bar only hosts the two in-person ceremonies per year.

Q:  I have not yet received my law license/state bar number.  May I still participate in the Swearing-In Ceremony?

A:  No.  The Board of Law Examiners of the State of NC has requested that swearing-in ceremonies do not take place prior to the time the applicants to the North Carolina State Bar have received their licenses from the Board of Law Examiners. In years past, bars and bar associations, including the 26th Judicial District Bar, conducted swearing-in ceremonies with applicants being sworn-in using their "pass" letter. This was problematic for both the Board of Law Examiners and the State Bar.

The Board of Law Examiners does not consider an applicant to be licensed until the applicant receives his or her physical license. The Board does not certify an applicant to the North Carolina Supreme Court until after the applicant's license has been mailed to the applicant. Additionally, character and fitness issues may arise in the interim period between an applicant's passage of the bar examination and the issuance of his or her license which could affect the applicant's eligibility for licensure.

Further, the swearing-in of new admittees prior to the admittee's receipt of his or her license also creates issues for the State Bar. As the Board of Law Examiners does not forward the list of certified admittees to the State Bar until after the licenses are mailed, the State Bar does not have the new admittee in its system at the time the new admittee is sworn in. The State Bar is unable to provide the new admittee with a State Bar number or verify the admittee's licensure to the public or potential employers. The Board has communicated with the State Bar regarding this issue and has revised its "pass" letter in an effort to clarify its position that an applicant cannot be sworn in prior to receiving his or her license.

Q:  What is the attire for Swearing-In?

A:  As with any court session, new attorneys and their sponsors MUST be dressed in appropriate court attire. Men must wear a suit and tie and women should wear a business dress with jacket or suit. (Failure to comply with this dress code will prohibit participation.)

Q:  I have more than 2 guests.  Can you make an exception for me?

A:  Due to space constraints, we are unable to make exceptions. Please plan accordingly.

Q:  I have a child under the age of 7 that I would like to bring.  Can you make an exception for me?

A:  The Court specifically and respectfully requests that no children under the age of 7 be allowed entrance.

Q:  Is my sponsor included in the 2-person guest limit?

A:  Your sponsor is not included in the 2-person guest limit. You will add their name to the registration form when you register for this ceremony.

Q:  When does my sponsor need to arrive and how long do they have to stay?

A:  Your sponsor should arrive no later than 15 minutes (preferably 30 minutes) before the start of the ceremony. They must stay until they have presented you to the court. Names are called alphabetically by last name, so the further along in the alphabet you are, the longer your sponsor will be required to stay.

Q:  What does my sponsor need to do in the ceremony?

A:  New attorneys will be called to the front in groups. When your name is called, your sponsor will stand next to you and briefly (30 seconds or less) present you to the court. Suggestions are for the sponsor to state their name, the new attorney's name, new attorney's undergraduate school, law school and where the new attorney will be working. We encourage you to forward this information to your sponsor so they will know the requirements and expectations. More sponsor information can be found here.

Q:  What do I do if I don't have a sponsor?

A:  As part of the registration process, you will be asked to indicate whether you have a sponsor or need one assigned. If you are currently employed, particularly at a law firm, we kindly ask that you make every effort to secure your own sponsor. (Sponsors must be attorneys licensed to practice in North Carolina.) If you are not currently employed and unable to identify a sponsor, the Mecklenburg Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division will assign one to you.

Q:  Do I have to bring a copy of the oath?

A:  You will need to bring two printed copies of the oath. Do NOT sign the oath before the ceremony, you will be instructed to do so when it is time. They will both be signed and certified during the ceremony. You will keep one copy for yourself. If you forget to bring two copies of the oath, there will be extras at registration available for you. The oath can be found here.

Q:  I would also like to be sworn into Federal Court. Is that an option at this ceremony?

A:  Yes, however, there are different procedures for being sworn into Federal Court. For more information, please visit the USDC website. We are unable to answer questions on behalf of the Federal Court and request that you contact them directly for more information on their procedures. Note that on their website there is a fee to be sworn into Federal Court and you must bring that check and form with you to the ceremony. A clerk from the Federal Court will be at the ceremony for additional questions.

Q:  I have already been sworn into State Court and would like to be sworn into Federal Court. Can I still attend the ceremony?

A:  Yes. You would sit for the state portion of the ceremony and stand during the Federal swearing-in. As noted in the question above, there are different procedures for being sworn into Federal Court. For more information, please visit the USDC website. We are unable to answer questions on behalf of the Federal Court and request that you contact them directly for more information on their procedures. Note that on their website there is a fee to be sworn into Federal Court. A clerk from the Federal Court will be at the ceremony for additional questions.

More questions? Email events@meckbar.org.