Opinion ID: 3163860
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: application process

Text: Admission to the State Bar of Montana is governed by the Montana Supreme Court Commission on Character and Fitness and the Montana Supreme Court Board of Bar Examiners. The State Bar of Montana Bar Admissions Administrator administers admission to the State Bar of Montana. An applicant who is aggrieved by the action of the Bar Admissions Administrator may request the action be reviewed by the Commission on Character and Fitness or the Board of Bar Examiners. A decision of the Commission may be appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.
Admission to the State Bar of Montana may be accomplished by four methods:
2. transfer of Uniform Bar Examination score from another jurisdiction as provided in Rule IV; 3. admission on motion as provided in Rule V; and 4. pro hac vice appearance as provided in Rule VI.
The following applicants are eligible to apply for admission to the State Bar of Montana: 1. a student applicant, who is an applicant who has never held a license to practice law. At the time of taking the Montana Uniform Bar Examination, a student applicant must have a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of graduation. An L.L.M. degree is not considered the equivalent of a Juris Doctor degree; 2. an attorney applicant, who is an applicant with a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of graduation, and who is admitted to practice law in another state, district, or territory of the United States. An L.L.M. degree is not considered the equivalent of a Juris Doctor degree; or 3. a resigned applicant, who is an applicant who was previously a member of the State Bar of Montana but resigned the Bar membership. To apply for reinstatement, resigned members shall petition the Montana Supreme Court and may be required to submit to a character and fitness investigation, supply the supporting documentation, and pay the application fee. Unless otherwise ordered by the Montana Supreme Court, resigned members will not be required to sit for any portion of the Montana Uniform Bar Examination.
1. Except for pro hac vice appearance, an applicant for admission shall prepare the application electronically using the National Conference of Bar Examiners online application. The National Conference of Bar Examiners Application for Montana must be completed online and printed, and for those applying for admission by examination, must be postmarked by the application filing deadline. Prior versions of the application will not be 2 accepted. In addition to completing the online application requirements, an applicant must mail to the Montana Bar Admissions Administrator a signed original application, the Montana Application Cover Sheet, and all documents required on the Application Checklist with the Montana application fee. 2. An applicant shall submit the supporting documents identified on the Admissions Checklist. E. Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination Except for pro hac vice appearance, an applicant for admission must pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination as provided in Rule VII. F. Montana Law Seminar Except for pro hac vice appearance, an applicant for admission must complete the Montana Law Seminar provided in Rule VIII. G. Fees 1. The Montana Supreme Court shall set all Montana fees for bar admission. 2. Montana bar admission fees must be paid to the Montana Supreme Court Bar Admissions Administrator at the State Bar of Montana. The Montana application fee is nonrefundable and may not be credited for any reason, including but not limited to denial of admission, withdrawal of the application, or failure to pursue admission after application, regardless of the date of notification by the applicant or the Bar Admissions Administrator. 3. Fees associated with the National Conference of Bar Examiners character and fitness investigation and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination are separate from and in addition to Montana bar admission fees. They are set by and paid directly to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. 3 4. An applicant who is granted leave to file a late application shall pay an additional late filing fee. An applicant applying for deferral of examination shall pay an additional deferral fee. An applicant applying for reexamination shall pay all regular examination fees. 5. (a) An applicant for admission on motion shall pay an application fee of $2,500, which includes the Montana attorney application fee; Montana Law Seminar registration fee; and the first year’s fees and assessments, including assessments for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Lawyers’ Fund, and annual attorney license. The State Bar of Montana application fee does not include the fee for the character and fitness investigation conducted by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (b) The Montana attorney application fee must be waived for an applicant for admission on motion who is employed by or has secured employment with an Access to Justice Organization as defined in M. R. Civ. P. 23(i) or is seeking admission to emeritus status. The applicant must, however, pay the State Bar fees for new admittees and fees and assessments for the Montana Law Seminar registration, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Lawyers’ Fund, and annual attorney license, as provided in (a). If the admitted applicant ceases to be employed by the qualifying employer or transfers from emeritus to active status within two years of the fee waiver, the admitted applicant shall notify the Bar Admissions Administrator and must either pay the waived fees or relinquish admission to the State Bar of Montana. 6. Attorneys admitted pro hac vice shall pay an application fee and continue to pay annual dues and fees each year for the term of the Montana litigation or until such time that the Bar Admissions Administrator is advised that the attorney has withdrawn from representation. However, an attorney who is appearing pro bono, as defined under Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, may pay a one-time-only pro hac vice fee equal to 4 the amount paid annually by active members of the Montana Bar.