If you’ve passed the bar exam in one state but want to work in another, you can either take the bar exam in multiple states or research the laws regarding reciprocity in your state.
Each state establishes its own criteria for admission to the bar, and many states have reciprocal agreements. If you want to work in a state that has a reciprocal agreement with the state where you’ve taken and passed the bar, you can do so without needing to retake the bar.
Below, we’ve listed which states have reciprocity agreements. However, attorneys looking to practice in another state should check specifically with that state’s governing board as requirements change frequently.
Alabama Reciprocity
Alabama offers reciprocity agreements with the following states: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY.
Alaska Reciprocity
Alaska has reciprocity agreements with the following states for applicants to be admitted on motion: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, and WY. Additionally, applicants from West Virginia and Wisconsin must pass a bar exam to be offered reciprocity.
Arizona Reciprocity
Arizona offers reciprocity on motion to attorneys from the following states: AK, CO, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, and WY.
Arkansas Reciprocity
Admission by motion has been in effect since October 2004 to attorneys from the following states: AK, AZ, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, and WY.
California Reciprocity
California doesn’t offer reciprocity but offers a shorter bar exam for attorneys who are admitted in other states and who have been in good standing as an attorney in those states for at least four years prior to their application.
Colorado Reciprocity
Applicants must be coming from a state or territory that has a reciprocity agreement in place with Colorado. Those states and territories include the following: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, USVI, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Connecticut Reciprocity
Connecticut will provisionally admit lawyers from other states who reciprocate for Connecticut lawyers. Those states and territories include the following: AL, AK, AR, CO, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Delaware Reciprocity
This state doesn’t offer reciprocity.
Florida Reciprocity
This state doesn’t offer reciprocity.
Georgia Reciprocity
Georgia offers admission on motion to attorneys from the following states: AL, AK, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WI, WV, and WY.
Hawaii Reciprocity
This state doesn’t offer reciprocity.
Idaho Reciprocity
Idaho offers reciprocity to certain lawyers licensed in: AK, AZ, AR, CO, DC, IL, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VI, WA, WI, and WY.
Illinois Reciprocity
Illinois has reciprocity agreements with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, GU, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NMI, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, USVI, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Indiana Reciprocity
This state lacks formal reciprocity. However, they will provisionally admit lawyers who have practiced law five out of the last seven years in another state before their application for admission without taking and passing the Indiana bar.
Iowa Reciprocity
If you have practiced law for a full five out of the last seven years preceding application for admission to practice law in Iowa, you can be admitted to practice without needing to take or pass the Iowa bar exam.
Kansas Reciprocity
Kansas offers reciprocity to attorneys from the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WY.
Kentucky Reciprocity
Kentucky has reciprocity agreements with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IA, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Louisiana Reciprocity
There are no formal reciprocity agreements, but the state will provisionally admit certain lawyers under special criteria.
Maine Reciprocity
As of 2017, Maine does not require reciprocity to any attorney who has been accepted to practice to any other state or territory or the District of Columbia and has been actively practicing as an attorney for three of the last five years.
Maryland Reciprocity
Maryland has no formal reciprocity agreements but offers a shorter bar exam for lawyers who are in good standing in another state for at least five of the past ten years before applying for admission in Maryland.
Massachusetts Reciprocity
To be admitted in Massachusetts, you must have been admitted to practice in another state for at least five years before your application and be in good standing with the previous state.
You must be a graduate of a law school that at the time of graduation was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or authorized by state statute to grant the bachelor of laws degree or Juris Doctor.
Michigan Reciprocity
If you’ve practiced law for three of the last five years prior to applying for admission in Michigan, you can be admitted to practice without needing to take and pass the Michigan bar exam.
Minnesota Reciprocity
If you’ve practiced law for five of the last seven years immediately prior to applying for admission in Minnesota, you can be admitted to practice without needing to take and pass the Minnesota bar exam.
Other lawyers can be admitted based on a minimum passing score on the MBE if they apply within two years of passing the test in another jurisdiction.
