Section III of The Rules and Procedures Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in Wyoming governs admission to the Wyoming Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Wyoming is called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must have passed a written bar exam and actively practiced in a reciprocal jurisdiction for five of the past seven years immediately preceding the application.
Reciprocity
The Admission on Motion process in Wyoming is based on bar reciprocity. Reciprocal jurisdictions must admit Wyoming attorneys without requiring additional examination. Additional examination includes local essays, a performance test, or the Multistate Bar Exam (“MBE” ). The attorney has the burden of demonstrating that a jurisdiction meets Wyoming’s bar reciprocity requirements.
Reciprocal Jurisdictions
At this time, Wyoming does not publish its list of reciprocal jurisdictions to the public. Wyoming rejected BarReciprocity.com’s public records request. The BarReciprocity Map shows states that allow Admission on Motion. The BarReciprocty – MPRE map shows states that allow Admission on Motion but require the MPRE.
Additional Requirements
Wyoming’s additional reciprocity requirements include:
Law Degree. A law degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys must be admitted and in good standing. Attorneys cannot be currently or previously admitted to practice in Wyoming. If previously admitted, the attorney’s membership must be withdrawn or terminated while the attorney is in good standing.
Within the past two years, attorneys cannot have been denied previous admission by motion in Wyoming or have been allowed to withdraw an application due to questions raised by the Board on character and fitness. Attorneys also cannot have previously engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Wyoming or have failed a Wyoming bar exam.
Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been actively engaged in the authorized practice law for a minimum of 300 hours per year for five of the past seven years prior to filing the application. “Active, Authorized Practice of Law” includes the following primary duties and practices:
- Furnishing legal counsel
- Drafting legal documents and pleadings
- Interpreting and giving advice regarding the law and legal issues
- Preparing, trying, or presenting casework before courts, departments of government, bureaus, or administrative agencies
- Private practice (as a significant and primary occupation) representing individuals, legal services programs, trusts, partnerships, and non-government agencies.
- Judges (provided graduation from an ABA accredited law school is a prerequisite to employment)
- Law Professors teaching at ABA accredit law schools
- Government Attorneys (provided graduation from an ABA accredited law school is a prerequisite to employment)
- Not specifically listed in the statute but included: Corporate Counsel, Judicial Clerks
- Unknown: Military Attorneys
MPRE. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is required.
CLE. Wyoming requires 45 hours of CLE credit during the three years immediately preceeding the application.
Wyoming Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure
Attorneys eligible for Admission on Motion in Wyoming must complete the Admission on Motion Application and supplemental forms. Admission on Motion applications are reviewed in twice each year concurrently with the Wyoming bar exam. Applicants must meet the Wyoming bar exam deadlines. There is no rolling admission. Attorneys can expect to receive notice from the Wyoming Supreme Court approximately eight to ten weeks after the Wyoming bar exam.
If an attorney’s home jurisdiction is determined to be not reciprocal with Wyoming, the attorney may choose to sit for the Wyoming bar exam without an additional application fee.