Title: AMENDED ORDER PROMULGATING RULES FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR.
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: ADM10-8008, C5-84-2139
State: Minnesota
Issuer: Minnesota Supreme Court
Date: August 26, 1998

STATE OF MINNESOTA IN SUPREME COURT C5-84-2139 AMENDED ORDER PROMULGATING RULES FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR WHEREAS, by Order dated August 18, 1998, this Court consolidated, edited and reorganized the Rules of the Minnesota Supreme Court and State Board of Law Examiners for Admission to the Bar into a single set of Rules for Admission to the Bar, effective August 18, 1998; and WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Court that inadvertent errors were made in the Rules for Admission to the Bar; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: The Order dated August 18, 1998, is rescinded. The Rules of the Minnesota Supreme Court and State Board of Law Examiners for Admission to the Bar are repealed retroactive to August 18, 1998. Except as otherwise provided in the attached Rule 6(E)(2) with respect to the Performance Test which commences with the February 2001 bar examination, the attached Rules For Admission to the Bar are adopted retroactive to August 18, 1998. Upon receiving a request for access by the public to past minutes of Board meetings, the Director of the Board of Law Examiners shall respond as promptly as practical and shall explain to the person making the request the estimated time for complying with the response. Dated: August 26, 1998 By the Court Kathleen A. Blatz Chief Justice TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Purpose 2. Definitions 3. State Board of Law Examiners A. Composition B. Authority C. Board Meetings 4. General Requirements for Admission A. Eligibility for Admission B. Residency C. Application for Admission D. Required Cooperation 5. Standards for Admission A. Essential Eligibility Requirements B. Character and Fitness Standards and Investigation (1) Purpose (2) Burden of Proof (3) Relevant Conduct (4) Considerations (5) Continuing Obligation (6) Determination (7) Advisory Opinions 6. Admission by Examination A. Dates of Examinations B. Timely Filing Deadlines C. Late Filing Deadlines D. Denial of Opportunity to Test E. Scope of Examination F. Testing Accommodations G. Examination Results H. Failing Examination Results I. Stale Examination Scores 7. Admission Without Examination A. Eligibility by Practice B. Eligibility by Test Score C. No Waiver of Time Requirements D. Eligibility After Unsuccessful Examination E. Ineligibility for Admission Without Examination 8. Temporary License for Legal Services Programs A. Eligibility B. Filing C. Certification of Applicant's Good Character and Fitness D. Limitation E. Duration and Revocation F. Credit for Admission Without Examination 9. Temporary License for In-House Counsel A. Eligibility B. Requirements C. Certification of Applicant's Good Character and Fitness D. Limitation E. Duration and Revocation 10. License for Foreign Legal Consultants A. Eligibility B. Requirements C. Applications D. Investigation E. Scope of Practice F. Disciplinary Provisions G. Annual Certification and Renewal Fees 11. Fees A. General B. Fee for Examination, Not Previously Admitted C. Fee for Examination, Prior Admission D. Repeat Examinations E. Fee for Admission Without Examination F. Fee for Temporary License for Legal Services Practice G. Transfer of Rule 8 Application to Rule 6 or Rule 7 Application H. Refunds of Fees I. Carry-over of Fees J. Transfer of Examination Scores K. Copies of Examination Answers L. Other Fees M. Fees for Advisory Opinions 12. Immunity A. Immunity of the Board B. Immunity of Persons or Entities Providing Information 13. Information Disclosure A. Application File B. Work Product C. Examination Data D. Release of Information to Other Agencies E. Referrals F. Confidentiality 14. Adverse Determinations and Hearings A. Adverse Determination B. Request for Hearing C. Scheduling of Hearing D. Proceedings E. Pre-Hearing Conference F. Subpoenas G. Continuances H. Final Decision 15. Appeal to the Supreme Court A. Petition for Review B. Board Response 16. Reapplication after Denial 17. Bar Admissions Advisory Council A. Creation B. Meetings C. Expenses Rule 1. The Board of Law Examiners is established to ensure that those who are admitted to the bar have the necessary competence and character to justify the trust and confidence that clients, the public, the legal system, and the legal profession place in attorneys. Rule 2. Definitions As used in these Rules: Rule 3. State Board of Law Examiners C. Board Meetings. Minutes of the public portions of Board meetings are available upon request from the Board office. Rule 4. General Requirements for Admission B. Residency. C. Application for Admission 1. Complete Application. 2. Certificate of Graduation. 3. Additional Filing When Admitted Elsewhere. 4. Professional Responsibility Test Scores. 5. Repeat Examinee. 