Bar Reciprocity States: Which States Have Reciprocal Admission?
Bar reciprocity lets attorneys waive into a new state without taking another exam — but only if your home state would do the same for their attorneys. Here's how it works, which states participate, and why your current admission determines everything.
Check which reciprocal states you qualify for
Enter your bar admissions and years of practice — the calculator automatically checks reciprocity for each state.
Check My Eligibility →How Bar Reciprocity Works
Reciprocity is simple in principle: State A will let lawyers from State B waive in, as long as State B would let State A's lawyers waive in. It's a mutual arrangement — "we'll accept your lawyers if you'll accept ours."
In practice, a reciprocal state checks whether your home state offers admission on motion (either open or reciprocal). If it does, you satisfy the reciprocity requirement. If your home state doesn't offer motion admission at all — like California, Florida, or Louisiana — you'll be locked out of reciprocal states.
This is separate from open motion states, which accept any licensed attorney regardless of where they're admitted.
The Three Categories
Open Motion States (24 states)
These states accept any licensed attorney for motion admission, regardless of where they're admitted. No reciprocity check needed.
Alaska, Colorado, DC, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
Reciprocal Motion States (20 states)
These states require your home state to offer motion admission. If you're admitted in an open motion state, you generally qualify.
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, Wyoming.
No Motion Admission (8 states)
These states don't offer motion admission at all, meaning their attorneys can't satisfy reciprocity requirements elsewhere.
California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii (very limited), Louisiana, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Carolina.
Why Your Home State Matters So Much
If you're admitted in Texas (open motion), you can potentially waive into all 24 open motion states plus all 20 reciprocal states — that's 44 jurisdictions accessible without a new bar exam.
If you're admitted in California (no motion), you can potentially waive into the 24 open motion states, but you're locked out of all 20 reciprocal states — because California doesn't reciprocate.
This asymmetry is one of the most important and least understood aspects of bar portability.
Reciprocal States: Requirements at a Glance
| State | Years Required | Fee | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5 of past 6 | $875 | Requires AL residency |
| Arizona | 3 of past 5 | $2,000 | Must be from reciprocal jurisdiction |
| Arkansas | 3 of past 5 | $1,500 | |
| Connecticut | 5 of past 10 | $1,800 | |
| Georgia | 5 of past 7 | $1,300 | Not UBE — motion is the only alternative to GA exam |
| Kentucky | 5 of past 7 | $1,500 | |
| Mississippi | 5 years | $1,500 | Limited to specific recognized states |
| New Hampshire | 5 of past 7 | $2,500 | 3 years for ME/VT attorneys |
| New Jersey | 5 of past 7 | $1,500 | Ethics course required |
| New Mexico | 5 of past 7 | $2,500 | |
| New York | 5 of past 7 | $400 | Lowest reciprocal motion fee |
| North Carolina | 4 of past 6 | $2,000 | |
| Oklahoma | 3 of past 5 | $2,000 | All practice must be in a reciprocal state |
| Pennsylvania | 5 of past 7 | $1,325 | |
| South Dakota | 3 of past 5 | $650 | Not a UBE state |
| Utah | 3 of past 5 | $850 | |
| Virginia | 3 of past 5 | $2,500 | Requires 5+ years total admission |
| Virgin Islands | 5 of past 7 | $2,500 | |
| West Virginia | 5 of past 7 | $2,000 | |
| Wyoming | 5 of past 7 | $600 | Requires 300 hrs/yr |
Bilateral Agreements
A few states have special bilateral arrangements that reduce the standard requirements:
New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine have a trilateral agreement. Attorneys admitted in any of these three states can apply for motion in the others with only 3 years of practice, compared to the standard 5-year requirement.
These bilateral arrangements exist because of the geographic proximity and shared legal communities in northern New England.
Strategic Implications
If you're early in your career, getting your initial admission in an open motion state is strategically important for long-term portability. Even if you plan to practice in California, consider also getting admitted in a UBE state with open motion — DC is particularly attractive since it requires no active practice, just 3 years of good standing.
For attorneys already admitted only in non-reciprocal states, the most efficient path to unlocking reciprocal jurisdictions is usually to gain admission in a state with easy motion requirements. Washington (1 year of practice) or DC (3 years good standing, no practice requirement) are the fastest on-ramps.
See your reciprocity status across every state
The calculator checks each reciprocal state against your specific admissions and flags exactly which states satisfy each other's requirements.
Check My Portability →All data verified against NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements: Charts 14 and 15 (March 2026). Always verify with the jurisdiction's bar admissions authority before applying. This is not legal advice.
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