Admission on Motion/Reciprocity:
Section 520.10 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law permits admission on motion or reciprocity (without examination). The eligibility requirements of Court Rule 520.10 include, but are not limited to, graduation with a Juris Doctor degree from a law school that was approved by the ABA at all times during the period of the applicant's attendance, admission to practice law in at least one reciprocal jurisdiction, and actual practice of law for five of the seven years preceding application to the New York bar.
Before you apply for admission on motion we recommend you carefully review Rule 520.10 in its entirety to determine if you currently satisfy all of the eligibility requirements for admission on motion. Please note that foreign-educated applicants are not eligible for admission on motion if they do not have a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-approved law school as required by Court Rule 520.10(a)(3).
The list of reciprocal jurisdictions for purposes of admission on motion in New York is:
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: The role of the State Board of Law Examiners in the admission on motion process is limited to the collection of the $400 application fee and certification that the applicant possesses the educational requirements set forth in subdivisions (a)(3) and (b)(3) of Court Rule 520.10. If you satisfy the eligibility requirements for admission on motion you may apply to the State Board of Law Examiners for a Certificate of Educational Compliance for Admission on Motion. To apply for a Certificate of Educational Compliance for Admission on Motion you must create a BOLE Account, complete the electronic Application for Certificate of Educational Compliance for Admission and pay the $400 application fee, which is payable by credit card only. You will need a valid NCBE Number to create a BOLE Account. Login to your account in the Applicant Services Portal and click on Application for Certificate of Educational Compliance for Admission on Motion.
Upon submission of your Application for Certificate of Educational Compliance for Admission on Motion and payment of the $400 application fee the applicant will be sent a Law School Certificate of Graduation and ABA-Approval Form by email, which must be submitted to your law school to complete and return to the Board of Law Examiners.
Upon satisfaction that the applicant possesses the requisite educational qualifications for admission on motion under Rule 520.10, the Board will issue the applicant a Certificate of Educational Compliance with Rule 520.10(a)(3) and certify the applicant to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division in the Judicial Department in which the applicant resides or is employed full-time or, if the applicant is not a resident and is not employed in New York State, to the Third Judicial Department. The applicant must then submit the completed Application for Admission to the Bar to the Appellate Division. The Application for Admission to the Bar and links to the four Appellate Divisions are accessible at https://www.nybarexam.org/Admission/Admission.htm.
Questions about the educational requirements should be directed to the Board at (518) 453-5990 but all questions relating to the other requirements in Rule 520.10 or to the Application for Admission to the Bar should be directed to the Appellate Division.
NOTICE TO MILITARY SPOUSES SEEKING ADMISSION TO THE NEW YORK BAR: Attorneys who are spouses of active military service personnel assigned to New York State who do not currently meet all of the eligibility requirements of Rule 520.10 may apply to the New York Court of Appeals, under Section 520.14 of the Rules of the Court, for a waiver of strict compliance with the requirements of Section 520.10. Military spouses are encouraged to contact the Executive Director for the Board of Law Examiners at (518) 453-5990 for more information.