6. Incomplete Application. 7. Withdrawal of Application. 8. Strict Enforcement of Time Requirements. D. Required Cooperation. 2. An applicant shall not discourage a person from providing information to the Board or retaliate against a person for providing information to the Board; 3. An applicant who violates this rule may be denied an opportunity to test or may be denied admission. Rule 5. Standards for Admission A. Essential Eligibility Requirements. B. Character and Fitness Standards and Investigation. 4. Considerations. 5. Continuing Obligation. 6. Determination. 7. Advisory Opinions. a. A law student may request a written advisory opinion from the Board with respect to his or her character and fitness for admission by filing the following: Rule 6. Admission by Examination 2. If the Board has determined the applicant has not satisfied the good character and fitness requirement of Rule 4(A)(2). E. Scope of Examination. Administrative Law Civil Procedure Constitutional Law Contracts Criminal Law and Procedure Ethics and Professional Responsibility Evidence Family Law Federal Individual Income Taxation Partnership, Proprietorship, and Corporations Real Property Torts Uniform Commercial Code, Art. 1, 2 Wills, Estates and Trusts; and F. Testing Accommodations. The Board shall advise notify the applicant of its decision. A denial or modification of a request for testing accommodations constitutes an adverse determination of the Board on a request for testing accommodations and may be appealed pursuant to Rule 14. G. Examination Results. H. Failing Examination Scores. I. Stale Examination Scores. Rule 7. Admission Without Examination B. Eligibility by Test Score. C. No Waiver of Time Requirements. D. Eligibility After Unsuccessful Examination. E. Ineligibility for Admission Without Examination. Rule 8. Temporary License for Legal Services Programs A. Eligibility. B. Filing. C. Certification of Applicant's Good Character and Fitness. D. Limitation. E. Duration and Revocation. F. Credit for Admission Without Examination. Rule 9. Temporary License for In-House Counsel A. Eligibility. B. Requirements. C. Certification of the Applicant's Good Character and Fitness. D. Limitation. E. Duration and Revocation. Rule 10. License For Foreign Legal Consultants A. Eligibility. B. Requirements. C. Applications. 3. a duly authenticated document from any foreign country or jurisdiction in which said consultant has been licensed as an attorney or as a foreign legal consultant indicating whether any charge or complaint has ever been filed against the applicant with such authority, if so, the substance of each such charge or complaint, and the adjudication or resolution of each such charge or complaint; 4. a letter or recommendation signed by, and accompanied with the official seal, if any, of one of the members of the executive body of such authority or from one of the judges of the highest court of law of such foreign country, certifying to the applicant's professional qualifications; 5. a summary of the law or rule, if any, of such foreign country which permits members of the bar of Minnesota to establish offices for the giving of legal advice to clients in such foreign country; 6. letters of recommendation from at least three attorneys or counselors at law or the equivalent admitted in and practicing in such foreign country, setting forth the length of time, and under what circumstances they have known the applicant and stating their appraisal of the applicant's good character and fitness for admission; 7. notarized letters of recommendation from at least two members in good standing of the Minnesota Bar, setting forth the length of time, and under what circumstances they have known the applicant and their appraisal of the applicant's good character and fitness for admission; 8. such other evidence as to the applicant's educational and professional qualifications, good character and fitness and compliance with the requirements of this rule as the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners may require; and 9. a fee in the amount of $1,000, in the form of a certified check or money order. D. Investigation. E. Scope of Practice. 1. appear for another person as attorney in any court or before any magistrate or other judicial officer or before any federal, state, county or municipal governmental agency, quasi-judicial or quasi-governmental authority in the State of Minnesota, or prepare pleadings or any other papers in any action or proceedings brought in any such court or before any such judicial officer, except as authorized in any rule or procedure relating to admission pro hac vice, or pursuant to administrative rule; 2. provide legal advice in connection with the preparation of any deed, mortgage, assignment, discharge, lease, agreement of sale or any other instrument affecting title to: 3. prepare: 4. prepare any instrument in respect of the marital relations, rights or duties of a resident of the United States of America or the custody