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District of Columbia Admission on Motion
Bar Exam Project wiki article. Part of the District of Columbia Bar Exam cluster.
District of Columbia permits experienced attorneys admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction to be admitted to the District of Columbia Bar without taking the bar exam, under D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 46 (Admission by Motion / UBE Transfer). This page covers eligibility, qualifying practice, fees, and how to navigate the application.
One-line summary
Under D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 46 (Admission by Motion / UBE Transfer), an attorney admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction with 3 of the last 5 years (admission on motion) OR UBE score 266 within 5 years (UBE transfer) of qualifying practice may be admitted to District of Columbia without bar exam. The fee is $543. The MPRE 75 requirement and Character & Fitness clearance still apply. Reciprocity context: not reciprocity-limited — DC has one of the most permissive admission frameworks in the U.S..
Rule overview
D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 46 (Admission by Motion / UBE Transfer) permits admission to the District of Columbia Bar without bar examination for an attorney who:
- Is admitted to practice law in the highest court of any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia.
- Has been engaged in the active practice of law for 3 of the last 5 years (admission on motion) OR UBE score 266 within 5 years (UBE transfer).
- Earned a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school (or equivalent).
- Has passed the MPRE with a score of 75 or higher (in District of Columbia or another U.S. jurisdiction).
- Is in good standing in every jurisdiction where admitted.
- Clears the District of Columbia Character & Fitness review.
The practice-time test
The 3 of the last 5 years (admission on motion) OR UBE score 266 within 5 years (UBE transfer) test means: in the relevant period immediately preceding the date you file your application, you must have been actively practicing law for the qualifying duration. Inactive periods (parental leave, illness, sabbatical) generally do not count toward the practice years. The practice can be in one or multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
What counts as qualifying practice
Most District of Columbia admission-on-motion rules accept the following as qualifying practice:
- Private practice as a member, associate, or employee of any law firm, with active client representation.
- In-house corporate counsel at a U.S. corporation or its U.S. affiliate.
- Government practice at any level (federal, state, local) in a position requiring bar admission.
- Judicial clerkships (federal or state).
- Military legal services in a JAG-style role.
- Law teaching as a full-time faculty member at an ABA-approved law school.
What does not count: paralegal work, legal-adjacent business roles, lobbying without bar-required practice, or work in jurisdictions that don’t recognize you as licensed.
Reciprocity
Not reciprocity-limited — dc has one of the most permissive admission frameworks in the u.s..
MPRE and Character & Fitness
Admission-on-motion applicants must show MPRE 75+ (any U.S. jurisdiction) and clear District of Columbia’s Character & Fitness review. Free MPRE practice: MBEmax MPRE.
Fees and timeline
Application fee: $543. Plus Character & Fitness review fee where applicable, plus per-jurisdiction Certificate of Good Standing fees ($25-$50 each, set by each jurisdiction). Processing typically runs 4-9 months from filing to admission, depending on C&F review complexity.
Required documentation
- Proof of J.D. from an ABA-approved law school (or equivalent).
- Bar admission certificates from every jurisdiction where admitted.
- Certificate of Good Standing from every jurisdiction where currently admitted.
- MPRE score report.
- Detailed employment history covering the relevant period, with employer attestation forms for each qualifying position.
- Character & Fitness questionnaire with full disclosure of criminal, civil, financial, academic, and disciplinary history.
Common pitfalls
- Misreading the practice test. The 3 of the last 5 years (admission on motion) OR UBE score 266 within 5 years (UBE transfer) count is from the date of application, not lifetime practice.
- Disclosing thinly. Character & Fitness treats non-disclosure more harshly than the underlying conduct.
- Underestimating C&F timeline. Even routine reviews take months.
Alternative paths if you don’t qualify
- If you don’t meet the practice test, sit for the District of Columbia Bar Examination under the standard rules.
- If you have a UBE passing score from another jurisdiction earned within the score-life window, transfer that score into District of Columbia (separate path).
Companion pages
Sources
- D.C. Court of Appeals Committee on Admissions (COA) — https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/.
- NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements — District of Columbia.