Rule 1, Section 9 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar governs admission to the Ohio Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Ohio is called Admission Without Examination. Attorneys must have passed a bar exam and must have been engaged in the practice of law for five of the past ten years immediately preceding the application for admission.
Reciprocity
The Admission Without Examination process in Ohio 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 Ohio |
Additional Requirements
Ohio’s additional reciprocity requirements include:
Intent to Practice Law in Ohio. Attorneys must intend to practice law in Ohio actively and on a continuing basis and must be citizens or resident aliens of the United States.
Undergraduate Degree. An undergraduate degree earned prior to law school, subsequent to admission to law school if approved by the Court, or a joint bachelor’s/law degree program requiring at least seven years of full-time study and approved by the Court.
Law Degree. A law degree from an ABA approved law school at the time the attorney earned the degree.
Character and Fitness. Attorneys must meet the applicable character and fitness standards. The character and fitness investigation is conducted by the NCBE.
Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys cannot have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Attorneys practicing law in Ohio under a rule that requires registration must have completed the registration process. Attorneys must also have passed a prior bar exam and cannot have failed the Ohio bar exam.
Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been engaged in the full-time practice of law for five of the past ten years immediately preceding the application for admission. The practice must have taken place after admission to another jurisdiction. “Practice of law” includes:
- Private Practice (sole practitioner, law firm, legal services office, legal clinic, or similar entity) (provided such practice was performed in a jurisdiction where admitted or allowed such practice)
- Judges, Magistrates, or Similar Referees (local, state, or federal) (employment must only be open to licensed attorneys)
- Government Attorneys (local, state, or federal) (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting legal documents and pleadings, interpreting and giving advice regarding the law, or preparing, trying, or presenting cases before courts, tribunals, executive departments, or administrative agencies)
- Judicial Clerks (included)
- Military Attorneys (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting legal documents and pleadings, interpreting and giving advice regarding the law, or preparing, trying, or presenting cases before courts, tribunals, executive departments, or administrative agencies)
- Law Professors teaching full-time at ABA approved law schools
- Corporate Counsel, Partnership, Trust, Individual, Other Entity (provided such practice was performed in a jurisdiction where admitted or allowed such practice) (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting legal documents and pleadings, interpreting and giving advice regarding the law, or preparing, trying, or presenting cases before courts, tribunals, executive departments, or administrative agencies)
- Not specifically enumerated but included: Judicial Clerks
MPRE. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is not required.
Ohio Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure
Attorneys eligible for Admission on Motion in Ohio must complete the Application.
Applications may be accepted at any time. The application will not be considered until the attorney’s character and fitness is approved, which usually takes several months.
If the application is approved, the Court will mail the attorney a date and time for presentation before the Court. The Ohio attorney who signed the Certificate of Presentation with the attorney’s application must be present. Presentation generally occurs within two months of the Court’s approval of an application.