For an attorney to be admitted on motion in Arizona, the attorney's current jurisdiction must offer reciprocal admission on motion to Arizona attorneys. This reciprocity ensures that attorneys from Arizona have the same opportunity in the other jurisdiction.
All attorneys seeking admission on motion in Arizona must pass a character and fitness evaluation. This process involves a background check to ensure that the attorney meets the ethical and professional standards required to practice law in Arizona. A disciplinary history may not automatically disqualify an applicant, but it will be evaluated during the process.
To qualify for admission on motion in Arizona, an attorney must have been actively practicing law in another U.S. jurisdiction for at least 5 of the last 7 years. Arizona does not require the attorney to have attended a top-ranked law school, taken the MBE, or be a resident of the state.
Attorneys seeking admission on motion in Arizona must have passed the MPRE with a minimum score of 85. While this score may have been achieved at any point in the past, it is a requirement for admission on motion.
Teaching law full-time at an ABA-accredited law school qualifies as "active practice of law" under Arizona's admission on motion rules. Paralegal work, legislative assistance, and extended breaks from practicing law generally do not meet the "active practice" requirement.
