Supreme Court of Missouri
en banc

8.03 REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR

(a) Every applicant for admission to the Bar of this state shall meet the following requirements:


(1) Comply with all provisions set out in this Rule 8;

(2) File all application forms prescribed by the board and pay all prescribed fees;

(3) Either:


(A) Pass the Missouri bar examination and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination as set out in Rule 8.08; or

(B) Satisfy the requirements for admission specified in Rule 8.10 or Rule 8.105;


(4) Be a citizen or national of the United States, an immigrant alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, or an alien otherwise authorized to work lawfully in the United States; and

(5) Receive the approval of the board as to eligibility for admission and character and fitness.


(b) An applicant seeking readmission to the bar because of disbarment by this Court is not required to meet the requirement set out in Rule 8.03(a)(5).

(c) If an applicant has not satisfied all requirements for admission to the Bar of this state within one year after the date of written notification to the applicant of successful completion of the Missouri bar examination, the applicant’s examination scores shall be void; provided, however, that the board may extend the time period specified in this Rule 8.03(c) for good cause shown.


Regulations of the Board of Law Examiners


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5.  Applicants for admission by examination who are successful in the examination but who have not satisfied all other requirements for admission on the date that examination results are released will be notified in writing that they have passed the examination but that their scores will not be released to them and their name will not be posted on the Internet or otherwise released to the public until all requirements for admission have been satisfied.


8.07 APPLICATION FOR BAR EXAMINATION


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(d) A person who fails to meet the requirement set out in Rule 8.07(c) because that person graduated either from an unaccredited law school in the United States or from a law school outside the United States beyond the geographical area encompassed by the accreditation activities of the American Bar Association may request permission from the board to take the bar examination upon furnishing satisfactory evidence that the person:


(1) Has been admitted by examination to the bar and holds an active law license in another state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia and has engaged full-time in the practice of law in such state, territory, or the District of Columbia for at least three of the five years immediately preceding the date upon which the person submits a request for permission to take the bar examination; or

(2) Has been admitted by examination to the bar within the preceding three years and holds an active law license in another state or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia and has successfully completed at least 24 semester credit hours in residence at a law school approved by the American Bar Association.


(e) A person who fails to meet the requirement specified in Rule 8.07(c) because that person graduated from a law school outside the United States beyond the geographical area encompassed by the accreditation activities of the American Bar Association may request permission from the board to take the bar examination by furnishing satisfactory evidence that the person:


(1) Has been admitted to practice law in the foreign country where his or her law degree was conferred and has been in good standing throughout the period of such admission and has engaged in the full-time practice of law outside the United States for a period of at least three of the five years preceding the date upon which the person submits a request for permission to take the bar examination; or

(2) Has been admitted to practice law in the foreign country where his or her law degree was conferred and has been in good standing throughout the period of such admission and has completed successfully at least 24 semester credit hours in residence at a law school approved by the American Bar Association.



Regulations of Board of Law Examiners

4.  A request pursuant to Rule 8.07(d) or Rule 8.07(e) for permission to take the bar examination shall be in such form as the board prescribes and shall be accompanied by a completed application and the prescribed fee.


8.11 APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS


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(d) If the investigation as to character and fitness of a Rule 8.07 applicant is not complete at the time of the bar examination, the board may permit the applicant to take the examination.  Such permission, either express or implied, does not constitute approval, nor evidence of approval, and does not estop or inhibit the board nor shall such permission be used as evidence in support of any application. 


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