Pennsylvania
Common questions
Can a lawyer be admitted in Pennsylvania without taking the bar exam (admission on motion)?
Admission on motion available. Pa.B.A.R. 204 (primary PDF, SUMMARY): 5 of last 7 yrs qualifying practice (majority practice, per Pa. Bulletin 2024 commentary secondary); graduate of law school accredited when matriculated/graduated; good standing certificates from all jurisdictions; MPRE 75 via Rule 203; admitted/bar exam in reciprocal jurisdiction
Does Pennsylvania accept a transferred Uniform Bar Exam score?
Pa.B.A.R. 206 (primary): min scaled 270 from Feb 2024 UBE; no more than 30 months from first day of the UBE. Also Rule 204(b)(4)(C) UBE pathway: majority practice more than 3 of last 5 yrs (secondary)
What are the pro hac vice requirements and fee in Pennsylvania state courts?
Local counsel: PA-barred sponsoring attorney required (Pa.B.A.R. 301) Fee: $375 per attorney per case to PA IOLTA Board
Admission on motion
- Requirements
- Pa.B.A.R. 204 (primary PDF, SUMMARY): 5 of last 7 yrs qualifying practice (majority practice, per Pa. Bulletin 2024 commentary secondary); graduate of law school accredited when matriculated/graduated; good standing certificates from all jurisdictions; MPRE 75 via Rule 203; admitted/bar exam in reciprocal jurisdiction
- Years of practice
- 5 years of the last 7 years devoted a major portion of time and energy to the practice of law
- Reciprocity
- Reciprocal-state requirement (list not opened)
- Fee
- $1,325 application fee (bar admissions fee page) plus a $50 motion fee (Pa.B.A.R. 231)
- Rule
- Pa.B.A.R. 204
- UBE score transfer
- Pa.B.A.R. 206 (primary): min scaled 270 from Feb 2024 UBE; no more than 30 months from first day of the UBE. Also Rule 204(b)(4)(C) UBE pathway: majority practice more than 3 of last 5 yrs (secondary)
- UBE minimum
- 270 beginning with February 2024 UBE (272 for earlier administrations)
- UBE score window
- No more than 30 months from the first day of the UBE that resulted in the score
- MPRE
- 75, no recency stated
- Other routes
- Pa.B.A.R. 302 in-house corporate counsel (limited to employer); 303 military attorneys (active-duty JAGs); 304 military spouses (supervised practice) (SUMMARY)
- Foreign attorneys
- Yes - foreign legal consultants may be licensed without examination if qualified; foreign attorneys/graduates may be extended Rule 203 examination or Rule 206 score transfer provisions
- Military spouse
- Yes - limited admission available for spouse of active-duty service member present in Pennsylvania if all Rule 304 requirements satisfied
1 not found in the pulled documents
- Reciprocity states
- Not in the pulled documents
State-court pro hac vice
- Rule
- Pa.B.A.R. 301; Pa.R.C.P. 1012.1 (motion content); 204 Pa. Code 81.505
- Local counsel
- PA-barred sponsoring attorney required (Pa.B.A.R. 301)
- Fee
- $375 per attorney per case to PA IOLTA Board
- Procedure
- Online application to Disciplinary Board with fee (processed within 3 business days); then motion in court
1 not found in the pulled documents
- Limits
- Not in the pulled documents
Language from the source documents
12 quoted passages
On motion
Presentation of proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has for a period of five years of the last seven years immediately preceding the date of filing of the application for admission to the bar of this Commonwealth devoted a major portion of time and energy to the practice of law in one or more states.pabarexam.org
UBE transfer
Beginning with the February 2024 UBE, the minimum scaled score required to constitute satisfactory completion of the UBE for purposes of Pennsylvania bar admission shall be 270.pabarexam.org
Local counsel
(i) The applicant’s candidacy for pro hac vice admission shall be made by motion by a sponsor, who is member of the bar of this Commonwealth in accordance with Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1012.1 (Admission Pro Hac Vice. Motion. Content);pabarexam.org
On-motion fee
The applicant, upon filing a motion under this rule, shall pay a fee of $50.00 (plus the additional cost involved, if an engrossed certificate of admission to the bar is desired).pabarexam.org
Years of practice
for a period of five years of the last seven years immediately preceding the date of filing of the application for admission to the bar of this Commonwealthpabarexam.org
On-motion fee
shall pay a fee of $50.00 (plus the additional cost involved, if an engrossed certificate of admission to the bar is desired)pabarexam.org
UBE score window
No more than 30 months have passed from the first day of the UBE that resulted in the score the applicant seeks to transfer.law.cornell.edu
MPRE
The minimum scaled score required to constitute satisfactory completion of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (“MPRE”) for purposes of Pennsylvania bar admission shall be 75.pabarexam.org
Foreign attorneys
An applicant may be licensed to practice in this Commonwealth as a foreign legal consultant, without examination, if the applicant:pabarexam.org
Military spouse
An applicant may apply for limited admission to the practice of law in Pennsylvania as a spouse of an active-duty service member of the United States Uniformed Services if all requirements of this rule are satisfied.pabarexam.org