Becoming a lawyer in Arizona is a process that requires dedication and hard work. To become a member of the Arizona State Bar Association, you must first complete a course on Arizona law, pass the Arizona Bar Exam, and obtain a score of 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). This guide will provide an overview of the steps you need to take to become a lawyer in Arizona and help you understand the process of becoming an attorney in the Grand Canyon State.
Step 1: Graduate from an ABA-Approved Law School
The first step to becoming a lawyer in Arizona is to graduate from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. You do not need to attend an Arizona law school, but you must have graduated from an ABA-approved law school in the United States.Law students who are in their third year of study may sit for the Arizona bar exam before graduating, as long as they are enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school per day, are expected to graduate within 120 days of taking the exam, have only eight semester hours left at the time of the exam and are not enrolled in more than two semester hours at the time of the exam.
Step 2: Submit Your Application for Admission to the Bar
The next step is to submit your application for admission to the Bar. The application period is from August 15 to October 31 and from January 15 to March 31. The Lawyer Admission Unit is responsible for processing all applications for admission to the Arizona State Bar, providing administrative support to the Examination Committee and the Character and Physical Fitness Committee, and administering the Arizona Bar Exam.Step 3: Take and Pass the Arizona Bar Exam
The bar exam is a two-day exam that consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, six essay questions, and two performance test questions. The exam evaluates whether you can apply legal reasoning and fundamental legal principles to analyze various patterns of facts. You must pass this exam in order to be admitted to the Bar.Step 4: Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
In addition to passing the Arizona Bar exam, you must also pass the MPRE with a score of 85 or higher within three years of your admission to the Arizona Bar.This exam evaluates your knowledge of professional responsibility issues related to legal practice.
Step 5: Become Certified by the Board of Legal Specialization
The Arizona State Bar Board of Legal Specialization recognizes and certifies attorneys who want to specialize in certain areas. Becoming certified by this board can help you stand out from other attorneys in your field.Step 6: Join the Arizona State Bar Association
Once you have passed all of these steps, you can join the Arizona State Bar Association. According to its mission statement, this association exists to protect the public with respect to access to legal services.As a member of this association, you will be able to practice law in Arizona.
