When you’ve passed your bar examination in one state but want or need to work in another, you may have to take the bar examination in that state or, alternatively, there might be a reciprocity law between the states.
Every state has established criteria for bar admission, and several states have drawn up reciprocal agreements that make it easier for qualified attorneys to work outside of the state in which they passed the bar. This means if you’re keen to work in one of the states that has formed a bar reciprocity agreement with the one in which you’ve already passed the exam, it’s possible to do so with no need to retake your bar exam in the other state.
Here, we take a look at which U.S. states have bar reciprocity and, in the cases of those that do, which agreements they have made.
Reciprocity in Alabama
Unfortunately, Alabama does not have any reciprocity agreements.
Reciprocity in Alaska
The state of Alaska has made bar reciprocity agreements with:
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Arizona
The state of Arizona has made no reciprocity agreements with any other state.
Reciprocity in Arkansas
Since 2004, Arkansas has put into effect laws allowing for admission by motion. This opportunity is extended to all applicants who have gained their law degree, passed the bar exam in at least one other state, and practiced law for a minimum of five years in the same state in which they’ve been admitted to the bar.
Reciprocity in California
The state of California doesn’t have any reciprocity agreements, however, attorneys who have been admitted to the bar in another state and have remained as a lawyer in good standing in that state for a minimum of 4 years before application can benefit from a short bar examination.
Reciprocity in Colorado
All applicants have to be coming from one of the territories or states with bar reciprocity agreements with Colorado. These territories and states include:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- S. Virgin Islands
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Connecticut
Provisionally, Connecticut admits lawyers coming from the other states that offer reciprocity for lawyers from Connecticut. These territories and states include:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- S. Virgin Islands
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Delaware
The state of Delaware does not offer any reciprocity agreements.
Reciprocity in Florida
Florida offers no bar reciprocity.
Reciprocity in Georgia
Lawyers coming to Georgia who have already passed the bar exam and practiced in another state while remaining in good standing for a minimum of one year can take a short bar exam to permit them to practice in Georgia. It’s possible to be admitted to the bar in Georgia without an examination if the lawyer in question has been practicing for a minimum of 5 years and is coming from a reciprocal state.
Reciprocity in Hawaii
The state of Hawaii offers no reciprocity.
Reciprocity in Idaho
Only certain lawyers who have been licensed in Wyoming, Washington, Utah or Oregon can enjoy bar reciprocity in Idaho. Yet, lawyers who’ve practiced law actively for a minimum of 5 out of the past 7 years that immediately precede their admission application don’t need to pass the MBE (Multistate Bar Examination). They do need to pass the rest of Idaho’s bar exam, though.
Reciprocity in Illinois
There are reciprocity agreements between Illinois and the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Guam
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- Northern Mariana Islands
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- S. Virgin Islands
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Indiana
Indiana lacks any formal bar reciprocity agreements, but lawyers can be provisionally admitted if they have been practicing for 5 of the past 7 years in one of the other states before making an application to be admitted with no need to take or pass the Indiana state bar exam.
Reciprocity in Iowa
If you’ve practiced law for 5 of the past 7 years that precede your application to be admitted to the bar in Iowa, you won’t need to pass the state’s bar exam before being admitted as a lawyer.
Reciprocity in Kansas
Kansas offers no reciprocity agreements.
Reciprocity in Kentucky
Kentucky has reciprocity agreements with the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Louisiana
Louisiana has no formal bar reciprocity agreements with any other states but will provisionally admit certain lawyers who meet special criteria.
Reciprocity in Maine
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine entered bar reciprocity agreements in 2005 to allow attorneys to be admitted to each other’s bars with no need to take that state’s bar exam. Lawyers who remain in good standing in one of the other states for a minimum of 3 of the past 5 years before admission can also benefit from a shorter bar exam, although this is dependant on having passed the MBE no more than 61 months earlier than the Maine bar exam’s current administration.
Reciprocity in Maryland
There are no formal bar reciprocity agreements between Maryland and any other states, however, lawyers in good standing in one of the other states for a minimum of 5 of the last ten years before making an application for admission to the bar in Maryland can benefit from a shorter exam.
Reciprocity in Massachusetts
If you wish to be admitted to the bar in the state of Massachusetts you need to have already been admitted to the bar in one of the other states for a minimum of 5 years before making your application. You must also remain in good standing in that state. You also must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, or one that had a state statute authorization to grant juris doctor or bachelor of laws degrees.
Reciprocity in Michigan
Lawyers who have practiced law for a minimum of 3 of the past 5 years before applying to be admitted to the bar in Michigan benefit from admittance to practice with no need to pass the state’s bar exam.
Reciprocity in Minnesota
Lawyers who have practiced law for a minimum of 5 of the past 7 years before applying to be admitted to Minnesota’s bar can benefit from admittance to practice with no need to pass the state’s bar examination. Other lawyers may also be admitted depending on an MBE minimum pass score if their application is made within 2 years of having passed the test in one of the other jurisdictions.
