As an attorney, moving to a new jurisdiction can feel overwhelming. Whether you are an experienced licensed attorney relocating to Arizona or a recent law school grad in another state, knowing the details of Arizona’s bar admission process can give your career here a smooth start. Arizona participates in the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) and offers bar reciprocity for out-of-state attorneys seeking bar admission without retaking the bar exam.
The Valley Law Group has received awards and recognition from the American Institute of Trial Lawyers, the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, Super Lawyers, The National Advocates, Avvo, The Reismans, and more. Our comprehensive guide to Arizona attorney admissions can help you navigate bar reciprocity, UBE score transfers, and other practical elements to make your move to the expanding Arizona legal market as seamless as possible.
How to Practice Law in Arizona
To practice law in Arizona, an individual must meet several requirements, including earning a law degree from an ABA-accredited law school, passing the UBE, and passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The most common method of admission to the bar is admission by examination; this standard method includes taking and passing the bar examination in the state where they wish to become licensed to practice law.
Bar reciprocity is another common pathway, one that enables experienced licensed attorneys to relocate or expand their practice into another state without having to retake the full bar exam. Arizona has been working to make the transition as simple as possible for out-of-state attorneys while also maintaining our high standards of professionalism and character.
Means of bar reciprocity in Arizona include:
- Admission by Motion – Attorneys with an active license in good standing in one state and who have been actively practicing for three of the last five years can apply for admission by motion, which, when approved, essentially transfers the license to another state. Some cases may need a limited exam or continuing legal education credits (CLE).
- Admission by Transferred UBE Score – When a lawyer has passed the UBE in one state with a minimum score within a specified timeframe and meets other criteria, they can apply to transfer their UBE score as part of their application to the bar in another state.
Bar License Transfer AZ
Arizona offers bar reciprocity under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 34(f) for admission on motion and Rule 34(c) for UBE score transfers. In order to be eligible to apply for bar admission, attorneys relocating to Arizona must meet specific criteria, depending on which method of admission is the right option for their individual circumstances. It is important to note that applicants may also have to take the Arizona law component.
For reciprocity in Arizona, attorneys can utilize:
- Admission on Motion – For admission on motion in Arizona, in addition to a JD, a lawyer must have an active license in good standing in their current jurisdiction, three of the last 5 years of active practice, no disciplinary history in all jurisdictions where they are admitted, and may not be subject to any disciplinary actions.
- UBE Score Transfer to Arizona – If an attorney has taken the UBE in another state, Arizona accepts transferred scores for people who meet the requirements. This includes a minimum 270 UBE score within the last 5 years.
How to Apply for Arizona Bar Reciprocity
The process of applying for admission to the bar in Arizona is similar to that of other states. There is a complex application procedure, which requires providing evidence of eligibility, character, and good standing. Then the application is reviewed, and the applicant’s background is thoroughly investigated.
To begin the process, gather all the required documentation. In most cases, the original documentation is required.
Necessary documents include the following:
- Documentation of citizenship or lawful immigration status, such as a birth certificate, a passport, a driver’s license, or other official documents
- Residence history
- Military discharge or other documentation, if applicable
- College, university, and law school attendance information, as well as any disciplinary details
- Dates and outcomes of applications for practicing law or other professional services, such as teaching or accounting, as well as any related disciplinary action
- Recent employment history, along with any disciplinary information
- Legal-related references
- History of civil, criminal, and driving records, including any complaints and dispositions
- Financial history
- Fingerprint card
- An official photograph
- Official MPRE score report showing a minimum score of 85
- Evidence of JD
- Evidence of passing the UBE
- Certificates of good standing
- Moral character and fitness evaluation
You can obtain more details regarding all eligibility criteria, review the application forms, and submit your application online at the Arizona Supreme Court Attorney Admissions. After you submit your application, the Committee on Character and Fitness may also request an interview or any additional documentation. Once you are approved, you can generally begin practicing law in the vibrant Arizona legal community.
How to Request UBE Score Transfer
You can request your UBE score transfer through the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
There you can:
- Log in to your NCBE account or create one.
- Then go to the Score Services section to submit a UBE Transcript Services request.
- You will be asked to enter the jurisdiction where you most recently took the UBE, the date of the exam, and the jurisdiction where you want your UBE official transcript to be sent.
There is a $30 fee for each transcript, payable online by credit card or by check if mailed with a printout of the confirmation page.
Costs and Timeline
Planning to move to Arizona as an attorney means taking the time to prepare and execute the process to gain admission to the state bar. For an out-of-state lawyer, Arizona bar application fees and timelines can vary from applicant to applicant, depending on the method of admission, as well as the individual experience, background, and circumstances of the attorney.
Here are the details of costs and timelines you can expect:
- Admission by motion generally takes about 3-6 months, depending on the complexity of the application, and costs approximately $2,000, including administrative fees and character and fitness evaluation.
