Missouri Bar Reciprocity

Rule 8.10 of the Rules Governing Admission to Bar in Missouri governs admission to the Missouri Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Missouri is called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must be able to demonstrate they have been actively engaged in the full-time practice of law primarily from an office physically located in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia for five of the past ten years immediately preceding the application for admission.

Reciprocity

The Admission on Motion procedure in Missouri is based on bar reciprocity. Attorneys must hold an active license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction that permits mutuality of admission without exam to Missouri attorneys.

Reciprocal Jurisdictions

Missouri’s Bar Reciprocity List includes those jurisdictions with which Missouri believes to have mutuality of admission. It is the attorney’s responsibility to verify that their jurisdiction has mutuality with Missouri. The map above identifies the jurisdictions with which Missouri has bar reciprocity.

Additional Requirements

Missouri’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.

Good Standing and Prior Failed Bar Exam. Attorneys cannot have failed the Missouri bar exam within 10 years of he application for admission.

Practice of Law. Attorneys must be able to demonstrate they have been actively engaged in the full-time practice of law primarily from an office physically located in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia for five of the past ten years immediately preceding the application for admission.

According to the Missouri Rules, the “practice of law is a term of art.” Practice of law means more than working with legally related matters and does not include time spent while practicing in Missouri under a temporary law license. The attorney bears the burden of proof that his/her practice qualifies as permitted practice for the duration requirement. “Practice of law” includes:

• Judges (included)

• Government Attorneys

• Judicial Law Clerks (included)

• Military Attorneys (armed forces)

• Law Professors teaching full-time at ABA approved law schools

• Corporate Counsel (primarily practicing from an office outside of Missouri) (practice as corporate counsel inside Missouri pursuant to a limited license does not qualify) (corporate counsel means a lawyer employed exclusively by a corporation or subsidiaries or affiliates, an association, a business, or government entity and the employer’s business consists of activities other than the practice of law or the provision of legal services)

• Not specifically enumerated (but included): Judges, Judicial Clerks

MPRE. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is not required.

CLE Requirement. Attorneys must complete the Missouri Bar “Annual Update” CLE program or an accredited CLE program that has substantially equivalent intellectual and practical content. Attendance cannot be one year prior to the application for admission and cannot be later than 90 days after written approval of eligibility for admission without examination.

Missouri Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure

Attorneys eligible for Admission on Motion in Missouri must complete the online Application and submit supporting documents by mail. Applications may be filed at any time. Attorneys must take the oath of admission within 90 days of the letter of licensure.