After the Bar

Career Resources

What Is Bar Reciprocity, and How Does It Work?

0-3 Years Career Advancement Career Resources New Graduates Reciprocity

If you’ve passed the bar exam in one jurisdiction but are looking to practice law in another, you may not have to retake the bar exam in your new jurisdiction. Many states offer what is known as bar reciprocity. If you’ve already passed the bar exam and have practiced law for a specified time, you might be eligible to be admitted on motion (also known as “waiving”) into your new jurisdiction. Being admitted on motion means that instead of retaking the bar exam, you’ll simply have to submit your application for admission to the jurisdiction’s bar, which may include proving you have good moral character, retaking the MPRE, or other requirements. And if your application is accepted, you’ll be able to practice in your new state.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides a comprehensive guide to bar admissions—which it updates annually—but below, we’ve provided a summary of how each United States jurisdiction handles reciprocity. It’s important to keep in mind that jurisdictions might update their reciprocity rules. Be sure to check with your new state’s bar about their specific reciprocity rules before making any decisions.

If you do find yourself having to retake the bar exam in your new state, you may feel confident preparing on your own, having already succeeded on one exam. But keep in mind that there are now many affordable, quality bar review options on the market, like Quimbee! ABA Law Student Members can save up to $100 on Quimbee Bar Review or Quimbee Bar Review+—comprehensive bar review programs featuring real, licensed questions, attorney-graded essays, and short, illustrated video lessons.

Alabama

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous six
Admission on motion fee: $875

Alaska

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,500

Arizona

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $1,800

Arkansas

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $1,500

California

Provides for admission on motion: No, though attorneys with an active license who have practiced for at least four years may take the one-day Attorneys’ Examination in lieu of the full-length bar exam.

Colorado

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $1,800

Connecticut

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous 10
Admission on motion fee: $1,800

Delaware

Provides for admission on motion: No

District of Columbia

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: none
Admission on motion fee: $418

Florida

Provides for admission on motion: No

Georgia

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $600

Hawaii

Provides for admission on motion: No

Idaho

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of the previous five
Admission on motion fee: $1,000

Illinois

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of the previous five
Admission on motion fee: $1,250

Indiana

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $875

Iowa

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $900

Kansas

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,250

Kentucky

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,500

Louisiana

Provides for admission on motion: No

Maine

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $900

Maryland

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five, or 10 total
Admission on motion fee: $700

Massachusetts

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,015

Michigan

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $800

Minnesota

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $1,150

Mississippi

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five
Admission on motion fee: $1,500

Missouri

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous 10
Admission on motion fee: $1,240

Montana

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $2,500

Nebraska

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $925

Nevada

Provides for admission on motion: No

New Hampshire

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven or the past three
Admission on motion fee: $1,225

New Jersey

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,500

New Mexico

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $2,500

New York

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $400

North Carolina

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: four of previous six
Admission on motion fee: $2,000

North Dakota

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: four of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $400

Ohio

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous 10
Admission on motion fee: $1,500

Oklahoma

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $2,000

Oregon

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,175

Pennsylvania

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,325

Rhode Island

Provides for admission on motion: No

South Carolina

Provides for admission on motion: No

South Dakota

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $650

Tennessee

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $1,100

Texas

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $890

Utah

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $850

Vermont

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous ten, or past three
Admission on motion fee: $800

Virginia

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $2,500

Washington

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $620

West Virginia

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $2,000

Wisconsin

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: three of previous five
Admission on motion fee: $850

Wyoming

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $600

Guam

Provides for admission on motion: No

Northern Mariana Islands

Provides for admission on motion: No

Puerto Rico

Provides for admission on motion: No

US Virgin Islands

Provides for admission on motion: Yes
Required number of years practicing to be admitted on motion: five of previous seven
Admission on motion fee: $2,500

Start your free 7-day trial of Quimbee Study Aids today to gain access to Acing Your Law Exam and more online courses in 1L and upper-level subjects.

Did you know that ABA Law Students can also save up to $100 on Quimbee Bar Review and Quimbee Bar Review+? Check out the top-rated bar review courses that examinees are trusting to help them pass the bar exam.

Author

Eric Cervone

...

View Bio →