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Utah Bar Admissions

UTAH STATE BAR Bar Operations & Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


The following questions are frequently asked about Utah Bar Admissions. Each of the below questions is linked to the corresponding answer.

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UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW


- What is the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL), and how can I avoid engaging in UPL?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS


- How long will it take to process my application?
- What documents must be uploaded for an application to be considered complete?
- If I submitted a complete application within the last 2 years, do I need to submit a new application?
- Are internships considered employment?
- I have a copy of my MPRE. May I upload that as proof that I have passed with a score of 86 or above?
- The NCBE only has records of MPRE scores going back to 1999. What should I do if I sat for that exam before 1999?
- Does Utah have an expiration date on MPRE Scores?

LICENSING AND SWEARING IN


- I received notice that my name has been added to the next Motion for Admission (February, May, August, or October). What do I do now?

BAR EXAM QUESTIONS


- Is there a shorter “Attorney Examination” given to those who have been practicing law for a certain number of years?

ADMISSION BY MOTION QUESTIONS


- I am an attorney licensed in another state that does not have reciprocity with Utah. May I be admitted by Motion?
- I am an attorney licensed in another state that does not have reciprocity with Utah. If I am admitted to a state, territory, or the District of Columbia that does have reciprocity with Utah, may I come in by Motion?
- Which jurisdictions are reciprocal with Utah?
- How do I prove that I have worked full time for 36 months out of the last 60 months?

ADMISSION BY UBE TRANSFER QUESTIONS


- What is the time limit on transferring a UBE Score?
- How do I request that my UBE Score be sent to Utah?
- I have not yet taken the Bar Exam but want to transfer my UBE Score to Utah. May I submit an application before I receive my UBE Score?

RECORDS OR SCORE REPORTS


- How do I get a copy of my application?
- How to I obtain an Exam Verification Letter or similar documents?
- How do I get a copy of my MPRE Score or UBE Score?

UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW


What is the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL), and how can I avoid engaging in UPL?

The rule governing the Unauthorized Practice of Law is Rule 5.5Only an attorney who is an active, licensed member of the Bar in good standing may engage in the practice of law in Utah (see Rule 14-802). Unless one of the exceptions below applies, you may not practice law in Utah or you may be engaging in the Unauthorized Practice of Law.

Examples of exceptions:

  1. a specific Utah or federal law expressly permits a person to practice without being licensed in this state, such as an attorney who
    1. practices patent or trademark law under the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO),
    2. qualifies for Registered military legal assistance certification for military lawyers under Rule 14-804, or
    3. qualifies for Pro Bono Authorization for Utah Inactive Attorney sand attorney Admitted in Other States under Rule 14-803.
  2. the attorney is working as House Counsel and has an application pending before the Bar within 6 months of the employment start date (see Rule 14-719).
  3. a Temporary Practice rule applies, such as
    1. Law Student Practice under Rule 14-807,
    2. Admission for Attorney by Pro Hac Vice under Rule 14-806), or
    3. The person has an application pending and the Admissions Office has granted either a
      1. Practice Pending Admission Certificate under Rule 14-809, OR
      2. Law Graduate Practice Certificate under Rule 14-807.
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APPLICATION QUESTIONS


How long will it take to process my application? Applications for Admissions take up to 6 months to complete. Incomplete applications will take longer to process. Be sure to review your application carefully for completeness and to upload all required documents.
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What documents must be uploaded for an application to be considered complete?

The following is a list of documents that are required of all applicants. 

  1. Applicant Verification and Acknowledgement signed by applicant and notarized within 60 days of application submission.
  2. Authorization and Release signed by applicant and notarized within 60 days of application submission.

Although applicants need not submit documentation for information provided on the application and Character and Fitness Questionnaire, applicants will need to provide detailed information regarding address history, employment history, and other biographical information. Therefore, applicants should review the information required and gather these details prior to starting an application.

