Admission on Motion
To be eligible for admission on motion in Alaska, the applicant must have engaged in the active practice of law in one or more states, territories, or D.C. for three of the five 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 admission on motion applicants)
Application Checklist
1. Application for admission on motion.
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. There is no form that we provide.
Each affiant would provide his or her own wording, either stating that they have personal knowledge that you have been actively practicing for three of the five years, or attesting to the specific dates that they know you have been actively practicing law. The three affidavits together should establish active practice for three of the past five years. The affiants should state their position and how they know the applicant.
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. Discipline history from each State Bar to which you are admitted; must have been issued within the previous three months.
4. Fingerprint card (instructions) - One properly executed Standard Applicant Fingerprint Card; must be mailed to Bar
5. 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 $50 will be withheld if the application is denied because the applicant fails to demonstrate eligibility for admission on motion, or if the applicant withdraws the application before the character investigation is commenced.