Mississippi Reciprocity
Mississippi has a very limited reciprocity admission rule with states who will offer similar reciprocity to Mississippi lawyers. Lawyers from other states who have practiced for at least five years may be admitted after taking and passing an attorney’s examination.
Missouri Reciprocity
You must be coming from a state that has a reciprocity agreement in place with Missouri.
Montana Reciprocity
This state doesn’t offer reciprocity.
Nebraska Reciprocity
Lawyers who graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and passed a bar exam comparable to Nebraska’s, including the MPRE, can be admitted without an examination.
Lawyers who have graduated from an ABA-accredited school and have actively and substantially practiced law for five of the last seven years can be admitted without having to take and pass the written bar exam.
Nevada Reciprocity
This state doesn’t offer reciprocity.
New Hampshire Reciprocity
In 2005, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont entered reciprocity agreements that allow attorneys to be admitted to each other’s bars without taking the exam for that state. New Hampshire also has reciprocity agreements with the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
New Jersey Reciprocity
New Jersey offers reciprocity agreements to attorneys from the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WI, and WY.
New Mexico Reciprocity
New Mexico offers reciprocity to attorneys from: AL, AK, AZ, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
New York Reciprocity
New York has reciprocity agreements with: AK, CO, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
North Carolina Reciprocity
North Carolina has reciprocity agreements with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
North Dakota Reciprocity
This state doesn’t offer reciprocity. But attorneys who meet specific requirements may be able to apply for admission.
Ohio Reciprocity
Ohio doesn’t have formal reciprocity agreements with other states. It will, however, provisionally admit applicants who’ve taken and passed a bar and have been admitted in the highest court of another state or in the District of Columbia.
They must have practiced law for at least a full five years of the 10 years prior to the date of application. These applicants must demonstrate they intend to actively practice law in Ohio on a continuing basis.
Oklahoma Reciprocity
Oklahoma has formal reciprocity agreements with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, PA, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Oregon Reciprocity
Oregon has formal reciprocity agreements with: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Pennsylvania Reciprocity
This state has reciprocity with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Rhode Island Reciprocity
Rhode Island will provisionally admit anyone who has practiced or taught law in the United States for at least five out the last ten years prior the date of application for admission to Rhode Island. Applicants must stake and pass the essay portion of the Rhode Island bar exam.
South Carolina
This state doesn’t have formal reciprocity agreements with any state.
South Dakota Reciprocity
In South Dakota, the reciprocity agreement went into effect in 2004. Applicants are required to show five years prior practice in prescribed areas.
Tennessee Reciprocity
If you meet the educational requirements for the Tennessee bar exam and have actively engaged in practicing law for at least five years prior to your application for admission in Tennessee, the state will provisionally admit you.
Texas Reciprocity
Texas has limited admission for certain lawyers to be admitted without examination and after passage of the full student examination.
Utah Reciprocity
Utah has reciprocity agreements with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, and WY.
Vermont Reciprocity
In 2005, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont entered reciprocity agreements that allow attorneys to be admitted to each other’s bars without taking the exam for that state.
Otherwise, those who have practiced in other jurisdictions must have practiced actively for five of the last ten years in one or more jurisdictions in the US, without being under suspension or revocation in any other jurisdiction. If they meet those requirements, they can be admitted by motion without examination.
Virginia Reciprocity
Virginia will provisionally admit lawyers from other states who reciprocate for Virginia lawyers.
Washington Reciprocity
Washington has reciprocity with: AK, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, and WY.
Washington D.C. Reciprocity
If you’ve been admitted for five years in another jurisdiction immediately prior to your application, you can be admitted without taking the bar. You may also be admitted without taking the bar if you graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and obtained certain minimum scores on the MBE and the MPRE.
West Virginia Reciprocity
West Virginia has reciprocity with: CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NY, NC, ND, OK, PA, TX, VT, VA, WA, and WI.
Wisconsin Reciprocity
Wisconsin will provisionally admit lawyers from other states who reciprocate for Wisconsin lawyers.
Wyoming Reciprocity
Wyoming will provisionally admit lawyers from other states who reciprocate for Wyoming lawyers.
