Utah Court Rules – Approved

The Supreme Court or Judicial Council has approved and adopted the following rules, which rules are effective on the date indicated. To view the newly adopted rules, click on any rule number.

Under circumstances described in CJA Rules 2-205 or 11-105, certain rules may have been adopted prior to a public comment period. The public is provided the opportunity to provide comment on those rules during the 45 days following the adoption of any such rule. To review and comment, click on the “LINKS” tab directly below. Then click on “Proposed Rule Amendments Published for Comment” to be taken to the page where links to rules subject to public comment are located.

Category: USB14-0715

Posted: April 23, 2026

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions – Effective May 1, 2026

USB4-701. Definitions. Amend. The change adds definitions for Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE as subparts of paragraph (qq). The definitions will be necessary going forward as jurisdictions begin administering the NextGen UBE starting July 2026.

USB4-702. Board – general powers. Amend. The changes add “no authority to waive rules” to the title and clarifies in paragraph (f) that the process to request a rule waiver is found in new rule 14-722.

USB4-712.Qualifications for admission based on UBE. Amend. The change will allow an applicant to transfer a score from either the Legacy UBE or the NextGen UBE exam taken in another jurisdiction starting with the July 2026 exam administration.

USB4-715. Requests for Review. Amend. The amendments to Rule 14-715: (1) clarify the process to request a review by the Admissions Committee of a final determination, (2) clarify the standard under which the Admissions Committee reviews determination, and (3) includes cleanup for clarity and consistency.

USB4-722. Petition to Waive a Rule in Extraordinary Circumstances. New. The proposed rule establishes a process for an applicant to seek a rule waiver. It clearly sets forth the “extraordinary circumstances” standard and adds an advisory note referencing relevant opinions from this Court. The change also states that the Court will not grant a rule waiver without requesting a response from the Bar, which will alleviate some burden on the Bar to respond to every petition filed under the rule.

USB4-809. Practice Pending Admission. Amend. The change adds a paragraph to the rule stating that someone who has received a passing score on the most recent bar examination in Utah and who is awaiting the next motion for admission may receive a Practice Pending Admission certificate if all other requirements are met.

The change imposes a six-month time limit on the Practice Pending Admission certificate for these applicants, which is consistent with rule 4-716(d) and its six-month time limit for an applicant to take the oath after being eligible for admission.

Supreme Court Order

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Posted: March 24, 2025

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions -Effective May 1, 2025

USB 14-701 Definitions. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Adds that pro bono work under 14-803 is “Active Practice”
• Updates language referring to delicensed attorneys
• Modifies definition for Formerly-Admitted Applicant
• Changes definition of an “Unapproved Law School”

USB 14-702. Board – general powers. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-703. Qualifications for admission of Student Applicants. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-704. Qualifications for admission of Attorney Applicants. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Changes active practice of law requirement for applicants from Unapproved law schools
• Changes the active practice of law requirement for applicants from foreign law schools

USB 14-705. Admission by motion. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-706. Test accommodations. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-707. Application; deadlines; withdrawals; postponements and fees. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Modifies the background investigation requirements to allow Admissions Committee to prescribe method of investigations
• Removes late filing deadlines for examinees
• Gives Deputy General Counsel or the Character and Fitness Committee authority to keep an application open for more than one year

USB 14-708. Character and fitness. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Adds language to reflect the position of financial obligations in the review of an applicant’s character and fitness

USB 14-709. Application denial. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-711. Grading and passing the Bar Examination. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Adds language about appeal process specifically for paragraph (f)

USB 14-712. Qualifications for admission based on UBE. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-713. MPRE. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-714. Unsuccessful Applicants disclosure and right of inspection. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-715. Requests for Review. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-716. License fees; enrollment fees; oath and admission. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Updates information to match the current relationship of admissions to the Utah Supreme Court and the District Court for the District of Utah

USB 14-717. Readmission of Utah attorneys after resignation with discipline, administrative suspension for three or more years, resignation with discipline, or delicensure. Amend.

