Rule 38(a) requires annual registration with the State Bar of Arizona for lawyers who are not admitted to practice in Arizona, but who are employed in Arizona by an entity, or one of its specified affiliates, as "in-house counsel," as that term is defined in this rule.
Arizona Announces Plan to Adopt NextGen Bar Exam in July 2027. MADISON, WISCONSIN, December 5, 2023 — Arizona is among the first jurisdictions to announce that it will administer the NextGen bar exam, which will replace the exam currently used to license attorneys across the US.
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Arizona lawyers have annual CLE reporting requirements. The educational cycle is July 1 to the following June 30. During that time, each lawyer, unless exempted, must acquire a total of 15 hours of CLE, of which a minimum of 3 hours must be in professional responsibility/ethics.
Arizona Reciprocity Arizona offers reciprocity on motion to attorneys from the following states: AK, CO, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, and WY.
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE®) has announced that a new Next Generation (NextGen) Bar exam will replace the current Bar exam in July of 2026.
The Arizona Supreme Court's bar exam currently requires 270 points to pass, but a new rule will allow candidates scoring 260 to 269 to practice law under supervision. To be fully admitted, they must manage a caseload under supervision at a public law office or a private firm in a rural area for 2 years.
California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.
Washington is the second state to not require the bar exam, following Oregon, which implemented the change at the start of this year. Other states, including Minnesota, Nevada, South Dakota and Utah, are examining alternative pathways to licensure.
There is no bar reciprocity in California, though the state does offer a modified bar exam to those who have actively practiced law for at least four years immediately preceding their bar application.
Arizona Reciprocity Arizona offers reciprocity on motion to attorneys from the following states: AK, CO, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, and WY.