1. An attorney who has taken and passed the bar examination in another United States jurisdiction, who is an active member of the bar in any other state, district or territory of the United States, and who meets all the following qualifications may be admitted to the practice of law in Oregon without having to take and pass the Oregon bar examination, subject to the requirements of this rule:
   1. The applicant has been licensed to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction for at least 24 consecutive months;
   2. The applicant has not been subject to any administrative or disciplinary suspension within the 60 months immediately preceding the submission of the application for admission under this rule;
   3. The applicant has no known ongoing disciplinary cases, investigations, or inquiries in any other jurisdiction; and
   4. The applicant has been actively engaged in the authorized full-time practice of law for no less than 24 of the 48 months immediately preceding the application for admission under this rule.

      For purposes of RFA 15.05, “full-time practice of law” means an average of at least 30 hours per week engaged in one of the enumerated activities in RFA 1.05(1)(a) or performed work in support of, or in anticipation of, such activities, so long as the applicant was authorized to engage in such activities in the relevant jurisdiction.

2. An applicant for admission under this rule shall:
   1. Submit sufficient proof, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant has:
      1. Earned a (1) Juris Doctor (J.D.) or (2) Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree from an ABA accredited law school; or satisfied the requirements of RFA 3.05(3);
      2. Passed a bar examination in another state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States;
      3. Been admitted to the practice of law in at least one other state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States;
      4. Current active membership to the practice of law in the highest court of at least one other state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States of America; and
      5. Been engaged in the authorized full-time practice of law for a minimum of 24-months out of the 48-months immediately preceding the date that the applicant submits their application for admission as an attorney in another state in which they were authorized to practice law or in a state that does not presently prohibit the type of practice of law that was conducted by the applicant in said state.
   2. Possess the good moral character and fitness required of all other applicants for admission to practice law in Oregon;
   3. Complete such applications and submit such other information as may be required by the Board and the Court within six (6) months of the date of filing the application; and
   4. Pay such application fees and costs as may be established by the Board and the Court for applicants under this rule.
3. The character and fitness of applicants under this rule shall be reviewed under the procedures set forth in ORS 9.220 and RFA 6.05, 6.10, 6.15, and 9.05 to 9.60.
4. An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall complete and certify prior to admission under this rule that the applicant has attended at least 15 hours of continuing legal education on Oregon practice and procedure and ethics requirements as regulated and approved by the Board. An applicant must attend and complete the required continuing legal education hours any time between six (6) months prior to and six (6) months after the filing of an application.
5. An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall obtain and maintain malpractice coverage from the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund (PLF) as required by the rules and regulations of the fund. If an applicant is not required to maintain malpractice coverage through the PLF, the applicant shall obtain and maintain other malpractice coverage covering the applicant’s law practice in Oregon, which coverage shall be substantially equivalent to the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund coverage plan.
6. An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall be subject to and shall comply with the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct, the Oregon State Bar Rules of Procedure, and all other rules and regulations applicable to members of the Oregon State Bar.

Instructions for Filing an Application For Out-of-State Bar Examination Score Transfer Admission

These instructions and forms are designed for those who wish to apply for admission under the Comity Admission Rule, which is outlined in RFA 15.05:

1. PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY BEFORE PROCEEDING.
2. Please read RFA 15.05 before applying to ensure you meet the requirements of the rules, including (but not limited to):
   1. RFA 15.05 Requirements
      1. Earned a (1) Juris Doctor (J.D.) or (2) Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree from an ABA accredited law school; or satisfied the requirements of RFA 3.05(3);
      2. Passed a bar examination in another state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States;
      3. Been admitted to the practice of law in at least one other state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States;
      4. Current active membership to the practice of law in the highest court of at least one other state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States of America; and
      5. Been engaged in the authorized full-time practice of law for a minimum of 24-months out of the 48-months immediately preceding the date that the applicant submits their application for admission as an attorney in another state in which they were authorized to practice law or in a state that does not presently prohibit the type of practice of law that was conducted by the applicant in said state.
      6. The applicant has been licensed to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction for at least 24 consecutive months;
      7. The applicant has not been subject to any administrative or disciplinary suspension within the 60 months immediately preceding the submission of the application for admission under this rule;
      8. The applicant has no known ongoing disciplinary cases, investigations, or inquiries in any other jurisdiction; and
      9. For purposes of RFA 15.05, “full-time practice of law” means an average of at least 30 hours per week engaged in one of the enumerated activities in RFA 1.05(1)(a) or performed work in support of, or in anticipation of, such activities, so long as the applicant was authorized to engage in such activities in the relevant jurisdiction.
      10. Filed an application as prescribed in Rule 4.15;
      11. Paid such application fees as may be established by the Board and the Court for applicants under this rule;
      12. Completed character and fitness review procedures; and
      13. An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall complete and certify prior to admission under this rule that the applicant has attended at least 15 hours of continuing legal education on Oregon practice and procedure and ethics requirements as regulated and approved by the Board. An applicant must attend and complete the required continuing legal education hours any time between six (6) months prior to and six (6) months after the filing of an application.
          1. A package of certified eligible CLEs are located here.
          2. A list of potentially eligible CLEs are located here.

Filing Deadlines

There is no filing deadline for Comity applicants, but please be aware that at certain times of the year (specifically around the bar exam deadlines) there may be a slight delay in processing of the application.

Application Fees

The alternative admission application fee for applicants seeking admission under RFA 15.05 Comity is $1,750. Application fees must accompany the completed application forms.

** For further questions, see RFA 4.10.

Application Checklist