Rule III (A)(4) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Alabama Bar allow professors teaching in Alabama law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association or the American Association of Law Schools to become eligible for admission without taking the bar exam. Attorneys must be full-time professors for a period of three consecutive calendar years prior to the application.
Law professors must:
- Have been admitted to practice law in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia
- Reciprocity. Establish that the state, territory, or the District of Columbia where the applicant had his or her place of business to practice law, or where the applicant was domiciled and admitted, would allow attorneys from Alabama a similar accommodation.
- Intent To Practice Law in Alabama. Attorneys must be permanent residents of Alabama or must certify the intent to conduct the primary practice of law in Alabama and to maintain an office for the practice of law in Alabama. Primary practice of law means at least 75% of the time devoted to the practice of law will be conducted in Alabama.
- Law Degree A first professional degree in law (J.D. or L.L.B.) from an ABA approved law school at the time the degree was conferred.
- Character and Fitness Attorneys must meet the applicable character and fitness standards. The National Conference of Bar Examiners conducts the character and fitness report.
- Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam Attorneys must be currently in good standing in all jurisdictions where admitted. Attorneys cannot be subject to discipline or a pending disciplinary matter and cannot have previously failed the Alabama bar exam within ten years prior to the application.
- MPRE The attorney must achieve a score of 75 or better on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE” ).
- Pay the appropriate fees.