Amendment on the Rules Governing Admission to the practice of law approved by Supreme Court of Oklahoma

On Monday, February 6, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma issued an Order Amending Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law.

An Application to Amend Rule Two of the Rules Governing Admission to the practice of Law was filed before the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. The Court found that it has jurisdiction over the matter. Accordingly, they decided that Rule Two is amended as set out. The following words/paragraphs have been stricken out.

The filing states:

Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in the State of Oklahoma Chapter 1, App. 5 Rule 2. Admission Upon Motion Without Examination. For purposes of this Rule, the term “reciprocal state” shall mean a state which grants Oklahoma judges and lawyers the right of admission on motion, without the requirement of taking an examination and whose requirements for admission are similar to Oklahoma’s admission upon motion without examination standards. Reciprocal state includes the District of Columbia, territories, “districts”, and commonwealths or possessions of the United States.

A. For the purposes of this section, “practice of law” shall mean:

(f) Any combination of the above. Applicants for admission without examination shall furnish such proof of practice and licensing as may be required by the Board. “No applicant for admission without examination under this rule will be admitted if the applicant has taken and scored lower than 264 on the UBE bar examination within three years under Oklahoma requirements.”

The filing continues:

Section 5. A person who is the current spouse of a service member in the United States Uniformed Services and who meets the following requirements may, upon motion, apply to the Supreme Court for a Special Temporary Permit to be admitted to the practice of law in the State of Oklahoma, without the requirement of taking an examination, if the applicant would otherwise be fully qualified to take the bar examination in Oklahoma under the rules of the Supreme Court. An applicant shall:

I. Submit evidence that the service member is on military orders within the State of Oklahoma.

“No applicant for admission without examination under this rule will be admitted if the applicant has taken and scored lower than 264 on the UBE bar examination within-three years under the Oklahoma requirements.”

The Court ruled that Rule Two is hereby amended as set out and is effective immediately.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.