or care of the children of such a resident; 5. render professional legal advice on the law of the State of Minnesota or the United States of America or any other state, subdivision, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America or the District of Columbia (whether rendered incident to the preparation of a legal instrument or otherwise); 6. in any way represent that such person is admitted to the Bar of the State of Minnesota or is licensed as an attorney or foreign legal consultant in another state, territory or the District of Columbia, or as an attorney or counselor at law or the equivalent in a foreign country, unless so licensed; 7. use any title other than "Foreign Legal Consultant, Not Admitted to Practice Law in Minnesota", provided that such person's authorized title and firm name in the foreign country in which such person is admitted to practice as attorney or counselor at law or the equivalent may be used if the title, firm name, and the name of such foreign country are stated together with the above-mentioned designation; 8. render any legal services for a client without utilizing a written retainer agreement which shall specify in bold type that the foreign legal consultant is not admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota, nor licensed to advise on the laws of the United States or the District of Columbia, and that the practice of the foreign legal consultant is limited to the laws of the foreign country where such person is admitted to practice as an attorney or counselor at law or the equivalent; or 9. hold any client funds or valuables without entering into a written retainer agreement which shall specify in bold type the name of a Minnesota licensed attorney in good standing who is also representing the particular client in the particular matter at hand. F. Disciplinary Provisions. 1. A foreign legal consultant is expressly subject to the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct and to continuing review of qualifications to retain any license granted hereunder, and shall be subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility and the Minnesota Supreme Court. 2. Section 1 above shall not be construed to limit in any way concurrent disciplinary procedures to which the foreign legal consultant may be subject in the country of admission. 3. A foreign legal consultant shall execute and file with the Board of Law Examiners, in such form and manner as the court prescribes: a. a statement that the foreign legal consultant has read, understood, and made a commitment to observe the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct; and b. either: c. a duly acknowledged instrument in writing setting forth such foreign legal consultant's address within the State of Minnesota and designating the Clerk of the Appellate Courts as agent for the service of process for all purposes; and d. a commitment to notify the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners of any resignation or revocation of such foreign legal consultant's admission to practice in the foreign country of admission, or in any other state or jurisdiction in which the foreign legal consultant has been licensed as an attorney or counselor at law or equivalent or as a foreign legal consultant, or of any censure, suspension, or expulsion in respect of such admission. G. Annual Certification and Renewal Fees. 1. A foreign legal consultant shall submit on a biennial basis to the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners: 2. The foreign legal consultant shall submit on an annual basis to the Minnesota Attorney Registration office an attorney registration fee equivalent to the renewal fees paid by Minnesota licensed attorneys pursuant to the Rules of the Supreme Court for Registration of Attorneys. Rule 11. Fees A. General. B. Fee for Examination, Not Previously Admitted. C. Fee for Examination, Prior Admission. D. Repeat Examinations. E. Fee for Admission Without Examination. F. Fee for Temporary License for Legal Services Program Practice. G. Transfer of Rule 8 Application to Rule 6 or Rule 7 Application. H. Refunds of Fees. No other requests for refund will be granted. I. Carry-over of Fees. J. Transfer of Examination Scores. K. Copies of Examination Answers. L. Other Fees. M. Fees for Advisory Opinions. Rule 12. Immunity Rule 13. Information Disclosure D. Release of Information to Other Agencies E. Referrals. F. Confidentiality. Rule 14. Adverse Determinations and Hearings (Amended September 30, 1985; former Rule IX renumbered October 1, 1986; amended May 25, 1988.) Rule 15 Rule 16. Reapplication After Denial After expiration of the time for appeal allowed in Rule 14(B) or Rule 15(A), or after denial of petition by the Court, an applicant determined not to have satisfied the character and fitness requirement is prohibited from reapplying for admission to practice in Minnesota for three years from the date of the Board's adverse determination. Rule 17. Bar Admissions Advisory Council