CT Bar Admission on Motion 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If an attorney is admitted in a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico but not in any U.S. state, can she qualify for Connecticut admission on motion?
- Yes, U.S. territories are treated the same as states (Correct answer)
- No, only attorneys admitted in U.S. states qualify
- Yes, but only if the territory offers reciprocal admission
- No, federal territories are excluded from all reciprocal provisions
Correct answer: Yes, U.S. territories are treated the same as states
U.S. territories are generally treated as qualifying jurisdictions for purposes of admission on motion.
Question 2: An applicant for Connecticut admission on motion reveals she is currently the subject of a pending disciplinary investigation in her home state. What must Connecticut do?
- Deny the application outright
- Hold the application in abeyance pending resolution of the investigation (Correct answer)
- Grant admission subject to the outcome of the investigation
- Refer her to the Connecticut Supreme Court for immediate decision
Correct answer: Hold the application in abeyance pending resolution of the investigation
Connecticut typically holds applications in abeyance when a disciplinary investigation is pending in another jurisdiction.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the role of the Statewide Grievance Committee in the Connecticut admission on motion process?
- It processes all admission applications
- It investigates character and fitness issues referred by the bar examining committee (Correct answer)
- It sets the filing fees for admission on motion
- It administers the MPRE to all applicants
Correct answer: It investigates character and fitness issues referred by the bar examining committee
The Statewide Grievance Committee may become involved when there are character and fitness concerns that require investigation.
Question 4: An attorney is admitted in three states and has practiced for 7 years total, but only 4 years in any single state. Does she meet Connecticut's 5-year active practice requirement?
- No, the 5 years must be in a single jurisdiction
- Yes, combined practice years across jurisdictions satisfy the requirement (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if all three states are reciprocal with Connecticut
- No, the years must be consecutive
Correct answer: Yes, combined practice years across jurisdictions satisfy the requirement
Connecticut generally allows combined years of active practice across multiple jurisdictions to satisfy the 5-year requirement.
Question 5: What is the consequence of an attorney making a material misrepresentation on a Connecticut admission on motion application?
- A $500 fine and a warning
- Denial of the application and potential criminal referral (Correct answer)
- Automatic admission is revoked and the attorney must retake the bar
- The application is returned for correction without penalty
Correct answer: Denial of the application and potential criminal referral
Material misrepresentation can result in denial of admission and may also trigger criminal referral for fraud.
Question 6: A Connecticut-admitted attorney who also seeks to appear in federal court in Connecticut must:
- File a separate application with the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (Correct answer)
- Automatically appear in federal court once admitted to the Connecticut bar
- Pass the federal bar examination
- Obtain a federal law license from the U.S. Department of Justice
Correct answer: File a separate application with the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
Federal court admission is separate from state bar admission; attorneys must apply to each federal court independently.
Question 7: Under Connecticut's admission on motion process, who bears the burden of proving good moral character?
- The bar examining committee
- The applicant (Correct answer)
- The Supreme Court
- The applicant's sponsoring attorney
Correct answer: The applicant
The burden of proving good moral character rests with the applicant in bar admission proceedings.
CT Bar Admission on Motion 3
If an attorney is admitted in a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico but not in any U.S. state, can she qualify for Connecticut admission on motion?