Navigating the world of law licensure can be daunting for attorneys seeking to practice in various jurisdictions. Understanding bar reciprocity rules, which differ significantly from state to state, is critical in this process. This guide, brought to you by BCG Attorney Search, aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on bar reciprocity rules for each state. This resource will assist attorneys in determining which states will recognize their existing bar admissions, potentially bypassing the need for additional bar examinations.
Alabama
Alabama, known for its stringent rules regarding bar admission, is one of the states that does not officially offer bar reciprocity. As of 2023, attorneys seeking to practice in Alabama are generally required to sit for the Alabama State Bar Exam, regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions. However, Alabama does offer an option for admission on motion, which could provide a path to bar admission for out-of-state attorneys who have been practicing for at least five years. The criteria for this option are strict, and the admission process can be time-consuming, so careful planning is advised.Alaska
Alaska, on the other hand, is a state that offers bar reciprocity to attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. This means that attorneys actively engaged in law practice for five out of the last seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction may be eligible for admission to the Alaska Bar Association without taking the state’s bar exam. However, applicants must also have a JD from an ABA-approved law school and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) with a score of 80 or higher. It’s important to note that Alaska’s reciprocity is not automatic and requires an application process.Arizona
Arizona offers a somewhat limited form of reciprocity, an admission on motion. Lawyers who have actively practiced law for five of the past seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction may qualify for admission without examination to the State Bar of Arizona. However, unlike many states, Arizona requires reciprocal jurisdiction to have been the lawyer’s primary place of practice. Additionally, applicants must pass the MPRE, proving their knowledge of professional conduct rules.Arkansas
Arkansas offers bar reciprocity under the condition of ‘Admission on Motion.’ Lawyers licensed in reciprocal jurisdictions, who have been in active practice for five of the last seven years, can apply without taking the Arkansas Bar Exam. Applicants must have graduated from an ABA-approved law school and should pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. The Arkansas Judiciary outlines specific rules and procedures for applying under Admission on Motion, which include submitting a range of documents, such as a certificate of good standing and law school transcripts.California
California does not offer traditional bar reciprocity. However, attorneys from other jurisdictions may be eligible for the Attorney’s Exam, a shorter version of the California Bar Exam, which excludes certain sections. The Attorney’s Exam is open to attorneys who have been active and in good standing for at least four years in another US jurisdiction. All applicants must pass the MPRE regardless of reciprocity, and foreign-educated attorneys may face additional requirements.Colorado
Colorado offers bar reciprocity through ‘Admission on Motion’ to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions. To be eligible, attorneys must have been actively practicing law for five of the past seven years and must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school. As is the case with most states, applicants must also pass the MPRE. The Colorado Supreme Court provides a comprehensive list of reciprocal jurisdictions and detailed application procedures.Connecticut
Connecticut offers limited bar reciprocity. An attorney licensed in a reciprocal jurisdiction who has been engaged in the active practice of law for at least five of the last seven years may apply for ‘Admission on Motion’ without taking the Connecticut Bar Exam. It’s important to note that Connecticut considers only full-time, salaried government or judicial clerkship experience as ‘active practice.’ The MPRE is also a requirement with a passing score of 80 or more.Delaware
Delaware does not offer bar reciprocity. All applicants, regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, are required to sit for the Delaware Bar Exam. Attorneys should be aware that Delaware has a unique requirement that applicants complete five months of clerkship in the state under the supervision of a Delaware attorney.Remember, rules and regulations may change, and it’s crucial to check with each state’s bar association for the most up-to-date information. This comprehensive guide is intended to assist you on your path to practicing law in different jurisdictions, and we at BCG Attorney Search are here to help.
Florida
Florida does not offer bar reciprocity. Regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, attorneys must pass the Florida Bar Exam. In addition, all applicants are required to pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more and must meet character and fitness requirements set by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.Georgia
Georgia does not offer traditional bar reciprocity, but it does provide ‘Admission on Motion’ for lawyers who have been active and in good standing for at least five of the last seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction. Attorneys applying for this option must provide a range of documentation, including a certificate of good standing and law school transcripts, and must meet character and fitness requirements. Regardless of their licensure status, all applicants must pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. Detailed information can be found on the State Bar of Georgia’s website.Hawaii
Hawaii allows for ‘Admission on Motion’ if the attorney is licensed in a reciprocal jurisdiction, has been practicing for at least five of the last six years, and has graduated from an ABA-approved law school. The applicant must also pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. The Hawaii State Judiciary provides more information on the application process.Idaho
In Idaho, attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions can apply for ‘Admission on Motion’ if they have been actively practicing law for at least three of the last five years. Applicants must also have passed the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. Specific rules and procedures can be found on the Idaho State Bar’s website.Illinois
Illinois provides ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants are also required to pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar provides a comprehensive list of reciprocal jurisdictions and detailed application procedures.Remember, rules and regulations may change, and it’s crucial to check with each state’s bar association for the most up-to-date information. We at BCG Attorney Search are committed to providing the most comprehensive and accurate information to assist you on your path to practicing law in different jurisdictions.
