MINNESOTA COURT RULES

PROFESSIONAL RULES

Rules for Admission to the Bar

Rule 7.Admission Without Examination

A.Eligibility by Practice.

(1) Requirements. An applicant may be eligible for admission without examination if the applicant otherwise qualifies for admission under Rule 4 (excluding applicants who qualify only under Rule 4A(3)(b)) and provides documentary evidence showing that for at least 36 of the 60 months immediately preceding the application, the applicant:

(a) Held a license to practice law in active status;

(b) Was in good standing before the highest court of all jurisdictions where admitted; and

(c) Was engaged in the lawful practice of law for at least 1,000 hours per year as a:

i. Lawyer representing one or more clients, including on a pro bono basis;

ii. Lawyer in a law firm, professional corporation, or association;

iii. Judge in a court of law;

iv. Lawyer for any local or state governmental entity;

v. House counsel for a corporation, agency, association, or trust department;

vi. Lawyer with the federal government or a federal governmental agency including service as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Department of one of the military branches of the United States;

vii. Full-time faculty member in any approved law school; and/or

viii. Judicial law clerk whose primary responsibility is legal research and writing.

(2) Jurisdiction. The lawful practice of law described in Rule 7A(1)(c)(i) through (v) must have been performed in a jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted, or performed in a jurisdiction that permits the practice of law by a lawyer not admitted in that jurisdiction. Practice described in Rule 7A(1)(c)(vi) through (viii) may have been performed outside the jurisdiction where the applicant is licensed.

B.Eligibility for Admission by MBE Score.

An applicant may be eligible for admission without examination under Rule 4A(4) if the applicant has received a scaled score of 145 or higher on the MBE taken as a part of and at the same time as the essay or other part of a written bar examination given by another jurisdiction, was successful on that bar examination, and was subsequently admitted in that jurisdiction. The applicant shall submit evidence of the score and a completed application to the Board within 36 months of the date of the qualifying examination being used as the basis for the admission.

C.Eligibility for Admission by UBE Score.

An applicant may be eligible for admission without examination under Rule 4A(4) if the applicant has received a scaled score of 260 or higher earned in another jurisdiction on the UBE and the score is certified as a UBE score by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

(1) Application Deadline. The applicant shall submit evidence of the score and a complete application for admission to the Board within 36 months of the date of the qualifying examination being used as the basis for the admission.

(2) Concurrent Application. An applicant may submit the application prior to obtaining the qualifying UBE score by enclosing with the application evidence that the applicant is registered for the next administration of the UBE or is awaiting examination results in a UBE jurisdiction. An applicant who has applied under this rule must submit evidence of a qualifying UBE score within 12 months of the date the application is received or the applicant will be deemed ineligible and the file closed.

D.Transfer of MBE or UBE Score.

An applicant seeking to transfer a MBE or UBE score achieved in another jurisdiction to Minnesota shall submit a written request for transfer to the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

E.MBE Score Advisory.

Upon written request, the director will advise an applicant or potential applicant who took and passed a bar examination in another jurisdiction whether or not his or her MBE score satisfies the requirements of Rule 7B. Requests for score advisory shall include the following:

(1) Complete name and social security number of the examinee; and

(2) Month, year, and jurisdiction of test administration.

F.No Waiver of Time Requirements.

The minimum time requirements and the timely filing requirements of this Rule shall be strictly enforced.

G.Eligibility After Unsuccessful Examination.

An applicant may be eligible for admission without examination under this Rule notwithstanding a prior failure on the Minnesota Bar Examination.

(Amended effective March 14, 2000; amended effective September 1, 2004; amended effective July 1, 2007; amended effective September 1, 2011; amended effective February 1, 2013; amended effective November 20, 2018; amended effective April 1, 2020.)