ALASKA BAR ASSOCIATION

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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.