General Information

The Guam Bar Association (GBA) is an integrated bar, established by Guam law (P.L. 21-147; 7 GCA § 9104) as a public body corporate. Its purposes are to improve the administration of justice and the standards of the legal profession, encourage higher and better education of its members, assist in the admission and discipline of its members and in the formulation and administration of measures to prevent the unauthorized practice of law, and assume such other responsibilities and duties as the Supreme Court of Guam may from time to time determine.
 

The Supreme Court of Guam is responsible for the admission, discipline and regulation of the Guam Bar membership. The Board of Governors of the Guam Bar Association, which consists of the President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer and two members at large, oversees the operations and administration of the Bar.  Effective August 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of Guam established the Comprehensive Lawyer Regulatory System, which established the Commission on Lawyer Regulation, the Investigative Committee, the Hearing Panel, and the Regulation Counsel, replacing what was previously referred to as the Guam Bar Ethics Committee and Ethics Prosecutor.  The purpose of the Comprehensive Lawyer Regulatory System is in furtherance of the Court’s duty and responsibility to ensure proper administration of lawyer discipline and disability matters.
 

Many members of the Guam Bar are also members of various state bar associations from across the United States, and the vast majority of our members have graduated from ABA accredited law schools. Active members pay annual dues of $450.00, while inactive members pay dues of $125.00.
 

All members of the Guam Bar are admitted through a bar examination process, which generally includes the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), essays and character examination. Recently, the Guam Supreme Court has implemented an attorneys examine for experienced attorneys. Also, under recent changes by the Guam Supreme Court, persons admitted to practice in other jurisdictions may qualify under Guam’s new ADR and multi jurisdictional limited practice rules. See, Guam Supreme Court Promulgation Orders 04-01 and 04-02 (http://www.guamsupremecourt.com) for more information. For specific admissions requirements, you should contact the Supreme Court of Guam, Board of Law Examiners (http://www.justice.gov.gu/supreme/BOLE.htm).