• Updated title of rule for consistency
• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Changes requirement that a Formerly-Admitted Attorney applying under Rule 14-704 does not need to retake the bar examination but must complete the New Lawyer Training Program

USB 14-718. Licensing of Foreign Legal Consultants. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-719. Qualifications for admission of House Counsel Applicants. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency
• Adds language indicating that House Counsel can not use lack of notice from the Bar as a defense to continuing to practice as House Counsel after authorization has ceased based on a triggering event

USB 14-720. Confidentiality. Amend.

• Removes language allowing Bar to disclose names of Applicants
• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

USB 14-721. Admission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients. Amend.

• General cleanup for clarity and consistency

Supreme Court Order

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Posted: November 19, 2020

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Effective November 12, 2020

USB14-0805. Admission for spouse of active military stationed in Utah. Proposed change in 14-805(a)(4)(A) requires military spouse applicants to pay the full application fee rather than half. Reason for the change is recent federal legislation that reimburses military spouses for the full application fee.

USB14-0715. Request for review. Proposed change in 14-715(e)(4) allows petitioners to submit a reply brief that is limited to the facts raised in the Bar’s response to the initial petition.

USB14-0705. Admission by motion and USB14-0719. Qualifications for admission of House Counsel Applicants. Changes to both rules permit House Counsel licensees to count time spent practicing in Utah with a house counsel license toward the time required for admission by motion.

Supreme Court Order

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Posted: March 4, 2016

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Effective May 1, 2016

The following proposals address changes to the Bar admissions rules. The proposed changes are primarily a reorganization of the current rules to make them easier for applicants to understand. Redundant sections of the rules were deleted and consolidated. There also are numerous changes proposed for consistency, form and clarification. Substantive changes include a change in the definition of “Active Practice” in Rule 14-701, the consolidation of all review procedures under Rule 14-715, and changes to timing of motions for admissions, the ceremony and taking of the oath of attorney in Rules 14-707 and 14-716.

USB14-701. Definitions. Amend.

USB14-703. Qualifications for admission of Student and Foreign Law School Applicants. Amend.

USB14-704. Qualifications for admission of Attorney Applicants. Amend.

USB14-705. Admission by motion. Amend.

USB14-706. Test accommodations. Amend.

USB14-707. Application; deadlines; withdrawals; postponements and fees. Amend.

USB14-708. Character and fitness. Amend.

USB14-709. Application denial. Amend.

USB14-710. Administration of the Bar Exam. Amend.

USB14-711. Grading and passing of the Bar Exam. Amend.

USB14-712. Qualifications for admission based on UBE. Amend.

USB14-715. Bar Examination appeals. Amend.

USB14-716. License fees; enrollment fees; oath and admission. Amend.

USB14-717. Readmission after resignation or disbarment of Utah attorneys. Amend.

USB14-718. Licensing of Foreign Legal Consultants. Amend.

USB14-719. Qualifications for admission of House Counsel applicants. Amend.

Supreme Court Order

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Posted: May 20, 2012

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar

Substantive and technical amendments to multiple rules to adopt the Uniform Bar Exam in Utah.
USB 14-0701. Definitions.
USB 14-0702. Board – general powers.
USB 14-0703. Qualifications for admission of Student and Foreign Law School Applicants.
USB 14-0704. Qualifications for admission of Attorney Applicants.
USB 14-0705. Admission by Motion.
USB 14-0706. Test accommodations.
USB 14-0707. Application; deadlines; withdrawals; postponements and fees.
USB 14-0708. Character and fitness.
USB 14-0709. Application denial.
USB 14-0710. Administration of the Bar Examination.
USB 14-0711. Grading and passing of the Bar Examination.
USB 14-0712. Qualifications for admission based on UBE.
USB 14-0713. MPRE.
USB 14-0714. Unsuccessful Applicants: disclosure and right of inspection.
USB 14-0715. Bar Examination appeals.
USB 14-0716. License fees; enrollment fees; oath and admission.
USB 14-0717. Readmission after resignation or disbarment of Utah attorneys.
USB 14-0718. Licensing of Foreign Legal Consultants. Renumber from 14-805 and amend.
USB 14-0719. Qualifications for admission of House Counsel Applicants. Renumber from 14-720 and amend.
USB 14-0720. Confidentiality. Renumber from 14-719 and amend.
USB 14-0805. Reserved. Reserved.
Supreme Court Order.

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