North Dakota Bar Reciprocity

NORTH DAKOTA ADMISSION VIA UNIFORM BAR EXAM or MBE SCORE

Rule 7(B)of the North Dakota Admission to Practice Rules allows admission for attorneys admitted in another jurisdiction based solely on the attorney’s scaled score of 260 or greater on a Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) or a scaled score of 150 or greater on the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE”). Either score must be achieved within the past two years. The MBE score must have been taken at the same time, and as part of, an essay or other written bar exam administered by a jurisdiction that does not use the UBE, and the attorney must have been admitted to that jurisdiction. Attorneys must also have achieved a score of 85 on the NCBE Character and Fitness Report. The application must be received within two years of the date the bar examination in the jurisdiction of admission.

NORTH DAKOTA ADMISSION ON MOTION

Rule 7(A)of the North Dakota Admission to Practice Rules governs admission to the North Dakota Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in North Dakota is called Admission by Motion. Attorneys may be eligible for admission based on five years of membership in another state or the District of Columbia and if they have actively engaged in the practice of law for four of the past five years.

Reciprocal Jurisdictions

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

Attorneys from these states may be Admitted on Motion in North Dakota

Additional Requirements

North Dakota’s additional 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. The character and fitness report is conducted by the NCBE.

Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys cannot have prior or pending proceedings for disbarment or suspension.

Practice of Law. Attorneys may be eligible for admission based on five years of membership in another state or the District of Columbia and if they have actively engaged in the practice of law for four of the past five years. “Practice of law” includes a catchall definition for the performance of full-time legal work in a legal capacity. The practice of law includes:

Private Practice

Judges or Courts of Record

Government Attorneys (not enumerated but included in the catchall definition)

Judicial Clerks (not enumerated but included in the catchall definition)

Military Attorneys (not enumerated but included in the catchall definition)

Corporate Counsel (not enumerated but included in the catchall definition)

Law Professors teaching at ABA approved law schools

Not specifically enumerated (but included in the catchall definition): Government Attorneys, Military Attorneys, Judicial Law Clerks, and Corporate Counsel

MPRE. Attorneys must achieve a scaled score of 85 or greater on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam within five years of the application for admission.