Arizona Bar Reciprocity

Arizona Supreme Court Rule 34(f) govern admission to the Arizona Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Arizona is called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must have been admitted via bar exam and either (i) have been admitted by bar exam in another jurisdiction allowing similar admission of Arizona attorneys (UBE Score); or (ii) have been primarily engaged in the active practice of law in one or more states, territories, or the District of Columbia for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application for admission.

Reciprocity

The Admission on Motion procedure in Arizona is based on bar reciprocity. Attorneys must be admitted in another jurisdiction allowing for admission of licensed Arizona attorneys on a basis equivalent to the Arizona Rules. Reciprocal status is determined upon the date of receipt of the application.

	Attorneys from these states may be Admitted on Motion in Arizona
	Attorneys from these states cannot be Admitted on Motion in Arizona

Reciprocal Jurisdictions

Arizona’s Bar Reciprocity List is subject to change and modification at any time. The reciprocity list contains reciprocal and non-reciprocal jurisdiction. The map above identifies the jurisdictions with which Arizona has bar reciprocity.

Additional Requirements

Arizona’s additional reciprocity requirements include:

Law Degree. A law degree from an ABA approved law school at the time of graduation.

Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys must be members in good standing in all jurisdictions where admitted and cannot be subject to discipline or a pending disciplinary matter. Attorneys must have passed a bar exam where admitted and cannot have been previously admitted in Arizona. Attorneys also cannot have failed the Arizona bar exam within five years of the application for admission.

Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been admitted through a bar exam and primarily engaged in the active practice of law in one or more states, territories, or the District of Columbia for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application for admission. “Active practice of law” includes practices performed where admitted or performed in a jurisdiction that allows such practice by a non-admitted attorney. Attorneys must have held an active law license, spent at least 1,000 hours per year engaged in the practice of law, and derived at least 50% of non-investment income from the practice of law. Practice includes:

Private Practice (representation of one or more clients in the practice of law)
Judges (local, state, territory, or federal courts of record)
Government Attorneys (local, state, and federal)
Judicial Clerks*
Military Attorneys
Law Professors teaching at ABA approved law schools
Corporate Counsel†
Not specifically enumerated: No Major Categories
Does not include: The unauthorized practice of law in a jurisdiction where it was performed or in the jurisdiction where the client was located.

*Practice as a Judicial Clerk or Corporate Counsel performed in advance of bar admission to the jurisdiction does not qualify towards the duration requirement.

†Attorneys employed as Corporate Counsel in Arizona with no other supporting active practice cannot use that practice to meet the duration requirement while not licensed or registered in Arizona.

MPRE. Attorneys must achieve a score of 85 or greater on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”).

Mandatory Arizona Law Course. Attorneys must complete a Mandatory Course on Arizona law.