Rule 15.10 - Limited Licensee Conversion to Full Membership in the Oregon State Bar(1) An attorney who has taken and passed the bar examination in another United States jurisdiction, who is an active members of the bar in any other state, district or territory of the United States, and who currently holds a Limited License in Oregon, may become a regular member of the Oregon State Bar if the attorney meets the following qualifications, subject to the requirements of this rule:(a) The applicant has been licensed to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction for at least 24 consecutive months;(b) The applicant has not been subject to any disciplinary suspension within the 60 months immediately preceding the submission of the application for admission under this rule;(c) The applicant has not been subject to any administrative suspensions within the last 24 months;(d) The applicant has no known ongoing disciplinary cases, investigations, or inquiries in any other jurisdiction; and(e) The applicant has been actively engaged in the authorized fulltime practice of law for no less than 24 of the 48 months immediately preceding the application for admission under this rule. The term "full-time practice of law" shall have the same meaning provided for in RFA 15.05(1)(d)(i). The term "Limited License" shall mean the license given to a licensee under rules related to House Counsel (RFA 16.05), Military Spouse (RFA 18.05), Law Teacher (RFA 11.05), or Foreign Law Consultant (RFA 12.05)).
(2) An applicant for admission under this rule shall:(a) Submit sufficient proof, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant has: (i) Earned a (1) Juris Doctor (J.D.) or (2) Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree from an ABA accredited law school; or satisfied the requirements of RFA 3.05(3); (ii) Passed a bar examination in another state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States;(iii) Been admitted to the practice of law in at least one other state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States;(iv) Current active membership to the practice of law in the highest court of at least one other state, commonwealth, district or territory of the United States of America; and(v) Been engaged in the authorized full-time practice of law for a minimum of 24 months out of the 48 months immediately preceding the date that the applicant submits their application for admission. The authorized practice of law may take place in Oregon subject to the terms of the applicant's limited license, or as an attorney in another state in which they were authorized to practice law in or in a state that does not presently prohibit the type of practice of law that was conducted by the applicant in said state.(b) Possess the good moral character and fitness required of all other applicants for admission to the practice of law in Oregon;(c) Complete the Limited License Conversion application approved by the Board and submit such other information as may be required by the Board and the Court within six (6) months of the date of filing the application; and(d) Pay the relevant Conversion Application Fee set out in RFA 4.10(2)(c).(3) The character and fitness review and investigation related to the Applicant's conversion shall be focused on the period since they filed their last application with the Oregon State Bar, or, if it is believed that applicant made misrepresentations on a prior application, the investigations shall also consider evidence related to such misrepresentations.(4)(a) An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall complete and certify prior to admission under this rule that the applicant has attended at least 15 hours of continuing legal education on Oregon practice and procedure and ethics requirements as regulated and approved by the Board. An applicant must attend and complete the required continuing legal education hours any time between six (6) months prior to and six (6) months after the filing of an application.(b) If an applicant has completed an MCLE reporting cycle in Oregon as required to maintain their limited license, then the CLE requirement set out in RFA 15.10(4)(a) shall be waived, upon establishing that they met their MCLE requirements during their last reporting cycle and that they are currently in compliance with all MCLE requirements for their limited license. Alternatively, if an applicant has completed 15 hours of continuing legal education to obtain a limited license in Oregon within the 12 months preceding the Conversion Application filed under this rule, then the CLE requirement set out in RFA 15.10(4)(a) shall be waived.(5) An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall obtain and maintain malpractice coverage from the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund (PLF) as required by the rules and regulations of the fund. If an applicant is exempt from the requirement to maintain malpractice insurance, the applicant shall provide sufficient proof that the applicant qualifies for a PLF exemption from malpractice coverage.(6) An applicant admitted to practice law pursuant to this rule shall be subject to and shall comply with the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct, the Oregon State Bar Rules of Procedure, and all other rules and regulations applicable to members of the Oregon State Bar.Or. State. Bar. R. Regul. and Polic. 15.10