Connecticut Bar Examining Committee

Information About Admission without Examination (Admission on Motion)

Qualification and Filing Considerations

Attorneys licensed in another state or territory of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia who have practiced law for a specific period of time may qualify under CT Practice Book § 2-13 for admission without taking the bar examination in Connecticut. Before submitting an application, read carefully the provisions of Practice Book § 2-13. There is no refund of the application fee, even if you do not meet the requirements for admission or withdraw your application. You must meet the requirements of § 2-13 as of the date you submit your application. Do not apply until you have the requisite period of law practice, i.e. 5 years (60 months) during the preceding ten years.

Filing Fee

The non-refundable fee for admission without examination is $1,800.00.

Requirements for Admission on Motion

• Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree from an ABA or Committee approved law school (§ 2-13(a)), or a Committee approved foreign legal education pursuant to Art. II-3 of the CBEC Regulations.
• Good moral character, fit to practice law and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which admitted (§ 2-13(a)(1)).
• Admitted to the bar in at least one jurisdiction which will admit Connecticut attorneys to its bar without examination under provisions similar to those in § 2-13 (See list of reciprocal jurisdictions below); OR is a full-time faculty member or full-time clinical fellow at an accredited Connecticut law school and admitted in a reciprocal or non-reciprocal jurisdiction.
• Duly licensed to practice law and lawfully engaged in the practice of law as principal means of livelihood for at least five of the last ten years immediately preceding filing for admission in Connecticut (§ 2-13(a)(2))*

* If you were unsuccessful on the Connecticut bar examination within the past five years, you are not eligible to apply for admission without examination at this time. See § 2-13(a)(2)(B).

List of Reciprocal Jurisdictions

The reciprocal jurisdictions (subject to change) are:

All other jurisdictions have been determined to be non-reciprocal
Reciprocity is determined as of the date the applicant files an application for admission.

Practice of Law

Per § 2-13(b), the “practice of law” shall include the following activities, if performed after the date of the applicant’s admission to the jurisdiction in which the activities were performed or if performed in a jurisdiction that permits such activity by a lawyer not admitted to practice:

• representation of one or more clients in the practice of law;
• service as a lawyer with a state, federal, or territorial agency, including military services;
• teaching law at an accredited law school, including supervision of law students within a clinical program;
• service as a judge in a state, federal, or territorial court of record;
• service as a judicial law clerk;
• service as authorized house counsel;
• service as authorized house counsel in Connecticut before July 1, 2008 or while certified pursuant to Section 2-15A; or
• any combination of the above.

See also § 2-44A. Definition of the Practice of Law.

MPRE Requirement

Applicants for admission without examination shall, prior to being recommended for admission to the bar, submit evidence of a score of at least eighty (80) on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) or a grade of either "C" or better or "Pass" in a course in professional responsibility/legal ethics at an ABA or committee approved law school. (Rule 2-13(a)(1); Art. IV CBEC Regulations).

The MPRE is developed and administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Applicants must request that NCBE report their MPRE score directly to Connecticut for scores achieved from 1999 - present. NCBE score reports submitted by applicants are not acceptable. Additional information can be found online on NCBE's MPRE page. Scores achieved prior to 1999 should be obtained from the jurisdiction in which the applicant originally applied for bar admission.

Character and Fitness

The Connecticut Bar Examining Committee begins the review of an applicant’s character and fitness immediately upon the filing of the application for admission to the bar and will conduct an extensive background check for all applicants. However, the Committee will usually conduct a hearing, if necessary, only after the applicant’s file is complete. An applicant whose file presents complex or unresolved issues of character and/or fitness will not be admitted until such issues have been resolved to the Committee's satisfaction. On occasion, disclosures in an applicant’s file will necessitate review of medical documentation. Protocol followed by the Committee in such cases. See Article VI of the CBEC Regulations for more information.

Credit Inquiry

As a part of the routine background investigation into each applicant’s character and fitness to practice law, our office will pull a credit profile from TransUnion. If there are negative items found on the credit report, the applicant will receive a letter along with the pertinent portions of the report with the relevant items highlighted. Applicants who receive such a letter are expected to address each negative item.

Proof of Citizenship or Lawful Residence

CT Practice Book § 2-13(a)(3) requires that an applicant for admission to the Connecticut bar without examination must satisfy the Committee that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully residing in the United States, which shall include an individual authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Connecticut Attorney Requirements

Individuals admitted to the Connecticut bar without examination are subject to the following:

• Minimum Continuing Legal Education. Individuals admitted to the Connecticut bar pursuant to Practice Book § 2-13 shall comply with the requirements of § 2-27A. For more information, see Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education.
• Annual Client Security Fund Fee. Individuals admitted to the Connecticut bar pursuant to Practice Book § 2-13 shall comply with the requirements of § 2-68 and § 2-70, including payment of the annual client security fund fee. For more information, see Client Security Fund Committee. 
• Annual Attorney Registration. Individuals admitted to the Connecticut bar pursuant to Practice Book § 2-13 shall register annually with the statewide grievance committee in accordance with § 2-26 and § 2-27. For more information, see Statewide Grievance Committee.
• Attorney Occupational Tax. Individuals admitted to the Connecticut bar pursuant to Practice Book § 2-13 and who engaged in the practice of law in Connecticut during the preceding calendar year are required to file the Attorney Occupational Tax Return with the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services on a yearly basis. See Connecticut General Statutes §51-81b. For more information, contact the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.
• Random Audit Rule. Individuals admitted to the Connecticut bar pursuant to Practice Book § 2-13 are subject to the random audit rule pursuant to § 2-27. For more information, see Trust Accounts and Random Audits.