Reciprocity in Mississippi
There is a limited rule for reciprocity admission in Mississippi with states that offer reciprocity in the same vein to lawyers from that state. Lawyers coming from another state and who have been practicing for a minimum of 5 years can be admitted if they take and pass an attorney’s exam.
Reciprocity in Missouri
If you are coming from one of the states with a bar reciprocity agreement with Missouri, you can be admitted to the bar with no need to take an exam. These states are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virgin Islands
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Montana
Montana offers no reciprocity agreements.
Reciprocity in Nebraska
Any lawyer who has graduated from one of the ABA-accredited law schools and who has already passed one of the bar exams that are considered comparable to the one taken in Nebraska (such as the MPRE) will be admitted to the bar in the state with no need for an examination. Any lawyer who has graduated from an ABA-accredited law schools and who has practiced law substantially and actively for 5 of the past 7 years can gain admittance with no need to pass the state’s bar exam.
Reciprocity in Nevada
Nevada offers no reciprocity.
Reciprocity in New Hampshire
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine entered a reciprocity agreement in 2005 which permitted attorneys admittance to each other’s bars with no need to take the examination for the state in question.
Reciprocity in New Jersey
New Jersey offers no reciprocity.
Reciprocity in New Mexico
This state offers no reciprocity agreements.
Reciprocity in New York
There are reciprocity agreements in place between New York and the following:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in North Carolina
There are reciprocity agreements in place between North Carolina and the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in North Dakota
North Dakota offers no reciprocity.
Reciprocity in Ohio
There are no formal bar reciprocity agreements between Ohio and any other states. Provisionally, though, applicants are admitted who have already passed the bar exam and who have already been admitted into another state’s highest court (D.C. included). They need to have been practicing law for a minimum of 5 years out of the ten years before their application date. Applicants need to prove that they actively intend to practice in the state on an ongoing basis.
Reciprocity in Oklahoma
There are formal bar reciprocity agreements between Oklahoma and the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Oregon
There are formal bar reciprocity agreements between Oregon and the following states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has made reciprocity agreements with the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Rhode Island
Provisionally, Rhode Island admits anybody who has taught or practiced law anywhere in the USA for a minimum of 5 of the past 10 years before applying to be admitted to the state’s bar. Applicants need to pass the state’s bar exam’s essay portion.
Reciprocity in South Carolina
There are no formal bar reciprocity agreements between South Carolina and any other state.
Reciprocity in South Dakota
In 2004, South Dakota’s reciprocity agreement took effect. Applicants must show 5 years of previous practice in one of the following jurisdictions:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- New York
- Idaho
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Iowa
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Oregon
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Massachusetts
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Minnesota
- Utah
- Mississippi
- Vermont
- Missouri
- Virginia
- Montana
- Washington
- Nebraska
- Wisconsin
- New Hampshire
Reciprocity in Tennessee
Anyone who meets Tennessee’s bar exam’s educational requirements and who has engaged actively in practicing law for a minimum of 5 years before applying to be admitted in Tennessee can be provisionally admitted.
Reciprocity in Texas
There is limited admission in Texas for some lawyers to receive admittance with no need for examination after passing the complete student examination.
Reciprocity in Utah
There are reciprocity agreements in place between Utah and the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Vermont
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine entered a reciprocity agreement in 2005 to permit attorneys admittance to each of the state’s bars with no need to take that state’s exam. Otherwise, anyone who has practiced in one or more of those jurisdictions actively for a minimum of 5 out of the past ten years without revocation or suspension is eligible for admittance by motion with no need for an examination.
Reciprocity in Virginia
Provisionally, Virginia admits lawyers coming from the other states that offer reciprocity to Virginia’s lawyers:
- Alabama
- Nebraska
- Alaska
- New Hampshire
- Arizona
- New Jersey
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Connecticut
- New York
- District of Columbia
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- North Dakota
- Idaho
- Ohio
- Illinois
- Oklahoma
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Iowa
- Pennsylvania
- Kansas
- South Dakota
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Maine
- Texas
- Massachusetts
- Utah
- Michigan
- Vermont
- Minnesota
- Virgin Islands
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
- Montana
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Washington
There are reciprocity agreements in place between Washington and the following states:
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington D.C.
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Reciprocity in Washington D.C.
Anyone who has had admittance for 5 years within any U.S. jurisdictions immediately before their application can benefit from admittance with no need to take the bar. Lawyers may also benefit from admission with no need to take the bar when they have graduated from an ABA-accredited law schools and have obtained a certain minimum score on their MPRE and MBE.
Reciprocity in West Virginia
This state has a reciprocity agreement with the following states:
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Reciprocity in Wisconsin
Wisconsin admits lawyers coming from any other state that requires admittees to pass the UBE, or any lawyers who have worked in any state or U.S. jurisdiction for 5 years of the previous 7 years.
Reciprocity in Wyoming
Wyoming will admit lawyers on motion who passed the bar in a state that uses the UBE, or who have worked in any state or U.S. jurisdiction for 5 years of the previous 7 years.