colorado

bar admission administrative agency:

executive director
supreme court board of law examiners
dominion plaza building
600 17th street
suite 520-s
denver, co 80202
tel: 303/893-8096
website: http://www.courts.state.co.us/
website: http://www.cobar.org/

bar admission options:

without bar examination
an applicant who has graduated from a law school accredited by the aba may be admitted without examination if the applicant has:
1) been admitted to the bar of any u.s. jurisdiction which allows admission to members of the colorado bar on motion without the requirement of taking that jurisdiction's bar examination;
2) actively and substantially maintained a practice of law in the jurisdiction which allows admission to members of the colorado bar on motion without the requirement of taking that jurisdiction's bar examination, immediately preceding application to the admission of the bar of colorado;
3) successfully completed the mpre with a scaled score of at least 85 taken on an examination administered no more than two years prior to application (the mpre requirement need not be fulfilled prior to application, but must be completed prior to final approval for admission); and
4) actively and substantially engaged in the practice of law for five of the seven years immediately preceding application. for this purpose, "practice of law" means:
a) private practice in a law firm, professional corporation, legal clinic, legal services office, or similar entity;
b) employment as a lawyer for a corporation, partnership, trust, or individual;
c) employment as a lawyer in government at any level;
d) employment as a judge, magistrate, hearing examiner, administrative law judge, law clerk, or similar official;
e) employment as a teacher of law at a law school approved by the aba; or
f) any combination of the above.
note: part-time legal activities do not qualify as “active and substantial” for this purpose.

application deadline: not applicable

application/admission fees: $800.00 application fee, plus $7.25 credit report fee.

with bar examination
examination required for all other applicants.

examination components:
1. academic: mbe, nine state essays, and two mpt questions.
2. ethics: mpre scaled score of 85 is required of all applicants taken on an examination administered no more than two years prior to the date of application. the mpre requirement need not be fulfilled prior to application, but must be completed prior to admission.

examination dates:
february (deadline: december 1 - postmark date - of the preceding year)
july (deadline: may 1 - postmark date)

applications with late fees will be accepted until december 31 for the february examination and may 31 for the july examination.

application/admission fees:
$475.00, plus $7.25 credit report fee (non-attorney applicants); $500.00, plus $7.25 credit report fee (attorney applicants).

other state bar requirements:

1. graduate of a law school approved by the aba; or

2. graduates of state accredited law schools can take the examination if admitted in the same jurisdiction and if they have practiced for five of the seven years preceding application.

3. required annual fees: $155.00 (0-3 years after admission); $195.00 (more than 3 years after admission); $50.00 (inactive).

regulation of in-house counsel

in december, 2002, the colorado supreme court issued a new rule regulating the practice of law in colorado by attorneys who are not licensed in colorado, including in-house counsel practice. the rule was effective january 1, 2003.

the new rule (c.r.c.p. 222: in-house counsel) allows in-house counsel to apply for a special certification by the colorado supreme court which gives in-house counsel all of the rights and duties of an admitted colorado attorney for as long as the attorney represents the single client in colorado. an in-house counsel must file an application with the colorado supreme court and pay a $725.00 certification fee, plus the same annual fees as are required of licensed colorado attorneys. he or she must also comply with the mandatory cle requirements. the application must contain the following certifications:

1) that the attorney’s practice is limited to representing a single client;
2) that the attorney has advised such single client that the attorney is not licensed in colorado;
3) a certification by the client that the client is aware the attorney is not a licensed colorado attorney and that the attorney will be exclusively employed by that client; and
4) a certificate of good standing from all courts and jurisdictions in which the attorney is admitted to practice.

once certified, the in-house attorney may act on behalf of the single client as if licensed in colorado. the attorney may not act as counsel for the single client until the application is approved. the in-house attorney will be subject to the colorado rules and colorado attorney disciplinary procedures.

bar association status:

[ ] mandatory

[x] voluntary
annual dues: $75.00 (0-4 years after admission); $120.00 (4-7 years after admission); $135.00 (more than 8 years after admission). residents of colorado must also join a local bar association and those fees range from $15.00-$280.00. non-residents may join the colorado bar association without paying local bar association dues.

specialty certification

colorado does not have a specialty certification program and does not recognize aba-accredited certification programs. attorneys may advertise their specialty certification provided that the communication states that: "colorado does not certify attorney specialists in any field."