Indiana
Indiana offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants are also required to pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. Detailed application procedures and a list of reciprocal jurisdictions can be found on the Indiana State Bar Association’s website.Iowa
Iowa allows for ‘Admission on Motion’ if the attorney is licensed in a reciprocal jurisdiction and has been in active practice for five of the last seven years. They must also pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. The Iowa State Bar Association provides more information on the application process.Kansas
In Kansas, attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions can apply for ‘Admission on Motion’ if they have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants must also have passed the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. Specific rules and procedures can be found on the Kansas Judicial Branch’s website.Kentucky
Kentucky offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants are also required to pass the MPRE with a score of 75 or more. The Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions provides a comprehensive list of reciprocal jurisdictions and detailed application procedures.Louisiana
Louisiana does not offer bar reciprocity. Regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, attorneys must pass the Louisiana Bar Exam. All applicants are required to pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more and must meet character and fitness requirements set by the Louisiana Committee on Bar Admissions. More information can be found on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s website.Always check with each state’s bar association for the most current information. We at BCG Attorney Search provide the most comprehensive and accurate information to assist you on your path to practicing law in various jurisdictions.
Maine
Maine offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for three of the past five years. Applicants are also required to pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. More information, including application procedures and a list of reciprocal jurisdictions, can be found on the Maine Board of Bar Examiners’ website.Maryland
Maryland allows for ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys who are members of the bar in a reciprocal jurisdiction and have been actively practicing law for five of the last ten years. Applicants must also pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. The Maryland State Bar Association provides more information on the application process.Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions can apply for ‘Admission on Motion’ if they have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants must also have passed the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. Specific rules and procedures can be found on the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners’ website.Michigan
Michigan offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants are also required to pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. The State Bar of Michigan provides a comprehensive list of reciprocal jurisdictions and detailed application procedures.Minnesota
Minnesota does not offer bar reciprocity. Regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, attorneys must pass the Minnesota State Bar Exam. All applicants are required to pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more and must meet character and fitness requirements set by the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners. More information can be found on the Minnesota State Bar Association’s website.As always, checking with each state’s bar association for the most current information is crucial. We at BCG Attorney Search are committed to providing the most comprehensive and accurate information to assist you on your path to practicing law in various jurisdictions.
Mississippi
Mississippi allows ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys licensed in reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five of the past seven years. Additionally, applicants must have achieved a score of 75 or more on the MPRE. You can visit the Mississippi Bar Association’s website for details and the application process.Missouri
Missouri provides ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys who are members of a reciprocal jurisdiction’s bar and have actively practiced law for five of the previous ten years. Applicants also need to pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. More information is available on the Missouri Bar’s website.Montana
Montana offers admission by motion to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for five of the previous seven years. The MPRE score required for application is 80. You can find more details on the State Bar of Montana’s website.Nebraska
Nebraska provides ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys who are members of the bar in a reciprocal jurisdiction and have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. Applicants must pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. Please refer to the Nebraska State Bar Association’s website for more information.Nevada
Nevada does not offer bar reciprocity. Attorneys must pass the Nevada Bar Exam to practice law in the state, regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions. All applicants are required to pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or more. Further details are available on the State Bar of Nevada’s website.Please note that verifying the latest information from each state’s bar association is vital. At BCG Attorney Search, we strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to support your legal career across different jurisdictions.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for lawyers from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five out of the previous seven years. Applicants must also have achieved a score of 79 or higher on the MPRE. More information can be found on the New Hampshire Bar Association’s website.New Jersey
New Jersey does not offer bar reciprocity. Regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, lawyers must pass the New Jersey Bar Exam to practice law in the state. All applicants are also required to pass the MPRE with a score of 75 or higher. Please visit the New Jersey State Bar Association’s website for more details.New Mexico
New Mexico allows ‘Admission on Motion’ for lawyers from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for five of the last seven years. The MPRE score required for application is 80. More information is available on the State Bar of New Mexico’s website.New York
New York does not offer bar reciprocity. Lawyers must pass the New York Bar Exam to practice law in the state, regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions. All applicants are required to pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or higher. Further details are available on the New York State Bar Association’s website.North Carolina
North Carolina provides ‘Admission on Motion’ for lawyers who are members of the bar in a reciprocal jurisdiction and have been actively practicing law for four of the last six years. Applicants must pass the MPRE with a score of 80 or more. Please refer to the North Carolina State Bar’s website for more information.At BCG Attorney Search, we strive to provide the most current and comprehensive information to support attorneys in their practice across different states.
