Background
The Supreme Court of Arkansas issued this per curiam opinion, cited as 2026 Ark. 184, to adopt amendments to two sets of rules governing the legal profession: the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar and the Arkansas Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education. The opinion states that the amendments are effective immediately.
The court published the revised rules in “line-in, line-out” fashion, with new material underlined and deleted material lined through. The opinion identifies the affected provisions as Rule XI of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar and Rule 4(J) of the Arkansas Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education.
The Court’s Holding
The court adopted the amendments effective immediately. Rule XI, titled “Expense fee,” provides that a fee established from time to time by the court must accompany initial and subsequent applications to take the bar examination. The fee requirement also applies to applications for admission on motion under Rule XVI, military spouse temporary admission under Rule XVII, and admission by transfer of a UBE score under Rule XVIII.
The revised Rule XI states that remittances for those fees shall be made by Post-Office Money Order or Cashier’s Check payable to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, or may be paid online via bank transfer or credit card. It further provides that the fees shall be used by the Board to defray examination expenses and necessary expenses of Board members while attending meetings. Board members are entitled to receive per diem and reasonable reimbursement for expenses of meals, lodging, and transportation as may be set from time to time by the court. The rule also states that fees shall be used to assist the Board and the Executive Secretary in carrying out their duties under the rules.
The amendment to Rule 4(J) of the Arkansas Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education addresses accreditation and credit for service to the Supreme Court of Arkansas. The Board is authorized to establish regulations granting credit for service as an active member of a Supreme Court of Arkansas Board, Commission, or Committee. An attorney may earn general CLE credit at a rate of one hour of credit for every three hours of service performed. The Board shall limit credit earned through that service to no more than twelve hours per reporting period; the lined-through text shows that the prior limit was three hours.
Key Takeaways
- The amendments to the bar-admission and minimum-CLE rules took effect immediately on November 5, 2026.
- Rule XI covers fees for bar-examination applications and the specified alternative admission routes, identifies accepted payment methods, and describes permitted uses of the fees.
- Rule 4(J) authorizes Board regulations for CLE credit based on active service on a Supreme Court of Arkansas Board, Commission, or Committee, at one credit hour for every three service hours.
- The maximum CLE credit for that service is twelve hours per reporting period, replacing the lined-through three-hour limit.
Why It Matters
The amendments directly affect applicants seeking admission to the Arkansas bar and attorneys seeking CLE credit for qualifying service to the Supreme Court of Arkansas. The opinion supplies the operative rule text and effective date but does not provide a separate explanation of the reasons for the changes.
Special Justice Cory Cox joins. Justice Webb did not participate.