The following non-exhaustive list includes circumstances that might require more detailed information. Please note that any links are merely a guide to help applicants find necessary information:

  • Bankruptcy file (or click here) with the entire file with all documents and schedules.
  • Bar complaint documentation including the complaint and the final resolution.
  • Child support and spousal support (alimony) documentation with proof that payment obligations are up to date.
  • Civil court file documentation including pleadings, motions, and final dispositions (State and Federal Court ResourcesNCSC).
  • Criminal court case documentation including final disposition and police reports (State and Federal Court ResourcesNCSC).
  • Current copy of any business or professional license.
  • Debts: documents showing that debts have been paid off.
  • Divorce file including Stipulated Agreement or Decree of Divorce (State and Federal Court Resources; NCSC). 
  • Documentation related to contempt actions (State and Federal Court ResourcesNCSC).
  • Documents related to discipline or an investigation conducted by LSAC, a college, or a law school.
  • Documentation related to failure to comply with court order including a warrant (State and Federal Court ResourcesNCSC).
  • Documentation relevant to action taken against a professional license.
  • Military Documents including DD-214(s) and/or OER(s) or NCOER(s) including current status or discharge papers showing type of discharge. 
  • Tax lien documentation including proof that lien has been lifted or is being addressed from both State and Federal entities.

 

DISCLAIMER: This webpage includes links to websites created and maintained by other public or private organizations. The Utah State Bar does not endorse the organizations or views represented by outside websites and takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over, the accuracy, accessibility, copyright or trademark compliance or legality of the material contained on these websites. These links are merely a guide to help applicants find necessary documents.

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If I submitted a complete application within the last 2 years, do I need to submit a new application? Yes, but you could submit a Reapplication rather than the full Application. However, some documents have an expiration date. You may need to provide updated documents such as a 3-year driving history, Authorization and Release, etc. Please carefully read the reapplication and the General Application Checklist. Back to TOP

Are internships considered employment? Yes. Include all internships, whether paid or unpaid, in the "Employment History" section of your application.  Back to TOP

I have a copy of my MPRE. May I upload that as proof that I have passed with a score of 86 or above? No. If you took the MPRE in 1999 or after, then you must contact the NCBE and request that your MPRE score be sent directly to Admissions.   Back to TOP

The NCBE only has records of MPRE scores going back to 1999. What should I do if I sat for that exam before 1999?

You will need to search your own records for a copy of the score report and/or contact other jurisdictions to which you have applied to see if they have a record of the score. If they do, they should provide a letter verifying the MPRE score they have on record. If you are unable to find and provide evidence that you have received a score of 86 or above on the MPRE, you will need to retake the exam.

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Does Utah have an expiration date on MPRE Scores? No. Utah will accept your MPRE Score of at least 86 as long as it can be verified by the NCBE. Please contact the NCBE to request your score be sent directly to the Utah State Bar. Back to TOP

LICENSING AND SWEARING IN


I received notice that my name has been added to the next Motion for Admission (February, May, August, or October). What do I do now?

There are still several steps that the Motion for Admission list must go through before the applicant may be sworn in by the Utah Supreme Court. There are 4 Motions each year per: February, May, August, and October (Rule 14-716).

  1. The Admissions Office finalizes the Motion for Admission list the month prior to the Swearing-In Ceremony. For example, the February Motion for Admission list is finalized in January.
  2. The Motion list is sent to the Licensing Department for payment of Licensing dues. Admittees will receive an email from Licensing about where and how to pay licensing fees and the final deadline (a period of approximately 10 days). If you miss this deadline, your name will not be included on the Motion, and you will need to wait until the following Motion to pay your Licensing dues and be sworn in. If you have not yet received the email from Licensing, please check your spam folder for an email from licensing@utahbar.org.
  3. Once the Licensing payment period has closed, the Motion list is sent on to the Utah State Bar Commissioners for approval. 
  4. The Commissioners then send the approved Motion list to the Utah Supreme Court for the Court's approval.
  5. The Utah Supreme Court then schedules the Swearing-In Ceremony for the admittees on their approved Motion list. The Court will contact admittees about the Ceremony including the date, time, and location.
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BAR EXAM QUESTIONS


Is there a shorter “Attorney Examination” given to those who have been practicing law for a certain number of years?

