Texas Admission on Motion

Bar Exam Project wiki article. Part of the Texas Bar Exam cluster.

Texas allows U.S. attorneys to be admitted without taking the bar exam if they have actively practiced law for five of the seven preceding years in another U.S. jurisdiction in good standing. Unusually for a U.S. state, the Texas rule is not based on reciprocity — you do not need your home jurisdiction to extend a similar courtesy to Texas attorneys.

One-line summary

Five of seven years of active U.S. practice in good standing in another state qualifies. No UBE, no MPRE waiver, no reciprocity test. MPRE 85 still required.

Who qualifies

Active and continuous U.S. practice for five of the seven years immediately preceding the application, in good standing, in any U.S. state or territory. Time on inactive status, suspended status, or in foreign practice does not count. Foreign attorneys cannot use admission on motion; they must follow the foreign-trained path and pass the UBE in Texas (or transfer a UBE score).

Why "non-reciprocity" matters

Most U.S. states with admission on motion require the applicant’s home jurisdiction to substantially match the local admission requirements (a reciprocity test). New York, for example, requires both five-of-seven years and a reciprocal home jurisdiction. Texas drops the reciprocity test entirely — if you have the years, you can apply, regardless of whether Texas attorneys could be admitted on motion in your home state. This makes Texas one of the most accessible states for experienced out-of-state attorneys.

Application process

Apply through the Texas Board of Law Examiners. Submit certificates of good standing from every U.S. jurisdiction in which you have been admitted, an affidavit of practice describing the qualifying years, character-and-fitness investigation materials, MPRE 85 minimum, and the application fee. Processing takes several months.

What still applies

MPRE 85 minimum: yes, required (admission on motion does not waive MPRE). Character-and-fitness investigation: yes, required. Texas-specific oath and admission paperwork after approval. There is no Texas Law Course or Texas Law Exam equivalent — nothing analogous to the New York NYLC/NYLE.

Common pitfalls

Counting time on inactive status. Counting time in territories that do not satisfy the active-practice test. Failing to maintain good standing in every jurisdiction during the five-of-seven window. Letting the application sit incomplete because of one missing certificate of good standing. Applying without first verifying eligibility through the Texas Board of Law Examiners.

Companion pages

Sources

Texas Board of Law Examiners (ble.texas.gov), Admission Without Examination Information page; NCBE, Admission on Motion: Legal Education and Reciprocity Requirements Texas chart; Supreme Court of Texas Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas.

Texas Admission on Motion (Non-Reciprocity 5-of-7 Rule)

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