MINNESOTA COURT RULES

PROFESSIONAL RULES

Rules for Admission to the Bar

Rule 4.General Requirements for Admission

A.Eligibility for Admission.

The applicant has the burden to prove eligibility for admission by providing satisfactory evidence of the following:

(1) Age of at least 18 years;

(2) Good character and fitness as defined by these Rules;

(3) One of the following:

(a) Graduation with a J.D. or LL.B. degree from a law school that is provisionally or fully approved by the American Bar Association;

(b)(i) A bachelor's degree from an institution that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or foreign equivalent;

(ii) a J.D. degree or equivalent from a law school attended following completion of undergraduate studies;

(iii) the applicant has been licensed to practice law in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia in 60 of the previous 84 months; and

(iv) that the applicant has been engaged, as principal occupation, in the practice of law for 60 of the previous 84 months in one or more of the activities listed in Rule 7A(1)(c); or

(c) the applicant has been licensed to practice law in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia for at least 10 years.

(4) Passing score on the written examination under Rule 6 or qualification under Rules 7A, 7B, 7C, 8, 9, or 10. An applicant eligible under Rule 4A(3)(b) but not under Rule 4A(3)(a) or 4A(3)(c) must provide satisfactory evidence of a passing score on the written examination under Rule 6 and is not eligible for admission under Rule 7A, 7B, 7C, 8, 9, or 10;

(5) A scaled score of 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE); and

(6) Not currently suspended or disbarred from the practice of law in another jurisdiction or any foreign jurisdiction.

B.Application for Admission.

To be accepted as complete, an application must be submitted on a form prescribed by the Board together with the following:

(1) A fee in an amount prescribed by Rule 12;

(2) An authorization for release of information form signed and submitted by the applicant in a manner prescribed by the Board;

(3) For applicants seeking admission by examination, a passport-style photo;

(4) Two affidavits of good character from persons who have known the applicant for at least one year. To be acceptable, each affidavit shall:

(a) Be executed by a person who is unrelated to the applicant by blood or marriage and not living in the same household;

(b) Be executed by a person who was not a fellow law student during the applicant's enrollment;

(c) Describe the duration of time and circumstances under which the affiant has known the applicant;

(d) Describe what the affiant knows about the applicant's character and general reputation; and

(e) Provide other information bearing on the applicant's character and fitness to practice law.

C.Evidence of Graduation (Conferral of Degree).

At least 30 days prior to the examination, each applicant shall cause to be filed a document from the applicant's law school, in a form prescribed by the Board and signed by the dean or other authorized person, stating:

(1) That the law school has conferred a J.D. or LL.B. degree upon the applicant; or

(2) That the applicant has completed all coursework 30 days prior to the examination for which the applicant has applied, fulfilled all requirements for conferral of degree, and will be awarded a J.D. or LL.B. degree within 120 days following the examination. An applicant filing evidence of conferral of degree pursuant to Rule 4D(2) shall cause to be filed a certified transcript verifying the award of the degree within 120 days following the examination.

D.Additional Filing When Admitted Elsewhere.

An applicant who has been admitted to practice in another jurisdiction shall also file or cause to be filed at the time of the application:

(1) A copy of the application for admission to the bar from the bar admissions authority in each jurisdiction in which the applicant has applied for admission to the practice of law;

(2) A document from the proper authority in each other jurisdiction where admitted showing the date of admission to the bar;

(3) A document from the proper authority in each other jurisdiction where admitted stating that the applicant is in good standing; and

(4) A document from the proper authority in each other jurisdiction where admitted indicating whether the applicant is the subject of any pending complaint or charge of misconduct.

E.Applicant Without MPRE Score.

An applicant may file an application without having taken the MPRE. However, the applicant shall not be admitted until he or she has submitted evidence of an MPRE scaled score of 85 or higher. Such applicants must be admitted within 12 months of the date of a written notice from the Board or the application will be considered to have been withdrawn.

F.Additional Information Required.

At the request of the Board, an applicant will be required to obtain and submit additional information.

G.Continuing Obligation to Update Application.

An applicant has a continuing obligation to provide written updates to the application. This obligation continues until such time as the applicant is admitted, the application is withdrawn, or there is a final determination by the Board or Supreme Court. Applicants conditionally admitted under Rule 16 must continue to update their application for the term of the consent agreement.

H.Required Cooperation.

(1) An applicant has the duty to cooperate with the Board and the director by timely complying with requests, including requests to:

(a) Provide complete information, documents, and signed authorizations for release of information;

(b) Obtain reports or other information necessary for the Board to properly evaluate the applicant's fitness to practice;

(c) Appear for interviews to determine eligibility for admission or facilitate the background investigation.

(2) An applicant shall not discourage a person from providing information to the Board or retaliate against a person for providing information to the Board.

(3) If the Board determines that an applicant has breached the duty to cooperate, the Board may deem the application withdrawn, may deny an opportunity to test, or may deny admission.

I.Repeat Examinee.

An applicant who has been unsuccessful on a prior Minnesota Bar Examination may reapply by submitting:

(1) A new application for admission pursuant to Rule 4B;

(2) The proper fee under Rule 12;

(3) An authorization for release of information signed and submitted by the applicant in a manner prescribed by the Board;

(4) A passport-style photo; and

(5) If the original application is more than two years old, new affidavits as described in Rule 4B(4) of these Rules.

J.Incomplete Application.

An application determined to be incomplete shall be returned to the applicant.

K.Withdrawal of Application.

An applicant may withdraw the application by notifying the Board in writing at any time prior to the issuance of an adverse determination.

(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 May 1, 2021; amended effective October 1, 2021.)