ACC calls on New Mexico to abandon reciprocity proposals

In a letter to the New Mexico Supreme Court, the Association of Corporate Counsel said that the state’s newly proposed rules - removing restrictive bar admission standards for experienced lawyers providing they were from a state which had reciprocal arrangements - did not go far enough.

Call for new rules

ACC vice president Amar Sarwal said the proposed reciprocity requirements which require ‘even experienced lawyers to take an exam to obtain full membership in the bar’ did not best serve clients. He called for the court to pass new rules which would open up admission to experienced lawyers from all states and not just those with a reciprocal arrangement, saying that the proposed solution ‘subjects the needs of clients to the whims of state-to-state diplomacy. A more open admission system serves clients better.’

'Roulette wheel of reciprocity'

The letter, sent to Chief Justice Petra Jimenez Maes, describes the proposals as effectively subjecting ‘clients’ needs to a roulette wheel of reciprocity, with everything riding on where the lawyer’s license happens to come from.’
At present New Mexico lawyers do not have reciprocity with other states and New Mexico lawyers are required to pass bar examinations if they wish to practice in other states.