The first quarter of the 21st century has been a time of transformation for the Idaho State Bar (“ISB”) and the Idaho Law Foundation (“ILF”). It is impossible to cover every important, historical, or noteworthy event in a 25-year period. Instead, this article focuses on several selected historical developments and addresses their impact on the ISB.

In April 2001, ISB membership totaled 4,069 attorneys. Today, there are 7,409 active members,[1] marking an 82 percent increase in the past 25 years. While the Bar has grown significantly, the ISB and ILF missions remain the same—protect the public; promote high standards of professional conduct; aid in the advancement of the administration of justice; increase access to legal services; and enhance public understanding of the law.

Changes in Bar Admission

Reciprocity and Experienced Attorney Admission

One of the most significant changes in recent history has been the evolution of bar admissions. In 2004, Idaho entered into a reciprocal admission compact with Oregon, Washington, and Utah, allowing experienced attorneys from those jurisdictions to be admitted without having to take a bar exam. Across the country, similar compacts developed among geographic neighbors. By the 2010s, reciprocal admission expanded beyond our neighbors to include any other states that would admit Idaho lawyers based on practice experience without having to take a bar exam.

In 2024, Idaho Bar Commission Rule 206 was amended to eliminate the reciprocity requirement and provide that any qualified attorney with sufficient practice experience may be admitted in Idaho without sitting for the bar exam. This change reflects Idaho’s acknowledgement of the need for attorneys to be able to move more easily between states, and the increased number of attorneys engaging in multi-jurisdictional practice. Today, more than 2,000 of Idaho’s approximately 7,200 licensed attorneys reside outside the state of Idaho, and more than 2,000 Idaho attorneys living within our state are also licensed in at least one other state.[2]

A Uniform Bar Examination

In the early 2000s, the Idaho bar exam was administered over a two and one-half day period, consisting of the Multistate Essay Examination (“MEE”), Multistate Performance Test (“MPT”), and Multistate Bar Examination (“MBE”) developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (“NCBE”), along with four essay questions drafted by Idaho attorneys focusing on Idaho law (which almost always included a notorious Water Law question).

In 2011, Idaho adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (“UBE”), a standardized bar exam that no longer specifically tested Idaho law. Applicants taking the UBE earned a UBE score that could be transferred to another UBE jurisdiction without having to take the bar exam. The UBE is now used by over 40 jurisdictions.

NextGen Bar Exam

In 2024, Idaho bar members voted to adopt the NextGen Bar Exam, a new bar exam designed to be a better test of the knowledge and skills new attorneys are expected to know. The Idaho Supreme Court approved the change in March 2025, and the Idaho State Bar will commence administering the NextGen Bar Exam in July 2026. 45 jurisdictions have announced their adoption of the NextGen Bar Exam.[3]

Adoption of the Idaho Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct

In 2001, the Idaho State Bar and the courts of the State of Idaho adopted the Idaho Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct. The Standards address attorneys’ obligations as officers of the court and related to the administration of justice, balancing zealous advocacy with courtesy and respect.

Creation of Idaho Lawyers Assistance Program

In 2002, the ISB created the Lawyers Assistance Program (“LAP”). Establishment of the LAP marked the ISB’s significant investment and attention to the impact mental health issues and addiction have on attorneys, judges, and the public. The mission of the LAP is to protect clients from harm caused by impaired attorneys, to educate Bar members and the community about the causes and remedies for impairment, and to provide resources to assist attorneys with treatment for impairments. In addition, the LAP was designed to be separate from the ISB’s discipline functions to provide support to attorneys in a confidential manner.

[INSERT IMAGE TITLED “Anniversary Braley – LAP”]

Malpractice Insurance

In 2017, Idaho became only the second state in the nation to require that actively licensed attorneys carry malpractice insurance coverage. While many states require attorneys to disclose whether they have malpractice insurance coverage, Idaho and Oregon are the only states that require coverage.

Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers

In 2011, the Idaho State Bar created the Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (“IALL”). IALL provides Idaho attorneys with valuable leadership training and development tailored specifically to attorneys. IALL is a competitive, selective program. Each IALL class consists of 12-16 attorneys from around the state. Attorneys commit to participating in six day-long training sessions.

During the program, IALL participants create a legacy project designed to have a long-term impact on the legal community and/or their community as a whole. 185 attorneys have graduated from the IALL program. Many of these graduates have gone on to hold prominent leadership positions within our Bar, including serving as Idaho State Bar Commissioners and Judges.

Technology and the Practice of Law

The rise of smartphone technology has significantly impacted the practice of law, transforming how, when, and where legal professionals work. With mobile access to virtually everything, attorneys can now perform their work remotely. This shift has enabled lawyers to better serve clients while maintaining productivity outside traditional office settings. I will not attempt to describe all the ways in which technology has changed the practice of law in the past 25 years. Many other great attorneys have written excellent articles in The Advocate addressing the use of technology in the practice of law.

I remember being issued a Blackberry as a young associate in 2005. I thought my Blackberry was super cool, and I was excited to use it after normal business hours while working from my home. However, the expectation of being always available has its downsides. I know many attorneys who now actively seek out opportunities to be out of cell service!

Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for the legal profession and resulted in more changes to how attorneys do their work. For example, Zoom and other videoconferencing technologies are now standard operating procedure in law firms and courtrooms.

The ISB was immediately confronted with the task of administering the bar exam in person in a safe and fair manner. The ISB implemented safety measures, including temperature checks, social distancing, and mandatory face masks. By October 2020, the ISB joined most states in offering a shorter, online bar exam to accommodate test takers who preferred to avoid in-person testing. In February 2021, the ISB administered a full-length UBE online to protect test takers during the public health crisis.

The Idaho Law Foundation

As the Bar has grown in the past 25 years, so has the Law Foundation. The ILF has expanded its programs and services to benefit our members and the public.

The Idaho High School Mock Trial program was created in 1992, providing a meaningful opportunity for civic education and friendly competition among high school students. In its first years, seven to 10 teams participated. The program has grown both in popularity and scope in the 2000s. In 2025, 41 teams participated in the competition.

The Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program commenced offering legal clinics at local libraries and other locations within the communities around the state. The clinics enable members of the public to obtain legal advice in a convenient setting, while offering Idaho attorneys opportunities to engage in pro bono service in a discrete timeframe.

Idaho Legal Aid Services Corporation, the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program, and Disability Rights Idaho are the three main providers of free civil legal services to Idahoans in need. In 2013, these three organizations joined forces to launch the Access to Justice Campaign, a joint fundraising initiative. The campaign has grown steadily, raising funding, awareness and support for the important services provided by these organizations.

2014 marked the first year of the Access to Justice FUND Run/Walk, a family- and dog-friendly event supporting the Access to Justice Campaign. Participation and donations have increased each year. In 2025, the event drew over 300 participants and raised more than $20,000 for the Access to Justice Campaign.[4]

I expect that the ISB will continue to see fast-paced growth over the next 25 years. As the Executive Director of the ISB and ILF, I love traveling around the state, meeting with you, and talking about how your practice has changed; how your communities have changed. These conversations, your input, and your engagement are vital to setting our course for the next 25 years.

This is the last article in our Anniversary series. Visit our Anniversary website to see past articles, and other resources sharing about our Bar’s 100-year history![5] You can also visit our Law Foundation’s page[6] to see the impact it has made in the 50 years since its inception. Thank you for reading along with us as we’ve celebrated the history of our great Bar!

[1] Idaho State Bar Membership Data (Accessed October 7, 2025).

[2] Idaho State Bar Membership Data (Accessed October 7, 2025).

[3] Read more about Idaho’s adoption of NextGen in Abby Kostecka’s update in the last issue of the Advocate. Abby Kostecka, NextGen Bar Exam Update, Volume 68 (10) Advocate 8 (2025).

[4] https://ilf.idaho.gov/accesstojustice/aji-fund-run/

[5] https://isb.idaho.gov/anniversary/

[6] https://ilf.idaho.gov/