Illinois Admission on Motion (Rule 705)

Bar Exam Project wiki article. Part of the Illinois Bar Exam cluster.

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705 lets experienced attorneys admitted in another U.S. jurisdiction get admitted to the Illinois Bar without taking the Illinois Bar Examination. This page covers eligibility, qualifying practice, fees, and how to navigate the application.

One-line summary

Under Rule 705, an attorney admitted in any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia for at least three of the past five years in qualifying practice can be admitted to Illinois without taking the bar exam. The fee is $1,500. The MPRE 80 and Character & Fitness clearance still apply. Rule 705 is not reciprocity-limited — admission status in Illinois is not affected by whether your home state would admit Illinois attorneys on motion.

Rule 705 overview

Rule 705 (Admission on Motion) of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules permits admission to the Illinois Bar without examination for an attorney who:

• Has been admitted to practice law in the highest court of any U.S. state, territory, or DC.
• Has been engaged in the active practice of law for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application.
• Earned a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school (or an equivalent satisfying IBAB).
• Passed the MPRE with a score of 80 or higher (in Illinois or another U.S. jurisdiction).
• Is in good standing in every jurisdiction where admitted.
• Clears the IBAB Character & Fitness review.

The three-of-five practice test

The 3-of-5 test means: in the 5 years immediately preceding the date you file your Rule 705 application, you must have been actively practicing law for at least 3 of those years (not necessarily consecutive, and not necessarily in the same jurisdiction). Inactive periods (parental leave, illness, sabbatical) generally don’t count toward the practice years but don’t reset the 5-year window. The full 3 years can be in one or multiple U.S. jurisdictions, and need not be in the U.S. (qualifying practice in foreign jurisdictions counts under the rule’s definition for some categories — check the IBAB rule sheet).

What counts as qualifying practice

The IBAB definition of qualifying practice is broad and includes:

• Private practice as a member of, associate of, or employee by any law firm, with active client representation.
• In-house corporate counsel at a U.S. corporation or its U.S. affiliate.
• Government practice at any level (federal, state, local) in a position requiring bar admission.
• Judicial clerkships (federal or state).
• Military legal services in a JAG-style role.
• Law teaching as a full-time faculty member at an ABA-approved law school.

What does not count: paralegal work, legal-adjacent business roles, lobbying without bar-required practice, or work in jurisdictions that don’t recognize you as licensed to practice.

MPRE and Character & Fitness

Rule 705 applicants must show:

• MPRE 80+ (any U.S. jurisdiction). Free MPRE practice is at MBEmax MPRE.
• Character & Fitness clearance from IBAB’s Committee on Character and Fitness. Out-of-state applicants typically pay the standard C&F registration fee (the rate filed with a Rule 705 application; verify on the IBAB site at the time of filing).
• Good standing from every jurisdiction where the applicant has been admitted (a Certificate of Good Standing from each).

Fees and timeline

• Application fee: $1,500 (Rule 705 admission on motion).
• C&F registration fee: as set by IBAB at filing time.
• Certificate of Good Standing fees: set by each jurisdiction (typically $25–$50 each).
• Timeline: processing typically runs 4–9 months from filing to admission, depending on C&F review complexity. Plan ahead if you have a target start date with an Illinois employer.

Required documentation

• Proof of J.D. from an ABA-approved law school (or equivalent).
• Bar admission certificates from every jurisdiction where admitted.
• Certificate of Good Standing from every jurisdiction where currently admitted.
• MPRE score report.
• Detailed employment history covering the relevant 5-year period, with employer attestation forms for each qualifying position.
• Character & Fitness questionnaire with full disclosure of criminal, civil, financial, academic, and disciplinary history.

Common pitfalls

• Misreading the practice test. 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application — not 3 years total ever. If you stopped practicing 3 years ago, you no longer qualify under Rule 705 as written.
• Disclosing thinly. The C&F process treats non-disclosure more harshly than the underlying conduct. Disclose everything.
• Assuming reciprocity logic. Rule 705 is not reciprocity-limited. Even if your home state doesn’t admit Illinois attorneys on motion, Illinois will still admit you if you meet the practice test.
• Underestimating C&F timeline. Even routine C&F reviews take months. Complex reviews (criminal history, financial issues, prior bar discipline) can take a year or more.

Alternative paths if you don’t qualify

• If you have less than 3 years of qualifying practice, sit for the Illinois Bar Exam under the standard rules.
• If you have a UBE passing score from another jurisdiction earned within the last 3 years, transfer that score into Illinois (the standard UBE transfer route).
• If you have a NextGen UBE passing score from another adopting jurisdiction earned on or after July 2026, that score also transfers in.

Companion pages

• Illinois Bar Exam News & Format Changes
• Return to the Illinois Bar Exam Hub

Sources

• Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705 (Admission on Motion).
• Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar — Rule 705 application page at ilbaradmissions.org.
• NCBE Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements — Illinois jurisdiction page.