What states can a NY attorney waive into?
Asked by: Marques Johnston | Last update: February 12, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (39 votes)
New York has reciprocity for bar admission without taking the exam with several states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and D.C., requiring attorneys to have practiced for a certain period (often 5 of the last 7 years) and meet character/fitness standards, but many states aren't fully reciprocal, with some offering limited admission or requiring the UBE/attorney exam, so checking the NY State Board of Law Examiners website for the most current list is crucial.
Can you waive into NY bar from NJ?
Admission on Motion (Reciprocity)
New York State permits admission on motion, without examination, for applicants who have practiced for five of the preceding seven years, are admitted to practice in at least one reciprocal U.S. jurisdiction, and have graduated from an American Bar Association approved law school.
Can a NY lawyer practice in NJ?
Generally, lawyers are licensed to practice law in the state where they passed the bar exam. Practicing law in both New York and New Jersey requires an attorney to be duly licensed in each state.
Does New York allow reciprocity?
The New York state bar has reciprocity with several jurisdictions. Reciprocity is when one jurisdiction recognizes the license of a lawyer from another jurisdiction. If a lawyer is admitted to the bar in a state which has reciprocity with New York, New York would admit the lawyer to the bar based on reciprocity.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
What is Bar Reciprocity and Which States Allow You to Waive Into the Bar?
What is the new reciprocity law?
This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines.
Which states does NY have reciprocity with?
Other States' Reciprocity With New York
- Arkansas (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
- Idaho (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
- Indiana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
- Montana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
- New Hampshire (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
What is the hardest state to practice law?
California is universally regarded as the toughest state for taking the bar exam. This notion is not dissuaded by the state's low bar-pass rate. In addition to the performance test, five essay questions, and the Multistate Bar Exam, the California exam takes two days.
Which states have no bar reciprocity?
Some states, such as California, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina, do not allow reciprocity or admission by motion for attorneys licensed in any other jurisdiction.
What states have bar reciprocity with New Jersey?
New Jersey Reciprocity
New Jersey offers reciprocity agreements to attorneys from the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WI, and WY.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?
No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
Is NY the hardest bar exam?
No, the New York Bar Exam isn't universally considered the hardest, but it's consistently ranked among the most challenging due to its high passing score (266/400) on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), dense content, and immense pressure, though states like California and Florida are often cited as tougher due to stricter state-specific elements or lower pass rates. While its UBE format standardizes some aspects, New York's high standards and demanding content make it a formidable test, though some sources suggest it's more manageable with intense preparation compared to its reputation.
What is the easiest state to be a lawyer in?
Easiest Bar Exams to Pass for First-Time Takers:
Utah: Utah had the highest first-time pass rate in July 2023, with 94% of first-time takers passing the exam. (It's pass rate dipped to 69% in February 2024, but this is still higher than most other jurisdictions.) It also has a low passing score of 260.
How does bar reciprocity work?
California Reciprocity. California does not have reciprocity for attorneys licensed in other states so out of state attorneys cannot practice in California without going through the state's bar admission process.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
Which state bar is the easiest to pass?
What Is the Easiest Bar Exam? According to the most recent bar exam results, the easiest bar exam to pass is in Utah. The overall passing rate for this bar exam is 88%, with the first-timer pass rate at 90%.
Who are the Magic 5 lawyers?
The "Magic Circle" refers to five prestigious, London-headquartered law firms known for corporate law and high revenue: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May. Coined by journalists in the 1990s, the term identifies these elite firms for their global reach, high-profile work, and significant financial success in the legal sector.
Can New York lawyers practice in other states?
With the rise of remote work, many attorneys wonder whether they can live in one state and work with clients in another. While lawyers may work remotely from a different state from their clients, they cannot provide legal services in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted.
What is New York state reciprocity?
Reciprocity is the process in which an individual holding a current certification from one of the fifty (50) states, the District of Columbia, the military, and/or from the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT) may be granted NYS certification rather than taking a NYS original course.
Do NY and NJ have reciprocity?
Note: New York and New Jersey do not have reciprocity. If someone works in NY and lives in NJ, they'll need to pay NY income taxes as a non-resident and pay NJ income taxes as a resident. However, NJ residents can take a tax credit for taxes that have been paid to other jurisdictions.
What is prohibited reciprocity?
The reciprocity restrictions of the Anti-tying Statute generally prohibit a bank from conditioning the availability or price of a product on a requirement that the customer provide another product to the bank or an affiliate, subject to an exception 24 Page 25 where the tied product is to be provided to the bank and is ...
What is the freest gun state?
There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota are consistently ranked among the most gun-friendly due to permissive laws like constitutional/permitless carry, strong self-defense protections (Stand Your Ground), and lack of sales tax on firearms. Other states often cited for lenient laws include Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, and Mississippi, though some recent political shifts in states like Arizona have impacted their rankings.
Are 80% lowers legal in 2025?
Yes, 80% lowers are generally still legal to buy and build in 2025, as federal law doesn't regulate them until completed, but legality hinges on specific state laws, with states like California imposing strict serialization, registration, and background checks on finished builds, while the Supreme Court's 2025 ruling upheld ATF rules affecting parts kits (especially for pistols) but didn't ban standalone AR lowers, keeping the focus on state-level compliance.