- Admission by UBE score transfer usually takes 2-4 months if all documents are complete and costs about $1,060 to $1,200. This also includes the administrative fees and character and fitness evaluation.
- The Arizona law component is generally included in the admission fees, but may have a separate timeline.
- Other costs are generally $50-$200 and can include fingerprinting, document certification, and NCBE score transfer fees.
For Attorneys Relocating to AZ: Common Pitfalls and Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most overlooked ways an applicant can make the process faster, less expensive, and smoother overall is to pay careful attention to detail.
Common mistakes that delay the process include:
- Missing Documentation – Not providing complete certificates of good standing, proof of practice, character and fitness evaluations, or other necessary documents can create unnecessary delays or rejections.
- Failing to Disclose Past Issues – The Committee on Character and Fitness conducts thorough background checks, so not disclosing past legal or disciplinary issues can create problems.
- Not Meeting Practice Requirements – Make sure you have practiced actively for 3 of the last 5 years if you are applying for admission by motion.
- Misunderstanding Arizona-Specific Requirements – The procedures and eligibility requirements for bar reciprocity can vary from state to state, so make sure you meet all eligibility criteria before you apply.
Attorney Relocation: Arizona Has Growing Demand
Arizona has been one of the fastest-growing states in the US. With sunny weather, affordable living, and a high quality of life, especially in cities like Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Peoria, it’s not surprising that so many people are moving here. With the population growth has come a burgeoning demand for services in the legal market, especially family law, criminal defense, and personal injury.
The Arizona Supreme Court is supporting progressive approaches to the legal market, in part to fill gaps in legal services across the state, with programs like the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP), which provides an alternative route to admission to the Arizona bar for some applicants. It’s an exciting time to be practicing law in the Grand Canyon State.
Join a Leading Arizona Law Firm
The Valley Law Group is actively seeking talented lawyers to join our team of trusted legal professionals. We are proud of our 5-star rating on Google and excited to find new team members who can help us uphold our tradition of excellence.
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The Valley Law Group Practice Areas
Our primary focus is on delivering high-quality legal services to Arizona families and addressing their diverse legal challenges.
The areas of practice at The Valley Law Group include:
Family Law
We approach family law matters with sensitivity and compassion and seek to offer legal support for families during challenging transitions. We focus on divorce, property division, spousal support, establishing and modifying child custody and child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, domestic violence, juvenile law, and appeals.
Criminal Defense
We strive to provide aggressive criminal defense to protect our clients’ rights and freedom against a range of offenses, including DUI and vehicular crimes, drug offenses, violent crimes, theft and other white collar crimes, sex crimes, property crimes, weapons charges, and others. We aim to support clients throughout the entire process, including pre-charge, probation, and expungement.
Personal Injury
Our legal team supports injured clients and their families in cases that deal with premises liability, defective products, motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, assault or abuse, and workplace injuries.
Thinking About Practicing Law in Arizona?
If you’re an attorney navigating Arizona bar reciprocity or considering relocation to Arizona, we’d love to connect.
The Valley Law Group currently boasts:
- A commitment to excellence in legal representation. Learn more about our mission and values on our About Our Law Firm page.
- Support for lateral attorneys. Benefit from ongoing training, professional development, and career advancement opportunities.
- Four locations across the valley, including Phoenix, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Peoria.
- Open positions. Explore current opportunities and submit your application on our Careers page.
See for yourself how The Valley Law Group embraces the changing landscape of Arizona’s legal community and works to create an environment where our clients and our team can benefit from our focus on collaboration, impact, and growth.
Apply today to join an experienced firm committed to making a difference in the diverse needs of Arizona residents.
View our open positions →Sources:
- National Conference of Bar Examiners. (n.d.). Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube
- Arizona Judicial Branch. (2017). Rules of Admission. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.azbaradmissions.org/rulesofadmission_2017
- Arizona Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Application Information – UBE Score Transfer. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.azbaradmissions.org/appinfo.action?id=205
- Arizona Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Application Information. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.azbaradmissions.org/app-info
- National Conference of Bar Examiners. (n.d.). NCBE Home. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.ncbex.org/
- Arizona Judicial Branch. (2024). Administrative Order 2024-78. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.azbaradmissions.org/AO2024-78
- NCHStats. (n.d.). Arizona Population Statistics. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://nchstats.com/arizona-population/
- Arizona Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.azcourts.gov/cld/Arizona-Lawyer-Apprentice-Program
Jonathan Roeder, Founder/Director of Marketing of The Valley Law Group, is an Arizona native who has dedicated his life and career to the service of others. After graduating salutatorian of his high school class, Jonathan attended beautiful and prestigious Pepperdine University, where he majored in Political Science. During his tenure at Pepperdine University, his passion for helping others grew after securing a clinical position with a residential treatment center for juveniles with substance addictions. Post-graduation, Jonathan returned to Arizona and served as a residential manager for mentally and physically disabled homes.
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