New Jersey Bar Reciprocity

New Jersey’s Admission on Motion: Years of Practice and Qualifying Practice

Requirement	New Jersey
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$1,500
Is the MPRE required?	No, if an approved ethics course is completed; otherwise minimum score of 75

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

What Work May Qualify as Practice in New Jersey?

Law teaching
Government agency
Military
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record
New Jersey generally requires qualifying practice to have been performed for more than 20 hours per week during 5 of the 7 years immediately before applying.

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

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

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

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

Yes. New Jersey currently recognizes these jurisdictions as reciprocal:

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

Note: New Jersey specifically identifies CA, DE, FL, HI, LA, NV, PR, RI, SC, and WV as nonreciprocal jurisdictions.

Other New Jersey Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? Yes
Is New Jersey admission on motion based on reciprocity? Yes
Are attorneys admitted by diploma privilege eligible? No
Must I be in good standing? Yes
Is character and fitness review required? Yes

New Jersey UBE Score Transfer Requirements

New Jersey accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores earned in other jurisdictions. New Jersey has adopted the NextGen UBE for July 2028, but its NextGen score-transfer policy has not yet been announced.

Requirement	New Jersey
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	266
Maximum UBE Score Age	36 months
NextGen UBE	Transfer acceptance TBA; New Jersey first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2028
Minimum NextGen Score	TBA

Looking to Practice or Expand in New Jersey?

Whether you’re expanding into New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 266 earned within the past 36 months. Its NextGen UBE transfer requirements are still TBA.

Can I waive into the New Jersey Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may seek admission on motion after practicing law for at least 5 of the past 7 years, provided they are admitted in a reciprocal jurisdiction and meet New Jersey’s other requirements.

Does New Jersey require reciprocity for admission on motion?

Yes. New Jersey requires applicants to be admitted and in good standing in a jurisdiction that extends reciprocal admission by motion to New Jersey attorneys.