New York Bar Reciprocity

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

Requirement	New York
Admission on Motion	Yes
Practice Requirement	5 of the past 7 years
Admission on Motion Fee	$400
Is the MPRE required?	No, for admission on motion

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 York?

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

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

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

AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, 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 New York?

Yes. New York currently recognizes these jurisdictions as reciprocal:

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

Other New York Admission on Motion Requirements

Must I have graduated from an ABA-approved law school? Yes
Is New York admission on motion based on reciprocity? Yes
Are attorneys admitted by diploma privilege eligible? Yes
Must I be in good standing? Yes
Is character and fitness review required? Yes

New York UBE Score Transfer Requirements

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

Requirement	New York
UBE Score Transfer	Yes
Minimum Legacy UBE Score	266
Maximum UBE Score Age	3 years
NextGen UBE	First accepted for transfer in July 2028; New York first administers the NextGen UBE in July 2028
Minimum NextGen Score	TBA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my UBE score to New York?

Yes. New York accepts qualifying Legacy UBE scores of at least 266 earned within the past 3 years. New York will begin accepting NextGen UBE transfers in July 2028, but the minimum NextGen score is still TBA.

Can I waive into the New York 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 York’s other requirements.

Does New York require reciprocity for admission on motion?

Yes. New York’s admission-on-motion pathway is based on reciprocity. Applicants must be admitted in at least one jurisdiction that New York recognizes as reciprocal.