Nebraska Bar Reciprocity

Section 3-119 of the Nebraska Rules governs admission to the Nebraska Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Nebraska is called Admission on Motion.

Nebraska provides several different categories for Admission on Motion. This section focuses on the second category.

(1) Applicants may be admitted if they have passed a Comparable non-UBA bar exam or have achieved a Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) score in another jurisdiction. Applicants must also pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”).

(2) Attorneys may be eligible for admission if they are licensed, active, and in good standing in another state, territory, or district of the United States, have met educational qualifications equal to those in Nebraska at the time of admission, and have actively and substantially been engaged in the practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application for admission.

Attorneys eligible for Admission on Motion cannot apply to take the Nebraska bar exam unless the Board approves an application upon a showing of good cause.

Reciprocal Jurisdictions

The process in Nebraska is not based on bar reciprocity with other jurisdictions. Attorneys meeting the requirements may apply for admission.

Additional Requirements

Nebraska’s addition reciprocity requirements include:

Law Degree. A law degree from an ABA approved law school.

Character and Fitness. Attorneys must meet the applicable character and fitness standards.

Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys must be currently in good standing.

Practice of Law. The duration requirement varies from recent admission to substantially engaged in the practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application for admission. “Practice of law” includes:

• Private Practice (sole practitioner, attorney employee, partner, shareholder, legal clinic, legal services office, or similar entity)

• Judges, Magistrates, Hearing Examiners, ALJs (local, state, or federal) (duties of hearing and deciding cases and controversies in judicial or administrative proceedings) (provided employment is available only to an attorney)

• Government Attorneys (executive, legislative, or judicial) (local, state, or federal) (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting documents and pleadings, and interpreting and giving advice with respect to the law) or (preparing cases for presentation to or trying before courts, executive departments, or administrative bureaus or agencies)

• Law professors teaching at ABA law schools

• Judicial Clerks (local, state, or federal) (duties of hearing and deciding cases and controversies in judicial or administrative proceedings) (provided employment is available only to an attorney)

• Corporate Counsel, Partnership, Trust, Individual, or Other Entity (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting documents and pleadings, and interpreting and giving advice with respect to the law) or (preparing cases for presentation to or trying before courts, executive departments, or administrative bureaus or agencies)

• Not specifically enumerated: Military Attorneys

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

Nebraska Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure

Attorneys eligible for Admission on Motion in Nebraska are required to complete the Application, which must be completed electronically. Reciprocity applications may be filed at any time. Attorneys must take the oath of admission within 18 months of approval for admission to the Nebraska Bar.