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Connecticut Bar Examining Committee

 Admission Without Examination
 Instructions, forms & requirements
 (on motion/reciprocity)

Be sure you read and understand the rules of the Superior Court and the regulations of the Bar Examining Committee governing Admission to the Connecticut bar.
 

 		 
 
Admission Requirements: (Connecticut Practice Book)

The following summary of the requirements for admission without examination is for guidance only. See the rules for the exact language of the requirements which language is controlling:

1) Degree from an approved law school (PB 2-13)

2) Good moral character and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which admitted (Rule 2-13(1))

3) Admitted to the bar in at least one jurisdiction which will admit Connecticut attorneys to its bar without examination under provisions similar to those in Rule 2-13. List of Reciprocal Jurisdictions

4) Duly licensed to practice law and lawfully engaged in the practice of law as principal means of livelihood in such reciprocal jurisdiction for at least five of the last seven years immediately preceeding filing for admission in Connecticut (Rule 2-13(2))

5) Intention to practice in Connecticut and to devote the major portion of working time to the practice of law in Connecticut (Rule 2-13(4))

6) Score of at least "80" on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) or a "C" or better in a course in professional responsibility at an ABA-approved law school. Such passing score or grade must be achieved within four years before or one year after an application for admission to the Connecticut bar is filed. (N.B. You are not eligible for admission to the bar until you have met this requirement. As a general rule, a course taken while in law school will be too old to qualify to waive the MPRE. A current course in professional responsibility may, of course, be used to fulfill the requirement in lieu of the MPRE.) (Rule 2-13(1)).

7) The following will generally be acceptable as the practice of law for the purposes of admission under Section 2-13:

  • Private practice of law
  • Corporate practice in the legal department
  • Title Examiner at a title company
  • Legal Aid attorney, Attorney General, District Attorney, States Attorney or Public Defender
  • Government attorney including military practice (Judge Advocate)
  • Judge (state or federal)
  • Law Clerk to state or federal judge
  • Full-time professor of law at a CBEC-approved law school

8) The forms for admission without exam are listed below. See How to use Acrobat® fillable forms.

Form and Title Fillable PDF
Form M-1 - Application M-1
Form M-2 - Additional response page M-2
Form M-3 - Amendment M-3
Form M-4 - Affidavit of good standing M-4
Form M-5 - Certificate of intention to practice in Connecticut M-5
Form M-6 - Two summary sheets M-6
Form M-7 - Return address labels M-7
Instructions for Forms M8, M9, M10 & M11 Instruc.
Form M-8 - Affidavit of Connecticut attorney M-8
Form M-9 - Affidavit of attorney licensed in a jurisdiction in which you are licensed M-9
Form M-10 - Personal reference letter M-10
Form M-10A - Personal reference letter list M-10A
Form M-11 - Employer reference letter M-11
Form M-11A - Employer reference letter list M-11A
Form M-12 - Certificate of dean of law school M-12
Form M-13 - Description of Mental, Emotional, Nervous Disorders or Chemical Dependency M-13
Form M-14 - Authorization to Release Medical Records M-14
Form M-15 - Certificate of Actual Practice M-15
Form M-16 - Military Service M-16
Form M-17 - Status Sheet M-17

9) The completed application and supporting documents are to be sent to:

Connecticut Bar Examining Committee
Motion Application Department
100 Washington Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106-4411

10) The application must be typewritten or completed on our fill-in form. Handwritten applications will be returned unprocessed.

11) Attach a self-addressed, stamped post card to your application if you wish an immediate acknowledgement of your filing.

12) The average time from filing an application to granting a temporary license is five months.

13) The filing fee is $1000.00. All fees must be paid by certified check or money order payable to: Connecticut Bar Examining Committee. Fees are non refundable. No personal, corporate or law firm checks will be accepted.

14) The following supporting documents are required for a complete application:

_____ a) Official transcripts (with seals) from all undergraduate institutions attended whether or not a degree was received.
_____ b) Official transcripts (with seals) from all graduate institutions attended whether or not a degree was received.
_____ c) Official transcripts (with seals) from all law schools attended whether or not a degree was received.
_____ d) Certificate of Dean of Law School (Form M12) from law school where JD or LLB was obtained
_____ e) Copy of every bar application filed (refer to Question #22 on the application).
_____ f) Certificate of Good Standing from each court before which you are entitled to practice (refer to Question #23 on the application).
_____ g) Affidavits (Form M8) from two Connecticut attorneys
_____ h) Affidavits (Form M9) from two attorneys admitted to practice in a jurisdiction in which you are currently licensed.
_____ i) Certified copies of your driving history from the Department of Motor Vehicles in each jurisdiction in which you hold or have ever held a driver's license or a no-record letter from the jurisdiction's DMV.
_____ j) Certificate of Intention (Form M5)
_____ k) Affidavit of good standing (Form M4)
_____ l) Personal Reference Letters (Forms M10A & M10)
_____ m) Employer Reference Letters (Forms M11A & M11)
_____ n) Form M6 in duplicate
_____ o) Form M7
_____ p) Form M15
_____ q) Form M17

15) Notify the administrative office immediately of any address changes.
 


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