New Mexico Bar Reciprocity

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

Requirement	New Mexico
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$2,500
Is the MPRE required?	Yes, minimum score of 80

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 Mexico?

Law teaching
Government agency
Military
In-house corporate
Judicial court of record
New Mexico requires the qualifying practice to have been performed in at least one jurisdiction that it recognizes as reciprocal.

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

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

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

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

Yes. New Mexico currently recognizes these jurisdictions as reciprocal:

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

Other New Mexico Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? No
Is New Mexico 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
Applicants who did not graduate from an ABA-approved law school may qualify under New Mexico’s alternative legal education requirements. Admission-on-motion applicants must also complete the New Mexico Law Class before admission.

New Mexico UBE Score Transfer Requirements

New Mexico 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	New Mexico
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	260
Maximum UBE Score Age	5 years
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in July 2026; New Mexico first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2027
Minimum NextGen Score	610

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my UBE score to New Mexico?

Yes. New Mexico accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 260 and NextGen UBE scores of at least 610. A transferred score cannot be more than 5 years old.

Can I waive into the New Mexico Bar?

Yes. Qualified attorneys may seek admission without examination if they have practiced law for at least 5 of the past 7 years in a reciprocal jurisdiction and meet New Mexico’s other admission requirements.

Does New Mexico require reciprocity for admission on motion?

Yes. New Mexico’s admission-on-motion pathway is based on reciprocity. Applicants must have qualifying practice in a jurisdiction that New Mexico recognizes as reciprocal.