Massachusetts Bar Reciprocity

Massachusetts’s Admission on Motion: Years of Practice and Qualifying Practice

Requirement	Massachusetts
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$1,015 + C&F fee
Is the MPRE required?	Yes, minimum score of 85

Note: Admission requirements vary by state. Review each state’s page for additional eligibility requirements and conditions.

What Work May Qualify as Practice in Massachusetts?

Law teaching
Government agency
Military
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record

I’m Licensed in Massachusetts: Where Can I Apply for Admission on Motion?

Attorneys licensed in Massachusetts may qualify to apply for admission on motion in:

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Can Attorneys From Other States Apply for Admission on Motion in Massachusetts?

Yes. Attorneys licensed in any U.S. state may apply for Massachusetts admission on motion. It is not limited to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions.

Other Massachusetts Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? No
Is Massachusetts admission on motion based on reciprocity? No
Are attorneys admitted by diploma privilege eligible? Yes
Must I be in good standing? Yes
Is character and fitness review required? Yes
Admission-on-motion applicants must also complete the Massachusetts Law Component before admission.

Massachusetts UBE Score Transfer Requirements

Massachusetts accepts qualifying Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE scores earned in other jurisdictions. This pathway is separate from the 5-of-7-year admission-on-motion pathway.

Requirement	Massachusetts
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	270
Maximum UBE Score Age	5 years
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in July 2026; Massachusetts first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2028
Minimum NextGen Score	620

Looking to Practice or Expand in Massachusetts?

Whether you’re expanding into Massachusetts or growing an existing practice, Legal Soft helps law firms build legal teams with experienced paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal professionals across the United States.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my UBE score to Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 270 and NextGen UBE scores of at least 620. A transferred score cannot be more than 5 years old.

Can I waive into the Massachusetts Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar without taking the bar examination if they have practiced or taught law for at least 5 of the past 7 years and meet Massachusetts’s other admission requirements.

Does Massachusetts require reciprocity for admission on motion?

No. Massachusetts does not limit admission on motion to attorneys from reciprocal jurisdictions. Attorneys licensed in any U.S. state may apply if they meet Massachusetts’s other admission requirements.