kansas

bar admission administrative agency:

attorney admissions
kansas judicial center
301 sw 10th avenue, room 374
topeka, ks 66612-1507
tel: 785/296-8410
fax: 785-296-1028
e-mail: admissions@kscourts.org
website: http://www.kscourts.org/
website: http://www.ksbar.org/


bar admission options:

without bar examination
1. supreme court rule 703, effective july 1, 2005:
(a) any applicant for admission to the bar of kansas who was duly admitted to the practice of law upon written examination by the highest court of another state or in the district of columbia may be admitted to practice in this state without written examination, upon showing that the applicant:
(1) is licensed in at least one jurisdiction that permits mutuality of admission without examination for members of the kansas bar;
(2) has never failed a written kansas bar examination;
(3) presently meets the requirements of rules 702 and 704 to take the kansas bar examination;
(4) has never received professional discipline of suspension, disbarment, or loss of license in any other jurisdiction;
(5) is not currently the subject of a pending disciplinary investigation in any other jurisdiction;
(6) is a person of good moral character and mentally and emotionally fit to engage in the active and continuous practice of law; and
(7) has been lawfully engaged in the active practice of law outside the state of kansas, or in kansas under rule 706, for five of the seven years immediately preceding the date of his or her application. for purposes of this rule, the “active practice of law” is defined in rule 703.

2. temporary licensure of attorneys performing restricted legal services for single employers: any applicant for admission to the bar of kansas who was duly admitted to and continuously licensed for the practice of law upon written examination by the highest court of another state's judicial system or that of the district of columbia, and who has accepted or intends to accept or continue employment by a person, firm, association, corporation, or accredited law school engaged in business in kansas other than the practice of law, and whose full time is, or will be, limited to the business of such employer, and who receives, or will receive, his or her entire compensation from such employer for the rendering of services, which include legal services, may be granted a special temporary permit to practice law in kansas and the courts of this state, without examination, upon showing that the applicant:
(1) when first admitted in another jurisdiction was fully qualified to have taken the bar examination in kansas under the rules of the supreme court then in effect;
(2) has satisfied any applicable continuing legal education requirements of the jurisdictions in which applicant has been admitted prior to making application in kansas; and
(3) is now and has been a person of good moral character and in all respects is a proper person to be granted a special temporary permit to practice law in this state.
a special temporary permit granted under the provisions of this rule shall remain in effect for so long as such person remains in the employ of, and devotes his or her full time to the business of, and receives compensation for legal services from no source other than such employer. upon the termination of such employment, the right of such person to practice law in kansas shall terminate unless he or she shall have accepted like employment with another kansas employer.

persons granted a temporary permit under this rule shall be subject to all of the rules for practice in this state, including the requirements for continuing legal education.

3. temporary permit to practice: any applicant for admission to the bar upon written examination who is otherwise qualified for admission, may file with the clerk of the appellate courts a request for a temporary permit to practice law. the request must be accompanied by a written statement from an attorney actively engaged in the
practice of law in kansas that such attorney will supervise and be responsible for the acts of the applicant during the period covered by the temporary certificate. if the supreme court shall find that the circumstances are such to justify it, a temporary permit may be granted, expiring at the date the results of the examination are announced, if unsuccessful, or, if successful, on the date the applicant is regularly admitted to the bar. an applicant who, within ten years prior to filing an application in kansas, has failed a bar examination in kansas or any other state or jurisdiction will not thereafter be eligible for a temporary permit.

application deadline: not applicable.

application/admission fees:
1. admission to the bar without written examination under rule 703: $1,250.
2. temporary licensure: $750 plus the amount of the current charge for the investigation and report of the investigating body or organization selected by the board of law examiners.
3. temporary permit to practice: $100.00 for. an additional fee is charged for a character and fitness report of the investigating body selected by the board of law examiners.

with bar examination
examination required for all other applicants.

examination components:
1. academic: mbe and 12 state essays. mbe scaled score of 120 or higher from another jurisdiction is accepted if taken within 13 months of the date of the examination and if the applicant has passed the entire examination in the transferring jurisdiction.
2. ethics: mpre scaled score of 80 prior to or within 180 days of taking the kansas bar examination. mpre scores are transferable from any jurisdiction.

examination dates:
february (deadline: october 15 of the preceding year; or november 15 if accompanied by a $200 late penalty fee in addition to the application fee)
july (deadline: march 15; or april 15 if accompanied by a $200 late penalty fee in addition to the application fee)

application/admission fees: $400.00


other state bar requirements:

1. proof of good moral character.

2. undergraduate degree from an institution accredited by the regional accrediting bodies of the commission on institutions of higher education.

3. graduate of a law school accredited by the aba.

4. required annual fees: $100.00 attorney registration fee (active); $50.00 (inactive)


regulation of in-house counsel

kansas bar admission rules cover in-house counsel (see without bar examination: temporary licensure, above).


bar association status:

[ ] mandatory

[x] voluntary
annual dues: $60.00 (if admitted to any state bar in 2004); $80.00 (if admitted to any state bar in 2003); $105.00 (if admitted to any state bar in 2002); $135.00 (if admitted to any state bar in 2001); $175.00 (if admitted to any state bar in 2000 or before); $60.00 (full-time government employee); $60.00 (inactive).


specialty certification

kansas does not regulate specialty certification. attorneys may advertise their specialties. the kansas rules of professional conduct state that a "lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer does or does not practice in particular fields of law" [rule 7.4]. the commentary to the rule, however, states: “…stating that the lawyer is a "specialist" or that the lawyer's practice "is limited to" or "concentrated in" particular fields is not permitted.” an exception is made for attorneys who specialize in either patent law or admiralty law.