Maine Bar Admission - Instructions to Applicants Applying for Admission by Motion Pursuant to Maine Bar Admission Rule 11A

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Mack Lee

Application instructions from the Maine Board of Bar Examiners for applicants seeking admission by motion under Maine Bar Admission Rule 11A. Eligibility requirements cover bar admission and good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction, at least 3 of the prior 5 years of active full-time practice, ABA-approved law school graduation, completion of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, absence of pending discipline, and no Maine Bar Exam failure within five years. Additional steps require proof of character and fitness and completing 15 hours of Maine CLE within one year, plus guidance on submitting NCBE and Maine authorization, release, and supplemental materials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Qualifications

Admission by motion eligibility criteria (Maine Bar Admission Rule 11A)

Other requirements

Character and fitness evidence

Continuing legal education (CLE) hours and certification

Application instructions

Two-part application structure (Maine Supplemental and NCBE)

Form completion, signatures, and attachments

Submission workflow to NCBE and the Maine Board

MAINE BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS 135 MAINE ST, STE A, BOX 305 BRUNSWICK, ME 04011 INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR ADMISSION BY MOTION PURSUANT TO MAINE BAR ADMISSION RULE 11A Before completing this application, please read the Maine Bar Admission Rules. NOTE: Processing of applications takes several months to complete. Fulfillment of the CLE requirement (see Paragraph 3 under Other Requirements below) is not required prior to submission of an application. It is recommended that applicants file their application and then complete the CLE requirement during the time the application is being processed. QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for admission by motion pursuant to Maine Bar Admission Rule 11A, applicants must meet the following criteria: 1. Is admitted to practice law in, and is an active member in good standing of the bar of, another U.S. state or territory (or the District of Columbia) [see M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(1)]; and 2. Has been primarily engaged in the full-time, active practice of law in one or more U.S. jurisdictions (which may include the active practice of law in the State of Maine to the extent permitted by Rule 5.5(d) of the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct) for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the date upon which the application is filed. [see M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(2)] . 3. Has graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association meeting the criteria listed in M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(3) . 4. Has satisfactorily completed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination in accordance with Rule 11, prior to the date on which the motion is filed; [see M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(4)] . 5. Is not currently subject to lawyer discipline or the subject of a pending disciplinary matter in any jurisdiction; [see M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(6)] . 6. Has not failed the Maine Bar Examination within five (5) years of the date of application [see M.B.A.R. 11A(b)] . OTHER REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the above criteria, before applicants can be certified for admission by motion pursuant to M.B.A.R. 11A, they must: 1. Produce satisfactory evidence of good character and fitness to practice law in the State of Maine pursuant to M.B.A.R. 9 [see M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(7)] . MBBE-ABM i Rev. 03.23 2. Produce evidence they have completed at least fifteen (15) hours of continuing legal education in Maine practice and procedure in courses approved by the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar. (Once applicants have completed the required hours, they must apply for a Certification of Completion from the Board of Overseers, which is then forwarded to the Board of Bar Examiners.) This requirement must be completed within one year from date of application. [See M.B.A.R. 11A(a)(8)] . Please go to [http://mebaroverseers.org/attorney_services/continuing_education/reciprocal_](http://mebaroverseers.org/attorney_services/continuing_education/reciprocal_)[admission.html to find eligible CLE](admission.html to find eligible CLE), or call the Board of Overseers at 207-623-1121. The 15-hour requirement includes at least two credit hours primarily concerned with ethics or professional responsibility which may be earned by attending courses, in-office courses, self-study, or a combination thereof. The remaining 13 hours must be met by attending courses or completing approved CLE courses entitled to credit, provided that no more than seven credit hours may be earned through in-office courses, self-study, or a combination thereof. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: This application has two parts: the Maine Supplemental Application, including forms, and the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) Application, including forms. Each question must be fully answered. If the space provided for the answers on any form is insufficient, attach additional pages and initial the same. You may be required to make copies of some of the blank forms. Unused blank forms do not need to be returned. The Maine application and forms can be downloa

FAQs

What are the main qualification requirements for admission by motion under Rule 11A?

Applicants must be admitted and in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction, have practiced law full-time and actively for at least 3 of the prior 5 years, have graduated from an ABA-approved law school, and have completed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. They must also not be subject to discipline or pending disciplinary matters and must not have failed the Maine Bar Examination within five years of filing.

Is completing the Maine CLE requirement required before submitting the application?

No. Processing can take several months, and fulfillment of the CLE requirement is not required prior to submission. Applicants are recommended to file the application first and complete the CLE requirement while the application is being processed.

How many CLE hours must applicants complete and by when?

Applicants must complete at least fifteen (15) hours of continuing legal education in Maine practice and procedure within one year from the application date. They must obtain a Certification of Completion from the Board of Overseers after meeting the required hours.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Mack Lee