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Connecticut

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Common questions

Can a lawyer be admitted in Connecticut without taking the bar exam (admission on motion)?

Reciprocal states only. 5 of last 10 yrs lawful practice as principal means of livelihood; JD/equiv from ABA or Committee-approved school; MPRE >=80 or C+ in ABA PR course; US citizen or lawfully authorized alien; character & fitness; $1,800 non-refundable fee

Does Connecticut accept a transferred Uniform Bar Exam score?

Yes; 266 (Legacy UBE) or 616 (NextGen UBE), filed within 5 years of score

What are the pro hac vice requirements and fee in Connecticut state courts?

Local counsel: Yes. Connecticut-licensed sponsoring attorney must be present at all proceedings and sign all filings and assume full responsibility (state-rules.com summary of 2-16) Fee: $620 Superior Court filing fee (CT Statewide Grievance Committee FAQ; Gen. Stat. 52-259(i)); Client Security Fund fee annually while juris number active (Practice Book 2-68, 2-70); annual attorney occupational tax return

Admission on motion

Requirements
5 of last 10 yrs lawful practice as principal means of livelihood; JD/equiv from ABA or Committee-approved school; MPRE >=80 or C+ in ABA PR course; US citizen or lawfully authorized alien; character & fitness; $1,800 non-refundable fee
Years of practice
At least five of the last ten years (5 years/60 months) as principal means of livelihood
Reciprocity
Must be licensed in at least one of 26 listed reciprocal jurisdictions (incl. NY, MA); all others deemed non-reciprocal; exception for faculty/clinical fellows at CT law schools
Reciprocity states
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, US, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; all other jurisdictions non-reciprocal
Fee
$1,800.00
Rule
Conn. Practice Book 2-13 (per CBEC page; section number from search result, not confirmed on page)
UBE score transfer
Yes; 266 (Legacy UBE) or 616 (NextGen UBE), filed within 5 years of score
UBE minimum
266 on Legacy UBE or 616 on NextGen UBE
UBE score window
within five (5) years after attaining the score
MPRE
80, must be achieved within four years before or within one year after filing application
Other routes
Authorized House Counsel, Foreign Legal Consultant, bar examination, admission on motion, UBE score transfer, military spouse licensure
Foreign attorneys
Yes - foreign-educated applicants may qualify to apply for admission with satisfactory proof of legal education; Foreign Legal Consultant status available
Military spouse
Yes - Military Spouse Temporary Licensing available

State-court pro hac vice

Rule
Conn. Practice Book 2-16
Local counsel
Yes. Connecticut-licensed sponsoring attorney must be present at all proceedings and sign all filings and assume full responsibility (state-rules.com summary of 2-16)
Limits
Granted only 'upon special and infrequent occasion'; not for regular practice; good cause shown e.g. longstanding client relationship or inability to find local counsel
Fee
$620 Superior Court filing fee (CT Statewide Grievance Committee FAQ; Gen. Stat. 52-259(i)); Client Security Fund fee annually while juris number active (Practice Book 2-68, 2-70); annual attorney occupational tax return
Procedure
Forms JD-CL-141 or -142 plus JD-CL-143 affidavit (bar standing, discipline disclosure, prior CT PHV history); proof of CSF fee; designate chief clerk as service agent; juris number issued; register with Statewide Grievance Committee during matter and 2 yrs after, then notify for deactivation. Good-standing certificate: NOT FOUND

Language from the source documents

16 quoted passages
On motion
Do not apply until you have the requisite period of law practice, i.e. 5 years (60 months) during the preceding ten years.
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
On-motion rule
Attorneys licensed in another state or territory of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia who have practiced law for a specific period of time may qualify under CT Practice Book § 2-13 for admission without taking the bar examination in Connecticut.
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
UBE transfer
shall be filed within five (5) years after attaining a total scaled score of two hundred sixty-six (266) or higher on the Legacy UBE or a total scaled score of six hundred sixteen (616) on the NextGen UBE
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
Other routes
shall be required to either apply for Authorized House Counsel or Foreign Legal Consultant status, or take and pass the bar examination or apply for admission on motion or by UBE score transfer or through military spouse licensure if qualified.
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
Pro hac vice rule
Section 2-16 of the Connecticut Practice Book sets forth the procedure for permission to appear pro hac vice in a case.
jud.ct.gov
Local counsel
(3) unless excused by the judicial authority, a member of the bar of this state must be present at all proceedings, including depositions in a proceeding, and must sign all pleadings, briefs and other papers filed with the court
state-rules.com
Pro hac vice fee
A fee of $620 must be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court.
jud.ct.gov
On-motion fee
(C) Application fee for admission without examination: $1,800
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
Years of practice
Duly licensed to practice law and lawfully engaged in the practice of law as principal means of livelihood for at least five of the last ten years immediately preceding filing for admission in Connecticut ( § 2-13(a)(2))*
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
Reciprocity states
The reciprocal jurisdictions (subject to change) are: Alabama Alaska Arkansas Colorado District of Columbia Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
On-motion fee
The non-refundable fee for admission without examination is $1,800.00.
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
UBE minimum score
after attaining a total scaled score of two hundred sixty-six (266) or higher on the Legacy UBE or a total scaled score of six hundred sixteen (616) on the NextGen UBE taken in any jurisdiction
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
UBE score window
The application for admission by transfer of a Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) score shall be filed within five (5) years after attaining
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
MPRE
The passing score on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination shall be a scaled score of eighty (80) and must be achieved within four years before or within one year after the date the applicant files his or her application for admission to the Connecticut bar.
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
Foreign attorneys
An applicant who has studied in a foreign country may qualify to apply for admission by submitting to the committee satisfactory proof of the legal education required by all subsections of this article.
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov
Military spouse
(E) Military Spouse Temporary Licensing: (1) Application Fee: $750 (2) Renewal Fee: $300
ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov

Quotes are copied from the court or bar document and machine-checked against its text. The current rules control.

18 of 18 fields have a value, are stated as none, or do not apply.

Sources

Federal district courts in Connecticut

Last checked 2026-10-02 · · Back to the map