Category: USB14-0809

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

Posted: December 12, 2022

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Effective December 9, 2022

USB14-0701. Definitions. Amended as of December 9, 2022, pursuant to UCJA Rule 11-105(5). The amendments add as a defined term “UBE Transfer Applicant.”

USB14-0809. Practice Pending Admission. Amended as of December 9, 2022, pursuant to UCJA Rule 11-105(5).The amendments add UBE Transfer Applicants to the list of applicants that may practice while their admissions application is pending.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: July 14, 2022

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Effective August 1, 2022

USB14-0701. Definitions. AMEND.

In acknowledging the remote work environment created by the pandemic, amendments remove the requirement that “active practice” activities be performed in the jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted.
Amendments also remove teaching full-time at an approved law school as an “active practice” activity in favor of creating an exception for this type of work under Rule 14-705, which is the admission by motion rule.

USB14-0705. Admission by motion. AMEND.

Amendments remove geographic restrictions for purposes of counting years of practice toward admission by motion requirements.
Amendments allow time in Utah to count toward time practicing in another jurisdiction so long as the lawyer has complied with Rule 5.5 of the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct.
Amendments reduce the amount of time a lawyer must have practiced in another jurisdiction from 60 months to 36 months.
Amendments also exempt full-time Utah law professors from the requirement of being engaged in the active full-time practice of law for the relevant time period, so long as they have worked at least 80 hours per month as a law professor during that time.

USB14-0712. Qualifications for admission based on UBE. AMEND.

Paragraph (c)(2) currently provides that a UBE score may be transferred up to 5 years after exam administration if the attorney applicant can prove that they have practiced for at least 2 ½ years.
Repeal of paragraph (c)(2) would bring the rule in line with Rule 14-705 amendments by funneling such applicants through the admission by motion process rather than the UBE score transfer process.

USB14-0809. Practice Pending Admission. AMEND.

Amendments to paragraph (c)(3) conform to Rule 14-705 amendments regarding geographic restrictions and time spent practicing.
Amendments also expand practice eligibility:
- from one year to eighteen months after certificate issuance, and
- from one failed Bar exam attempt to two failed Bar exam attempts.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: March 29, 2018

Rules Governing the State Bar – Effective May 1, 2018

USB14-0701 Amend. Changes to Rule 14-701 clear up confusion regarding the definition of “bar examination” and make the definition of practice of law consistent with the definition used in 14-802.

USB14-0704 Amend. Change makes the rule consistent with proposed rule 14-809.

USB14-0705 Amend. Change makes the rule consistent with proposed rule 14-809.

USB14-0713 Amend. Change makes the rule consistent with proposed rule 14-809.

USB14-0719 Amend. Change makes the rule consistent with proposed rule 14-809.

USB14-0806 Amend. Change makes the rule consistent with proposed rule 14-809.

USB14-0807 Amend. Changes to Rule 14-807 clarify language that has been a source of confusion for students seeking to practice under the rule.

USB14-0809 New. This new rule will allow lawyers admitted in other jurisdictions, who have submitted an application for admission to the Utah State Bar, to practice law in Utah under supervision while awaiting admission

USB14-0904 Amend. Changes to the rule clarify that any lawyer on whose behalf the Fund for Client Protection makes a payment can be administratively suspended for failure to reimburse the Fund.

Supreme Court Order