Wisconsin
Common questions
Can a lawyer be admitted in Wisconsin without taking the bar exam (admission on motion)?
Admission on motion available. Must show substantially engaged in practice of law for three years within last five years prior to filing
Does Wisconsin accept a transferred Uniform Bar Exam score?
Yes from July 2026: 260+, within 36 months, 21-hr Wis. component within 12 months, $450 fee (2026 WI 9)
What are the pro hac vice requirements and fee in Wisconsin state courts?
Local counsel: Generally required: active Wisconsin attorney sponsors and files motion with the court; exceptions for nonresident military counsel and ICWA representations Fee: $250 to State Bar of Wisconsin per case, paid online by card (wisbar.org/prohacvice)
Admission on motion
- Requirements
- Must show substantially engaged in practice of law for three years within last five years prior to filing
- Years of practice
- three years within the last five years prior to filing application
- Reciprocity
- No reciprocity condition found; any US jurisdiction admission qualifies
- Reciprocity states
- Not applicable: no reciprocity
- Fee
- $850
- Rule
- Wis. SCR 40.05
- UBE score transfer
- Yes from July 2026: 260+, within 36 months, 21-hr Wis. component within 12 months, $450 fee (2026 WI 9)
- UBE minimum
- 260 or higher
- UBE score window
- within 36 months of the date of the qualifying examination
- MPRE
- No MPRE required
- Other routes
- In-House Counsel registration is required in Wisconsin.
- Foreign attorneys
- Yes, graduates of foreign law schools or attorneys licensed in other countries may sit for the UBE if certain requirements are met
1 not found in the pulled documents
- Military spouse
- Not in the pulled documents
State-court pro hac vice
- Rule
- Wis. SCR 10.03(4)(b)
- Local counsel
- Generally required: active Wisconsin attorney sponsors and files motion with the court; exceptions for nonresident military counsel and ICWA representations
- Limits
- Application and fee for each case; one application covers appellate and subsequent circuit court proceedings in same matter; consolidated cases may use one application; no numeric cap found
- Fee
- $250 to State Bar of Wisconsin per case, paid online by card (wisbar.org/prohacvice)
- Procedure
- Nonresident completes State Bar application and pays fee online; sponsoring Wisconsin attorney files motion in court; certificate of good standing not expressly required on court page; eCourts account required
Language from the source documents
11 quoted passages
On motion
The applicant who applies for admission to the practice of law in Wisconsin must show they have been substantially engaged in the practice of law in a state or territory, the federal government, or the District of Columbia for three years within the last five years prior to filing application for admission.wicourts.gov
On-motion rule
The eligibility requirements for admission via Proof of Practice Elsewhere may be found in SCR ยง40.05wicourts.gov
UBE transfer
they have received a scaled score of 260 or higher earned in another jurisdiction on the UBE and the score is certified as a UBE score by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Applicants must submit evidence of the score and a complete application for admission to the Board within 36 monthswicourts.gov
Pro hac vice rule
A non-resident lawyer seeking admission pro hac vice must follow the applicable procedure set forth in SCR 10.03(4) .wicourts.gov
Pro hac vice fee
The non-resident attorney must complete the application and pay the $250 fee to the State Bar of Wisconsin.wicourts.gov
UBE minimum score
provided the applicant has received a scaled score of 260 or higher earned in another jurisdiction on the UBEwicourts.gov
UBE score window
The applicant shall submit evidence of the score and a complete application for admission to the Board within 36 months of the date of t he qualifying examination being used as the basis for the admission.wicourts.gov
Foreign attorneys
Yes, it is possible for graduates of foreign law schools or attorneys licensed in other countries to sit for the UBE provided certain requirements are met.wicourts.gov