North Dakota
North Dakota permits’ Admission on Motion’ for lawyers actively practicing law for five of the previous seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction. They also require a score of 85 or higher on the MPRE. For more information, visit the State Bar Association of North Dakota’s website.Ohio
Ohio permits ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys actively practicing law for five out of the previous ten years in another jurisdiction. The requisite MPRE score is 85. Further details can be found on the Ohio State Bar Association’s website.Oklahoma
Oklahoma does not offer bar reciprocity. Regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, attorneys must pass the Oklahoma Bar Exam to practice law in the state. All applicants are also required to pass the MPRE. Visit the Oklahoma Bar Association’s website for more information.Oregon
Oregon offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for at least five of the last seven years. The required MPRE score is 85. More information can be found on the Oregon State Bar’s website.Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania permits ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys actively practicing law for five out of the previous seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction. They also require a score of 75 or higher on the MPRE. Visit the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s website for more details.At BCG Attorney Search, we continue to deliver updated and pertinent information to attorneys in their journey of practicing law across multiple states.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for at least five of the last ten years. Applicants also need a score of 80 or higher on the MPRE. Visit the Rhode Island Bar Association’s website for more information.South Carolina
South Carolina does not offer bar reciprocity. Regardless of their licensure status in other jurisdictions, attorneys must pass the South Carolina Bar Exam to practice law in the state. All applicants are also required to pass the MPRE. More details can be found on the South Carolina Bar’s website.South Dakota
South Dakota permits’ Admission on Motion’ for attorneys actively practicing law for five out of the previous seven years in another jurisdiction. The requisite MPRE score is 85. Visit the State Bar of South Dakota’s website for more information.Tennessee
Tennessee allows ‘Admission on Motion’ for lawyers actively practicing law for five of the previous seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction. They also require a score of 82 or higher on the MPRE. More information can be found on the Tennessee Bar Association’s website.Texas
Texas offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for at least five of the last seven years. Applicants also need a score of 85 or higher on the MPRE. For more details, visit the State Bar of Texas website.Our team at BCG Attorney Search is committed to providing accurate and timely information to help lawyers navigate the complex landscape of bar reciprocity across the United States.
Utah
Utah allows attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions to apply for ‘Admission on Motion’ if they have actively practiced law for at least three of the past five years. The required MPRE score is 86. For more information, visit the Utah State Bar’s website.Vermont
Vermont offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have been actively practicing law for five of the last seven years. The MPRE score required is 80. Visit the Vermont Bar Association’s website for further details.Virginia
Virginia permits ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys actively practicing law for at least three of the past five years in a reciprocal jurisdiction. Applicants must also achieve a score of 85 or higher on the MPRE. For more information, visit the Virginia State Bar’s website.Washington
Washington offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for at least three of the last five years. The required MPRE score is 85. For more details, visit the Washington State Bar Association’s website.West Virginia
West Virginia permits ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys who have actively practiced law for at least five of the last ten years in a reciprocal jurisdiction. The MPRE score required is 80. Visit the West Virginia State Bar’s website for further information.Wisconsin
Wisconsin allows attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions to apply for ‘Admission on Motion’ if they have actively practiced law for at least five of the last ten years. The required MPRE score is 80. For more information, visit the State Bar of Wisconsin’s website.Wyoming
Wyoming offers ‘Admission on Motion’ for attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions who have actively practiced law for at least five of the last seven years. The MPRE score required is 80. Visit the Wyoming State Bar’s website for further details.We hope this comprehensive guide on bar reciprocity by the state has provided valuable information for attorneys seeking to practice law in different jurisdictions. For personalized guidance and assistance with your legal career, you can rely on the expertise of BCG Attorney Search.
State Bar Associations
Access the official websites of each state’s bar association to find detailed information about bar admission, reciprocity requirements, and relevant resources.- Alabama: Alabama State Bar
- Alaska: Alaska Bar Association
- Arizona: State Bar of Arizona
- Arkansas: Arkansas Bar Association
- California: State Bar of California
- Colorado: Colorado Bar Association
- Connecticut: Connecticut Bar Association
- Delaware: Delaware State Bar Association
- District of Columbia: District of Columbia Bar
- Florida: The Florida Bar
- Georgia: State Bar of Georgia
- Hawaii: Hawaii State Bar Association
- Idaho: Idaho State Bar
- Illinois: Illinois State Bar Association
- Indiana: Indiana State Bar Association
- Iowa: Iowa State Bar Association
- Kansas: Kansas Bar Association
- Kentucky: Kentucky Bar Association
- Louisiana: Louisiana State Bar Association
- Maine: Maine State Bar Association
- Maryland: Maryland State Bar Association
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Bar Association
- Michigan: State Bar of Michigan
- Minnesota: Minnesota State Bar Association
- Mississippi: The Mississippi Bar
- Missouri: The Missouri Bar
- Montana: State Bar of Montana
- Nebraska: Nebraska State Bar Association
- Nevada: State Bar of Nevada
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire Bar Association
- New Jersey: New Jersey State Bar Association
- New Mexico: State Bar of New Mexico
- New York: New York State Bar Association
- North Carolina: North Carolina State Bar
- North Dakota: State Bar Association of North Dakota
- Ohio: Ohio State Bar Association
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma Bar Association
- Oregon: Oregon State Bar
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Bar Association
- South Carolina: South Carolina Bar
- South Dakota: State Bar of South Dakota
- Tennessee: Tennessee Bar Association
- Texas: State Bar of Texas
- Utah: Utah State Bar
- Vermont: Vermont Bar Association
- Virginia: Virginia State Bar
- Washington: Washington State Bar Association
- West Virginia: West Virginia State Bar
- Wisconsin: State Bar of Wisconsin
- Wyoming: Wyoming State Bar