No, Utah does not have an “Attorney Examination.” All exam applicants take the same test.

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ADMISSION BY MOTION QUESTIONS


I am an attorney licensed in another state that does not have reciprocity with Utah. May I be admitted by Motion?

Unfortunately, no. If your state does not allow attorneys barred in Utah to be admitted by Motion, then Utah will not allow you to be admitted by Motion regardless of how long you have practiced.

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I am an attorney licensed in another state that does not have reciprocity with Utah. If I am admitted to a state, territory, or the District of Columbia that does have reciprocity with Utah, may I come in by Motion? The qualifications for Admission by Motion (Reciprocity) are found in Rule 14-705. You must be actively working full time for three of the five years prior to filing your application. An attorney is not required to be physically located in the reciprocal jurisdiction while performing the work, as long as such work would not be considered the unauthorized practice of law in the jurisdiction where the attorney is physically located. Back to TOP

Which jurisdictions are reciprocal with Utah?

Click here for a list of reciprocal jurisdictions.

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How do I prove that I have worked full time for 36 months out of the last 60 months?

There are various ways to prove by clear and convincing evidence that you meet the requirement that you have worked full time as an attorney for at least 36 months out of the last 60 months. This might include an employer verification letter (notarized), tax returns covering at least 3 of the last 5 years, billing hours, or other documentation sufficient to prove that the time requirement has been met. For Motion/Reciprocity Applicants under Rule 14-705, please fill out and upload the Active Practice Questionnaire - Motion/Reciprocity Applicants.

 

 


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ADMISSION BY UBE TRANSFER QUESTIONS


What is the time limit on transferring a UBE Score?

UBE Scores of 270 or above are transferable for up to 3 years from the date that the applicant sat for the Bar Exam (NOT the date the score was released or the date of admission in another jurisdiction). Please see Rule 14-712

Please also see Rule 14-703 Qualifications for admission of Student Applicants, and Rule 14-704 Qualifications for admission of Attorney Applicants.

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How do I request that my UBE Score be sent to Utah? The NCBE holds all UBE Score records. Please contact the NCBE to request that your UBE Score be sent directly to Utah.  Back to TOP

I have not yet taken the Bar Exam but want to transfer my UBE Score to Utah. May I submit an application before I receive my UBE Score? Yes. Under Rule 14-712, the Utah State Bar must receive your "UBE Score [of at least 270] no later than nine months after the filing of the application" (emphasis added). Please note that if an applicant submits an application but fails to pass the intended Bar Exam, she or he may not have enough time to retake the following Bar Exam and submit a passing score in time to meet the 9-month deadline. The applicant would instead need to fill out a new application and pay a new application fee. With this in mind, please pick your application submission date carefully.  Back to TOP

RECORDS OR SCORE REPORTS


How do I get a copy of my application? Admissions only retains applications for 5 years. If you are not able to access your application online, you may purchase a copy for a $25 administrative fee. Admissions strongly recommends that you print off a copy of your complete application for your own records.
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How to I obtain an Exam Verification Letter or similar documents? You may purchase the verification letter for a $25 administrative fee. To Request an Exam Verification letter or similar verification letter, please contact the Admissions Office at 801-297-7058. Please note that because the NCBE keeps MPRE Scores back to 1999,  Admissions will only supply an MPRE Verification Letter for scores before 1999. You should also contact the NCBE to obtain a UBE Score. Back to TOP

How do I get a copy of my MPRE Score or UBE Score? If you need a copy of one of your Score Reports, you will need to contact the NCBE to request your score. For MPRE Scores before 1999, please contact Admissions.
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