Arkansas
Common questions
Can a lawyer be admitted in Arkansas without taking the bar exam (admission on motion)?
Admission on motion available. Rule XVI(c) (2020 Ark. 97): primarily engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years preceding the application. The board's instruction PDF still says three of five (stale).
Does Arkansas accept a transferred Uniform Bar Exam score?
Yes (Rule XVIII): UBE 270+ administered within 36 months before application; MPRE 85+; ABA JD; not failed Arkansas exam within 5 yrs; good standing; $1,500 fee (cashier's check or money order); US citizen or work authorization. No Arkansas law course noted.
What are the pro hac vice requirements and fee in Arkansas state courts?
Local counsel: Yes: associated Arkansas-licensed attorney must sign the motion and provide an affidavit recommending approval. Fee: $200 per case, payable to Bar of Arkansas (waived for indigent representation under Admin. Order 15.2).
Admission on motion
- Requirements
- Rule XVI(c) (2020 Ark. 97): primarily engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years preceding the application. The board's instruction PDF still says three of five (stale).
- Years of practice
- five of the seven years immediately preceding the date upon which the application is filed
- Reciprocity
- Applicant must show the jurisdiction of principal place of business would allow Arkansas attorneys a similar accommodation (VERBATIM-ish from PDF summary).
- Fee
- $1,500 (money order or cashier's check; board instructions undated)
- Rule
- Ark. R. Governing Admission to the Bar XVI
- UBE score transfer
- Yes (Rule XVIII): UBE 270+ administered within 36 months before application; MPRE 85+; ABA JD; not failed Arkansas exam within 5 yrs; good standing; $1,500 fee (cashier's check or money order); US citizen or work authorization. No Arkansas law course noted.
- UBE minimum
- at least 270
- UBE score window
- within thirty six (36) months of the date of the application is filed
- MPRE
- A minimum MPRE scaled score of 85
- Other routes
- Rule XVII military spouse temporary admission (maintain Arkansas residency, advise clients of temporary status); house counsel/limited practice/emeritus not detailed.
- Military spouse
- Yes - Military Spouse Temporary Admission under Rule XVII for dependent spouse of service member on active duty in Arkansas
2 not found in the pulled documents
- Reciprocity states
- Not in the pulled documents
- Foreign attorneys
- Not in the pulled documents
State-court pro hac vice
- Rule
- Ark. R. Governing Admission to the Bar XIV (2016 Ark. 354)
- Local counsel
- Yes: associated Arkansas-licensed attorney must sign the motion and provide an affidavit recommending approval.
- Limits
- Court shall deny motion if attorney has participated pro hac vice in 3 cases in Arkansas during the prior 12 months (VERBATIM-based). No residency bar noted.
- Fee
- $200 per case, payable to Bar of Arkansas (waived for indigent representation under Admin. Order 15.2).
- Procedure
- Sworn motion with contact info, associated attorney details, case history for prior 2 yrs, licensing jurisdictions, disciplinary history, familiarity statement with Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct; filing constitutes submission to Committee on Professional Conduct jurisdiction; Rule XIV form and fee to Clerk's Office.
Language from the source documents
8 quoted passages
On motion
(c) have been primarily engaged in the active practice of law in one or more states, territories or the District of Columbia for five of the seven years immediately preceding the date upon which the application is filed;arcourts.gov
UBE transfer
A score of at least 270 on a UBE exam administered within thirty six (36) months of the date of the application is filed with the Arkansas Board of Law Examinersarcourts.gov
Other routes
Military Spouse Temporary Admission Rule XVII of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar outlines all requirements that must be met for an applicant to be admitted under this provision.arcourts.gov
Local counsel
(2) the name and Arkansas Bar ID number of an attorney licensed in Arkansas, with whom the non-resident attorney will be associated in the Arkansas proceedings,cases.justia.com
phv_limits
The court shall deny the pro hac vice motion of a non-resident attorney when the non-resident resident attorney has participated, served as counsel, or entered an appearance pro hac vice in three (3) cases in the State of Arkansas during the twelve months prior to the filing of the motion.cases.justia.com
Pro hac vice fee
A non-resident attorney requesting permission to participate in proceedings in a court in this State shall pay a fee of $200 for each case in which the attorney is requesting to participate.cases.justia.com
UBE score window
administered within thirty six (36) months of the date of the application is filed with the Arkansas Board of Law Examinersarcourts.gov