Attorney Licensing

There are two statutes that govern “good standing” in Alabama, both of which require the payment of annual fees:

1. Occupational License – Required for attorneys engaged in the private practice of law in Alabama.
2. Special Membership – Available to attorneys who wish to remain on the roll in good standing but are not actively practicing private law in Alabama.

Alternatively, you may choose to be placed on Voluntary Inactive status. This option carries no annual fee; however, you would no longer appear on the roll of attorneys in good standing or receive official mailings. Please contact us via email or by phone at 334-269-1515 if you wish to go on Voluntary Inactive status.

If you are admitted before October 1 of any given year, you will not be assessed annual fees until the beginning of the next licensing year. For example, if your admission date is May 1, you would not owe licensing fees until October 1 of that same calendar year.

If you held an Occupational License at any time during the calendar year, you are still required to complete MCLE (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education) requirements for that year—even if you switch to Special Membership or Voluntary Inactive status for the upcoming licensing year.

If you were admitted during the current calendar year, you are exempt from annual MCLE requirements. However, regardless of your status, you are still required to complete the Mandatory Professionalism Course (Rule 9) within 12 months of your admission date. Finally, attorneys who are 65 years or older are exempt from Alabama’s MCLE requirements.

As the rules currently stand, to reactivate your license in Alabama, you only need to pay the applicable fees. There are no additional reactivation requirements at this time.

Disciplinary History Requests

If you would like to order a discipline history letter, please email that request to the Disciplinary Clerk at clerk@alabar.org. This email address is only for disciplinary history requests.

An attorney who engages in the active practice of law is required to purchase an occupational license (Section 40-12-49, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended). The practice of law is defined in Section 34-3-6, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended.

Occupational License Fee: $300.00

A late penalty of 15% ($45.00) is added to occupational license fee payments received after October 31. Fees postmarked October 31 but not received by that date are considered late and penalty applies.

An attorney NOT engaged in the active practice of law in Alabama may pay special membership dues to remain a member in good standing (Sections 34-3-17 & 18, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended). Those exempt from licensing by virtue of a position held (i.e. judgeships, attorneys general, U.S. attorneys, district attorneys, etc.) also qualify for special memberships. Attorneys who hold a special membership ARE NOT permitted to engage in the private practice of law in Alabama.

Special Membership Dues: $150.00