Arizona Bar Reciprocity

Arizona Supreme Court Rule 34(e) governs 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 by bar examination and primarily engaged in the active practice of law for three of the five years immediately preceding the application filing date, subject to the reciprocal-jurisdiction rules below.

Reciprocity

Admission on Motion in Arizona is based on reciprocity. Under Rule 34(e)(1)(A):

• If the attorney was admitted by bar exam in a reciprocal jurisdiction, active practice may occur in one or more states, territories, or the District of Columbia for three of the five years; or
• If the attorney was admitted by bar exam in a non-reciprocal jurisdiction, the attorney must thereafter have been admitted to and primarily engaged in the active practice of law in a reciprocal jurisdiction for three of the five years.

The Court publishes the reciprocal list; status is determined when the application is filed.

Reciprocal Jurisdictions

See Arizona’s list of reciprocal and non-reciprocal jurisdictions (updated January 1, 2026). The map above matches that published list. Always confirm the current list with Attorney Admissions before applying.

Additional Requirements

Arizona’s Admission on Motion requirements under Rule 34(e) include:

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

Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys must currently be members in good standing or resigned in good standing concerning discipline, dues, and mandatory CLE in all jurisdictions where admitted, and cannot be subject to lawyer discipline or a pending disciplinary matter. Attorneys are ineligible if, within three years of filing, they failed the Arizona Bar Exam or passed another jurisdiction’s accepted bar examination but failed to achieve Arizona’s minimum passing score.

Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been primarily engaged in the active practice of law for three of the five years immediately preceding the application filing date, holding an active law license throughout the durational period. “Active practice of law” under Rule 34(e)(2) includes the following if performed where the applicant is admitted or in a jurisdiction that permits the activity by a lawyer not admitted there (activities performed before bar admission do not count):

• Private practice (representation of clients)
• Judges of federal, state, territorial, or local courts of record
• Government attorneys (local, state, or federal agency, including military service)
• Judicial law clerks*
• Law professors teaching full-time at ABA approved law schools
• Corporate counsel†

*Practice as a judicial law clerk performed before bar admission does not qualify toward the duration requirement.

†Service as corporate counsel in Arizona while registered under Rule 38(a) may count toward Rule 34(e)(1)(A)(ii) if other Rule 34(e) requirements are met. Unauthorized practice of law does not qualify.

MPRE. Attorneys must achieve a score of 85 or greater on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”). For Washington, a passing score on the Washington Professional Responsibility Examination administered through February 2013 may be substituted.

Course on Arizona Law. Attorneys must complete the mandatory Course on Arizona Law (online modules).

Arizona Admission on Motion Application Procedure

Apply online through the Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions Admission on Motion portal. The application includes character investigation questions; do not submit a separate Character Report. Applicants may request an early active-practice review before the Committee begins its investigation. See the admissions site for the current checklist, fees, and deadlines.