All Announcements
Admission on Motion Application Affidavit Requirement
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 definition of the “active practice of law” is outlined in Alaska Bar Rule 2, Section 2(c). Admission on motion applicants are required to provide three affidavits in order to establish active practice. While the affidavit requirement has not changed, we recently updated the language in the application checklist to better assist applicants with this requirement. The FAQs have also been updated.
Updated language:
Provide at least three affidavits from employers, clients, associates, attorneys or judges showing that, taken together, establish that you engaged in the "active practice of law" (as defined in Alaska Bar Rule 2, Section 2(c)) for at least 750 hours per year for three of the five years immediately before your application to the Alaska Bar. 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. The five-year period is measured on a rolling basis from the date of application, not by calendar year.
The affidavits must:
- Be notarized
- Identify the affiant's position and how they know your work; and
- Describe the legal work performed and provide enough detail for the Alaska Bar to determine the amount of qualifying work. For example, approximate hours worked per year, or whether your work was full-time during the period the affiant can personally verify.
No single affidavit must cover the entire three-of-five-year period; the affidavits collectively must demonstrate that you meet the 750-hour-per-year standard for at least three of the five years. Supplemental affidavits may be submitted if needed to establish the minimum practice requirement.
See the Admission FAQs for additional information.
New General Application Requirement
The Alaska Bar Association now requires additional applicant verification as a general application requirement. All applicants will be required to provide a copy of either an IRS Form I-9, a government-issued ID, or a government-issued driver’s license. This change is effective October 1, 2025, for all new applications.
February 2026 Alaska Bar Exam Application
The online application for the February 2026 Alaska Bar Exam is now open.
The online application, fee, and non-standard testing forms are due by the deadlines listed below. The required documents listed on the application checklist must be received before an exam permit will be issued. However, they are not due by the deadlines below. Exam permits are issued in early February. Additional information will be sent to applicants by email after the deadlines.
Information on Bar Exam Dates, Deadlines, Fees, and Locations: https://admissions.alaskabar.org/bar-exam-dates
February 24 & 25, 2026 Bar Exam
December 1, 2025 - $850
Reapplicants from February/July 2025 Alaska Bar Exam:
December 1, 2025 - $600
Laptop Registration Fee: $125
Non-Standard Testing Accommodations Application: December 1
Non-Standard Testing Application and Policy: https://admissions.alaskabar.org/non-standard-testing
Non-Standard Testing Forms: https://admissions.alaskabar.org/non-standard-testing-forms
Board of Governors Meeting Dates
Upcoming meeting dates for the Board of Governors:
October 30 & 31, 2025
January 22 & 23, 2026
April 28 & 29, 2026
Once the character investigation is complete and all documents have been received, your application will be reviewed at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting. While meetings are open to the public, applicants will only be discussed during Executive Session. The soonest you will be notified if your application is approved for admission is by email.
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.
Swearing-In Ceremony
The swearing-in ceremony for new members is scheduled for:
Thursday, November 13, 2025
3:30 p.m.
Supreme Court Courtroom - Boney Courthouse
303 K Street, 5th Floor
Admissions paperwork is due to the Alaska Bar Association office by Monday, November 10, 2025. The admissions paperwork may be found on your application homepage under forms. The prorated membership fees for the balance of the year (computed at the rate of $1.81 per day) are $86.88, provided you are sworn in at the ceremony. Prorated dues may be paid by check or over the phone.
In addition to being sworn into the Alaska Bar Association, new members will also have the opportunity to be sworn to practice before the United States District Court. The paperwork will become available after the October 30, 2025 Board of Governors meeting. The forms and payment must be returned directly to the U.S. District Court Clerk by Monday, November 10, 2025.
Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Alaska Court System Live Stream: https://stream.akcourts.gov/
Additional requirements for admission may be found by visiting the additional admissions requirements page.
Questions? Contact info@alaskabar.org
Admission on Motion and Waiver Updates
Following a request from the Board of Governors, the Supreme Court signed SCO 2031 amending Bar Rules 2, 3, 43, 43.1, 43.3, 43.4, and 44 concerning admission and practice waiver requirements. In addition to some minor changes, this order amended the Bar Rules to:
- eliminate the requirement of a written bar exam passage from admission on motion;
- reduce the years of practice required for admission on motion to 3 out of 5 years;
- eliminate reciprocity requirement and expand admission on motion to any state, territory, or the District of Columbia; and
- eliminate the failure of a bar exam as a reason to deny admission on motion or revoke a practice waiver.
This Bar Rule goes into effect on November 18, 2024.
Supreme Court Announces Intent to Adopt Next Generation Bar Exam
Following a request from the Board of Governors, the Supreme Court will be assisting with a working group to adopt the NextGen Bar Exam. The intent is to begin score transfers by July 2026 and to administer the exam July 2028.