Rule Two of the Oklahoma Rules governs admission to the Oklahoma Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Oklahoma is called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must be on active status in a reciprocal jurisdiction and must have been engaged in the actual and continuous practice of law for at least five of the past seven years immediately preceding the application for admission.
Reciprocity
The Admission on Motion procedure in Oklahoma is based on bar reciprocity. A reciprocal state grants Oklahoma judges and lawyers the right of admission on motion without the requirement of taking the bar exam. If the attorney’s home jurisdiction permits the admission of Oklahoma judges and lawyers upon motion, but the rules are more stringent and exacting and contain other limitations, restrictions, or conditions of admission and the fees required to be paid are higher, the attorney is governed by the more stringent rules and must pay the higher fees. This includes the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (“MPRE”) requirement, achieving a higher MPRE score, and achieving that score within the more stringent transfer time periods.
| Attorneys from these states may be admitted in Oklahoma | |
| Attorneys from these states may be Admitted on Motion in Oklahoma (Additional MPRE Requirement) | |
| Attorneys from Mississippi may be Admitted on Motion in Oklahoma (MS only requires the MPRE if the home state also requires the MPRE.) | |
| Attorneys from these states cannot be Admitted on Motion in Oklahoma |
Reciprocal Jurisdictions
Oklahoma’s Bar Reciprocity List is contained in its Admission on Motion Frequently Asked Questions. The map above identifies the states with which Oklahoma has bar reciprocity as well as those states that Oklahoma has identified as requiring the MPRE for Admission on Motion. Attorneys should also consult the Reciprocity-MPRE Map.
Additional Requirements
Oklahoma’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. The character and fitness report is conducted by the NCBE.
Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys must be in good standing and on active status in a reciprocal jurisdiction. Attorneys cannot have failed a prior Oklahoma bar exam unless the attorney later passed the Oklahoma bar exam.
Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been engaged in the actual and continuous practice of law for at least five of the past seven years immediately preceding the application for admission. The practice of law must have occurred outside of Oklahoma. “Practice of law” includes:
- Private practice (sole practitioner, law firm, legal services office, legal clinic, or similar entity) (provided such practice was subsequent to being admitted to the practice of law in the jurisdiction in which the practice occurred)
- Judges, Magistrates, Referees, or Similar Official (local, state, territory, district, or federal) (provided such employment is available only to attorneys)
- Government Attorneys (local state, territory, district, federal, or sovereign Indian nation) (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 the courts, executive departments, administrative bureaus, or agencies.)
- Judicial Law Clerks (not enumerated but included)
- Military Attorneys (branch of the armed services)
- Law Professors teaching at ABA approved law schools
- Corporate Counsel, Partnership, Trust, Individual, Other Entity (provided such practice was subsequent to being admitted to the practice of law in the jurisdiction in which the practice occurred) (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 the courts, executive departments, administrative bureaus, or agencies.)
- Not specifically enumerated but included: Judicial Clerks (included in government attorneys)
MPRE Based on Reciprocity. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) requirement is based on reciprocity. Attorneys from jurisdictions that require the MPRE for Oklahoma attorneys seeking Admission on Motion must also take the MPRE as a condition for admission in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure
Attorneys eligible for Admission on Motion in Oklahoma must complete the Application. Applications may be accepted at any time. The application takes approximately four months to process.