01: Attorneys

6.1 Persons admitted to practice in the United States A person who has been admitted as an attorney of the highest judicial court of any state, district or territory of the United States may petition to the Supreme Judicial Court for admission by motion as an attorney in this Commonwealth. The Board of Bar Examiners may, in its discretion, excuse the petitioner from taking the written law examination or transferring a qualifying Uniform Bar Examination score earned previously in another jurisdiction on the petitioner's compliance with the following conditions: 6.1.1 The petitioner shall have been admitted in another state, district or territory of the United States for at least five years prior to petitioning for admission in the Commonwealth, and shall have engaged in the active practice or teaching of law in a state, district or territory of the United States for five out of the past seven years immediately preceding the filing of the petition for admission by motion. 6.1.2 The petitioner shall have so engaged in the practice or teaching of law since the prior admission as to satisfy the Board of Bar Examiners of his or her good moral character and professional qualifications. 6.1.3 (section deleted) 6.1.4 Graduates of law schools in a state, district or territory of the United States. The petitioner shall have completed work for a bachelor's degree at a college or university, or its equivalent, and graduated from a law school which at the time of graduation was approved by the American Bar Association or was authorized by a state statute to grant the degree of bachelor of laws or juris doctor. Graduates of Foreign Law Schools. Graduates of law schools in foreign countries must have a college and legal education that is, in the opinion of the Board of Bar Examiners, similar in nature and quality to that of graduates of law schools approved by the American Bar Association. 6.1.5 The petitioner shall pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination if he or she has not previously passed that examination in another jurisdiction. 6.1.6 Massachusetts Law Component Requirement. Each petitioner shall have successfully completed the Massachusetts Law Component Examination. 6.2 Graduates of Canadian law schools who are admitted to practice in Canada A person who has graduated from a law school in Canada, and who has been admitted as an attorney in the Law Society of any Canadian province or territory, may petition to the Supreme Judicial Court to be admitted by motion as an attorney in this Commonwealth. The Board of Bar Examiners may, in its discretion, excuse the petitioner from taking the written law examination or transferring a qualifying Uniform Bar Examination score earned previously in another jurisdiction on the petitioner's compliance with the following conditions: 6.2.1 The petitioner shall have completed a college and legal education that is, in the opinion of the Board of Bar Examiners, similar in nature and quality to that of graduates of law schools approved by the American Bar Association. 6.2.2 The petitioner shall have been admitted in a Canadian province or territory for at least five years prior to petitioning for admission in the Commonwealth, and shall have engaged in the active practice or teaching of law in such province or territory for five out of the seven years immediately preceding the filing of the petition for admission by motion. 6.2.3 The petitioner shall have so engaged in the practice or teaching of law since the prior admission as to satisfy the Board of Bar Examiners of his or her good moral character and professional qualifications. 6.2.4 The petitioner shall pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination if he or she has not previously passed the examination in another jurisdiction. 6.2.5 The petitioner shall have successfully completed the Massachusetts Law Component Examination. 6.3 Massachusetts Law Component Requirement All persons desiring admission to the bar are required to certify their successful completion of the Massachusetts Law Component Examination to the Board of Bar Examiners. 6.4 Notice and Publication for Admission under Section 6 Before the Board of Bar Examiners reports to the Court on the character, acquirements, and qualifications of petitioners for admission, the Board of Bar Examiners shall publish the names of petitioners who, if no objection is made, may be recommended to the Supreme Judicial Court for admission. The list of names shall be published on the web sites of the Massachusetts Judicial Branch and the Board of Bar Examiners and shall remain posted for at least seven business days from a date fixed by the Board of Bar Examiners. 6.5 Report to the Court Not sooner than ten days after the date fixed for publication by the Board of Bar Examiners, the Board of Bar Examiners may report to the Supreme Judicial Court the names of those petitioners then found qualified for admission under § 6. 6.6 Time Limitation for Enrollment Except as otherwise ordered by a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, a qualified petitioner may be sworn and enrolled as an attorney within one year of the report to the Court. Failure to be so sworn and enrolled will result in dismissal of the petition.