Information & Applications » Rule 8.10 - Admission Without Examination - (Admission on Motion) » Rule 8.10 - Application for Admission without Examination
About Admission on Motion
Persons licensed in another state or territory of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia who have practiced law full-time for a specific period of time may qualify under Rule 8.10 for admission without taking the bar examination in Missouri. Before submitting an application, read carefully the provisions of Rule 8.10. The Board of Law Examiners does not issue advisory opinions as to eligibility for admission. 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 Rule 8.10 as of the date you submit your application. Do not apply until you have the requisite period of full-time practice, i.e. 5 years (60 months) during the preceding ten years.
Requirements for Admission on Motion
Generally, Rule 8.10(a)(4) requires that you demonstrate, for five of the ten years preceding the date of your application, you have: (1) while holding an active license to practice law in a state, other than Missouri, a United States territory, or the District of Columbia been engaged in the full-time practice of law in such state, territory or District of Columbia; or (2) served full-time as a lawyer with the U.S. government or its armed forces; or (3) taught full-time in a law school approved by the ABA; or (4) been engaged in the full-time practice of law as in-house counsel primarily at or from an office physically located in a state, other than Missouri, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia, or; (5) been engaged in the full-time practice of law in Missouri pursuant to Rule 8.106; or (6) any combination of the foregoing. In addition, you must have graduated with a J.D. (or LL.B.) degree from an ABA-approved law school, and hold an active license to practice in a state that permits mutuality of admission without exam to Missouri attorneys.
Character and Fitness
All applicants must receive approval by the Board of the applicant's character and fitness for admission. The Board will conduct a complete and thorough background investigation of every applicant before reaching a determination.
Information about the character and fitness process is available here.
Proof of Citizenship or Prescribed Alien Status
Rule 8.03(a)(4) requires all applicants must be either a citizen or national of the United States, an immigrant lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or an alien otherwise authorized to work lawfully in the United States. If you are a U.S. citizen, provide a CERTIFIED birth certificate, a CERTIFIED Consular Report of Birth, or a copy of your Certificate of Citizenship. If you mail the required document to our office in lieu of uploading the document, our office will retain these documents and they will not be returned to you. You should obtain a CERTIFIED birth certificate from the appropriate government office in the state where you were born. If you are a naturalized citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the U.S., provide a legible copy of both sides of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document evidencing your current status - we will use it to verify your status through USCIS. We cannot accept a copy of your passport as proof of citizenship because USCIS will not verify status on the basis of a passport. You will need to provide a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship. NOTE: An Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization is considered part of the educational purpose of a non-resident student visa. It is not a work visa and is not considered by the Board of Law Examiners as satisfying the requirement of Rule 8.03(a)(4).
Continuing Legal Education Requirement:
Rule 8.10 requires applicants to complete The Missouri Bar "Annual Law Update" CLE program, or an accredited CLE program that has substantially equivalent intellectual and practical content. Attendance shall be no earlier than 12 months prior to the date you submit your application and no later than 90 days after the date of written notification that the Board has approved your character and fitness.
After attending the CLE program, you should submit a Certificate of Compliance to The Missouri Bar for completion. The Missouri Bar will confirm that you have satisfied the CLE requirement and will send the completed Certificate of Compliance to the Board. To obtain a Certificate of Compliance, contact the MCLE Department of The Missouri Bar at (573) 638-2233.
For more information regarding what programs may qualify as substantially equivalent to the Annual Law Update, please see Rule 15.05(d) and Regulation 15.04.7. If you have additional questions or wish to request a program be reviewed for qualification as a substantially equivalent program, please contact the MCLE Department of The Missouri Bar at (573) 638-2233.
Mutuality Jurisdictions:
Rule 8.10(a)(2) requires that an applicant have an active license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction that permits mutuality of admission without examination to Missouri lawyers. The jurisdictions listed here are those we understand to have mutuality of admission with Missouri. Jurisdictions might have changed their rules since this list was compiled, however. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that a jurisdiction in which the applicant holds an active license in fact has mutuality with Missouri.
Jurisdictions Believed to Have Mutuality of Admission with Missouri
Click on the name of the jurisdiction to be taken to its website.