Admission by Reciprocity
To be eligible for admission without examination in Alaska (commonly called reciprocity), the applicant must have taken and passed a written bar exam in a reciprocal state, territory, or D.C. and have engaged in the active practice of law in one or more states, territories, or D.C. for five of the seven years immediately preceding the date of application. The applicant must also have passed the MPRE and meet other admission requirements.
All applicants are subject to a determination of character and fitness. This can take at least 3-4 months, depending on each individual application. There is no way for us to expedite this process as we treat all applications with priority. Once the character investigation is complete, your application will be reviewed at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
You must respond completely and provide all relevant details and documents for each and every question on the application. If the question asks you to provide names, dates, numbers, details, or documents, you must provide them. If no response is given or insufficient information is provided in response to any question, your application may be delayed or denied.
You must update your application if anything occurs after submission that would change or alter any of your answers to the questions on the application. Your application must be kept current to the date of admission.
For details, please see:
Alaska Bar Rule 2, Section 2 (Section 2 outlines eligibility requirements for reciprocity applicants)
Reciprocal Jurisdictions (Current list of states that provide for admission without examination)
Application Checklist
1. Application for admission by reciprocity.
2. Application fee of $1,500
3. Authorization & Release form (must be notarized)
4. Photo Submission Form - must include TWO passport sized (2x2) photos; must be mailed to Bar
5. Fingerprint card (instructions) - One properly executed Standard Applicant Fingerprint Card; must be mailed to Bar
6. At least three affidavits from employers, clients, associates or other attorneys or judges, which will establish that the applicant has engaged in the active practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding the date of application to the Alaska Bar (see the definition of "active practice" in Alaska Bar Rule 2, Section 2(c)). The affidavits must be notarized.
Note: The affidavits are a distinct form, and are in addition to, the employment and personal references in the application.
It is YOUR responsibility to arrange to have the following items sent directly to the Alaska Bar Association from each respective authority. You cannot have them sent to you and then submit them to our office.
Request the following to be sent directly to the Alaska Bar Association from the authority:
1. Certificate of graduation from law school: The Certificate of Graduation is an original letter, on school letterhead, verifying your degree and the date received. If the school uses a seal, it will also include the school seal. Most law schools are familiar with this document, but if they have questions, please have them contact our office and ask for admissions.
2. Certificate of Good Standing from each state or D.C., to which you have been admitted; must have been issued within the previous three months.
3. Statement of Bar Passage. At least one of the reciprocal jurisdictions must certify that you
passed the written bar exam required by that jurisdiction prior to
admission. This may be a separate document or included in a Certificate of Good Standing, depending on each individual jurisdiction.
4. Discipline history from each State Bar to which you are admitted; must have been issued within the previous three months.
6. MPRE score of 80 or higher from NCBE at an exam taken not more than eight years prior to your application for admission. The score can be submitted any time prior to admission.
Supplemental Application Materials
1. Applicants with a military history must submit a Standard Form 180
2. Resident aliens must submit with their application an appropriate affidavit specifying sufficient facts to enable the Alaska Bar to verify his or her status with the Immigration & Naturalization Service.
The affidavit should contain the following:
- A statement that the individual is swearing under oath to the truthfulness of the information contained in the affidavit and any attachments.
- The information being sworn to
- Signature
- And an attestation of a notary public or other official authorized to administer oaths.
Withdrawals and Refunds: An administrative fee of $175 will be withheld if the application is denied on the basis of character, or if the applicant withdraws the application after the character investigation is commenced.
An administrative fee of $50 will be withheld if the application is denied because the applicant fails to demonstrate eligibility for admission via reciprocity, or if the applicant withdraws the application before the character investigation is commenced.