alabama

bar admission administrative agency:

admissions secretary
board of bar examiners
alabama state bar
p.o. box 671
montgomery, al 36101
tel: 334/269-1515
fax: 334/261-6310
website: http://www.alabar.org/
email: admit@alabar.org

bar admission options:
 
without bar examination
law professors: law professors who have taught, full-time, for three consecutive years in an alabama law school approved by the aba and who have been admitted to the bar of at least one state or the district of columbia may be admitted on motion as long as they meet the educational requirements listed below.
 
with bar examination
examination required for all other applicants.
 
examination components:
1. academic: mbe and 12 state essays. a previous mbe score of 140 or above is transferable from another jurisdiction within 20 months, provided the applicant is admitted in the state where the examination was taken.
2. ethics: mpre scaled score of 75 is transferable from any jurisdiction within 12 months.
 
examination dates:
february (deadline: october 1 of the preceding year)
july (deadline: february 1)
 
application/admission fees: $600.00
 
 
other state bar requirements:
 
1. minimum age: 19
 
2. character check by the alabama state bar committee on character and fitness prior to bar admission.
 
3. graduates of law schools approved by the aba or aals at time of graduation do not need proof of pre-legal education. if, at the time of graduation, an applicant's school was not approved by either of the above, then the applicant must file with the secretary of the board of commissioners of the alabama state bar at the address listed above, a certified copy of diploma showing that:
a) the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree from a college or university that at the time of applicant's graduation appeared on the approved list of any standard accrediting agency as meeting substantially the same standards required for appearing on the approved list of the agency; and
b) the degree was received before the applicant entered law school.
 
4. graduates of non-aba or non-aals approved out-of-state law schools must petition the alabama supreme court for permission to take the bar examination.
 
5. all applicants must provide proof of legal education (certificate from dean of law school--certificate requirements vary depending on law school accreditation status).
 
6. required annual fees: $250.00
 
 
regulation of in-house counsel
 
alabama bar opinion # 186-52 (5/26/1986), entitled “limitations on in-house counsel of corporation who is not admitted to practice law in alabama,” authorizes a full-time employee of a corporation situated in alabama who is not admitted to the state bar to perform legal work exclusively for his or her employer, provided he or she does not practice law as defined by section 34-3-1, code of alabama, 1975 (see below). the opinion expressly states that the attorney should not make court appearances for the corporation, but may advise on the corporation’s legal problems.

alabama is one of a few states that has a comprehensive statutory definition of what constitutes the practice of law, which states in pertinent part:

“(b) for the purpose of this chapter, the practice of law is defined as follows:

whoever,

(1) in a representative capacity appears as an advocate or draws papers, pleadings or documents, or performs any act in connection with proceedings pending or prospective before a court or a body, board, committee,commission or officer constituted by law or
having authority to take evidence in or settle or determine controversies in the exercise of the judicial power of the state or any subdivision thereof; or

(2) for a consideration, reward or pecuniary benefit,present or anticipated, direct or indirect, advises or counsels another as to secular law, or draws or procures or assists in the drawing of a paper, document or instrument affecting or relating to secular rights; or

(3) for a consideration, reward or pecuniary benefit, present or anticipated, direct or indirect, does any act in a representative capacity in behalf of another tending to obtain or secure for such other the prevention or the redress of a wrong or the enforcement or establishment of a right; or

(4) as a vocation, enforces, secures, settles, adjusts or compromises defaulted, controverted or disputed accounts, claims or demands between persons with neither of whom he is in privity or in the relation of employer and employee in the ordinary sense;

is practicing law.
 
 
bar association status
 
[x] mandatory (see required annual fees above).
 
[ ] voluntary

 
specialty certification
 
the alabama state bar board of legal specialization must approve the certifying entity. aba-accredited certification programs are presumptively approved. aba-accredited programs sponsored by the american board of certification, the american board of professional liability attorneys, the national board of trial advocacy and the national elder law foundation are recognized in alabama. non-accredited programs must apply directly to the state bar board of legal specialization and pay a registration fee.
 
areas of specialization include:
1. business bankruptcy
2. civil trial advocacy
3. consumer bankruptcy
4. creditors' rights
5. criminal trial advocacy
6. elder law
7. family law trial advocacy
8. professional liability (accounting; legal; medical)