Rule 50 - Power of Board of Bar Examiners to Examine Applicants1. The court hereby confers upon the board of bar examiners the power to examine applicants pursuant to Rule 49. 2. The board of bar examiners shall conduct written examinations of applicants, and may also, in its discretion, conduct oral examinations of applicants on any relevant matters except the bar examination subjects listed in Rule 66. 3. As soon as practicable, all members of the board of bar examiners shall enroll and participate in at least one grading seminar or workshop conducted by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The provisions of this rule shall not preclude the board of bar examiners from employing qualified graders. 4. The board of bar examiners shall investigate, adequately and thoroughly, each applicant's moral character and fitness for membership in the bar and carefully pursue any adverse information relating to the moral character and fitness of an applicant. In fulfilling this function, the board of bar examiners may utilize the services of a professional investigator, preferably with training and experience in bar admissions. 5. In conducting its investigations concerning the character qualifications of applicants, the board of bar examiners may conduct hearings as provided by Rule 57 or may request any disciplinary board or panel thereof of the state bar to investigate the character of any applicant and to make a report and recommendation to the board of bar examiners concerning the applicant. The report and recommendations of the local administrative committee shall not be binding upon the board, and shall in no way prevent the board from making its own investigation, but the board may base its recommendation concerning the admission of the applicant either in whole or in part upon materials and testimony collected and heard by the committee and upon the report and recommendation of the committee. The board of bar examiners shall, within 30 days of the conclusion of any hearing concerning the character qualifications of an applicant, notify the applicant of the results of the hearing. The board of bar examiners shall file a report with the clerk of the supreme court describing the nature and purpose of the hearing, and the results thereof in accordance with Rule 69(2).
6. The board of bar examiners shall have the power to investigate applicants through the National Conference of Bar Examiners, or any other investigative agency, to receive reports confidential or otherwise on the background of an applicant, and to incur necessary expenses in connection with the same. Any reports obtained pursuant to such investigations may be classified confidential and shall not be available for inspection by the applicant unless the supreme court or the board of bar examiners otherwise orders. As amended; effective 4/27/2000.