Rules 2 and 5 of the Alaska Bar Rules govern admission to the Alaska Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Alaska is called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must have passed a written bar exam required by another reciprocal state, territory, or the District of Columbia. Attorneys must have been engaged in the practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application date.
Reciprocity
The Admission on Motion procedure in Alaska is based on bar reciprocity. A “reciprocal state, territory, or district” offers admission without examination to Alaska attorneys, upon compliance with the reciprocal jurisdictions rules, provided the conditions are not more demanding than Alaska’s rules.
| Attorneys from these states may be Admitted on Motion in Alaska | |
| Attorneys from Wisconsin must have passed a bar exam | |
| Attorneys from these states cannot be Admitted on Motion in Alaska |
Reciprocal Jurisdictions
Alaska’s Bar Reciprocity List contains jurisdictions that allow admission without examination. Alaska warns attorneys that admissions rules in every jurisdiction are subject to change. Alaska attorneys are instructed to contact the specific jurisdiction to determine admission criteria. The map above identifies the states with which Alaska has bar reciprocity and those jurisdictions that are considered non-reciprocal.
Additional Requirements
Alaska’s additional reciprocity requirements include:
Law Degree. A law degree (J.D. or L.L.B.) from an ABA approved law school at the time of entry or graduation.
Character and Fitness. Attorneys must meet the applicable character and fitness standards.
Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys cannot have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Alaska. Attorneys must have passed a written bar exam required by a reciprocal jurisdiction. Attorneys cannot have failed the Alaska Bar Exam, unless the failed exam occurred before the required five-year practice period.
Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been admitted by another reciprocal state, territory, or the District of Columbia and must have been engaged in the practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application date. “Active practice of law” includes:
- Private Practice (representation of one or more clients on a fee basis)
- Judges (court in the US, state, territory, or District of Columbia)
- Government Attorneys (provided graduation from an ABA or AAlS accredited law school is a required qualification for such employment)
- Judicial Clerks (provided graduation from an ABA or AAlS accredited law school is a required qualification for such employment)
- Law Professors teaching at accredited schools in a United States jurisdiction
- Legal Services Organization and Non-Profit Attorneys (performing legal services of a nature requiring a law license to practice law in the jurisdiction(s) where the work is performed)
- Corporate Counsel, Non-Governmental Entity, or Person (performing legal services of a nature requiring a law license to practice law in the jurisdiction(s) where the work is performed)
- Not specifically enumerated: Military Attorneys
MPRE. Attorneys must have achieve a scaled score of 80 or greater on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”).
Mandatory Course for the Newly Admitted.
Alaska Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure
Reciprocity applications may be accepted at anytime. The character and investigation process takes approximately three to four months.