Utah Bar Reciprocity

Utah also offers admission based on a Uniform Bar Exam (“UBE”) score of 270 or greater.

Utah Admission on Motion (Without Taking the Utah Bar Exam)

Rule 14-705 of Utah Rules Governing Admission to the Bar governs admission for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Utah is called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must be admitted to another state or the District of Columbia where admission on motion (reciprocity) is authorized and must have been substantially engaged in the practice of law for at least five of the previous seven years immediately preceding the application for admission. Attorneys have the burden of proof of meeting the requirements by clear and convincing evidence and should consult Utah’s Disclaimer prior to submitting an application.

Reciprocity

The Admission on Motion procedure in Utah is based on bar reciprocity. Attorneys must establish that their jurisdiction admits Utah lawyers under terms and conditions similar to those in the Utah Rules. The attorney’s practice must be pursuant to a law license in a reciprocal jurisdiction regardless of where the practice actually occurred.

	Attorneys from these states may be Admitted on Motion in Utah
	Attorneys from these states cannot be Admitted on Motion in Utah

Reciprocal Jurisdictions

Utah’s Bar Reciprocity List is no longer available. The map above identifies the states with which Utah has bar reciprocity the last time Utah published its reciprocity list. Attorneys from New Jersey, New Mexico, and Montana should especially contact the Utah State Bar since those states may consider Utah reciprocal.

Additional Requirements

Utah’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 in all jurisdictions where admitted and cannot be subject to discipline or a pending disciplinary proceeding.

Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been substantially engaged in the full-time active and lawful practice of law for at least five of the previous seven years in a reciprocal jurisdiction immediately preceding the application for admission. “Full-time” means more than 1,000 hours of time per year. Managerial and administrative duties, CLE, client development and marketing do not qualify. “Active” means an active law license, and “lawful” means the practice does not qualify as the unauthorized practice of law. Qualifying practices include:

Private Practice (sole practitioner, partner, shareholder, associate, or of counsel in a law firm)

Judges (requiring admission to a Bar for appointment and performance)

Government Attorneys (government employee with the responsibility of principle duties of providing legal advice or service)

Judicial Law Clerks

Military Attorneys (lawyers or judges in the U.S. armed forces)

Law Professors teaching full-time at ABA approved law schools

Corporate Counsel (an employee of an organization whose principle responsibility is to provide legal services)

Not specifically enumerated: No major categories.

MPRE. Attorneys must pass the Multistate Professional Exam (“MPRE”).

Mandatory Ethics Course. Attorneys must attend the Utah Bar’s OPC ethics course. The course qualifies for six CLE credits.

CLE Requirement. Attorneys must complete 15 hours of Continuing Legal Education credits within six months of admission. In addition to the mandatory ethics course, the remaining nine CLE credits must be MCLE approved courses. Twelve of the 15 hours may be completed through self-study, on-line access courses. The CLE requirements apply towards the two-year, 24-hour requirement. The Board may approve MCLE credits obtained outside of Utah.

Designate Utah Supreme Court Clerk for Process.