Local Rule LR Gen 203: CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS OF BAR

LR Gen 203 CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS OF BAR

(a) General. Unless otherwise permitted by the Court for good cause shown, in order to remain a member in good standing of the bar of this Court, an attorney must:

(1) remain a member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Rhode Island and all other bars to which he or she has been admitted; and

(2) not be suspended, disbarred or found unfit, for any reason, to continue practicing law by any other court or body having disciplinary authority over attorneys.

(b) Notifications

(1) By Counsel. Each member of the bar of this Court shall promptly notify the Court of:

(A) any change in the member's name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and/or law firm name shown on such member's application for admission or if the member has re-registered, on the most recent re-registration form by the member.

(B) any disciplinary proceedings initiated or disciplinary action taken against such member and/or any restrictions placed on such member's practice by any court or body having disciplinary authority over attorneys; and

(C) any conviction of such member for any crime regardless of whether the conviction resulted from a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, was not followed by a term of imprisonment and/or is pending on appeal.

(2) By the Court. Any notice sent to a member of the bar of this Court shall be deemed delivered if sent to the most recent address or fax number or e-mail address provided by such member pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A) of this rule.

(c) Periodic Registration Procedure.

(1) Renewal of Bar Registration. Each member of the bar of this Court shall renew his or her bar registration between January 1 and March 31 of every fourth year ("Registration Renewal Period"), beginning with the year 2010. Bar registrations must be renewed even if an attorney has been a member for only a portion of the 4 years preceding the Registration Renewal Period.

(2) Notice by Clerk. At least 60 days prior to each deadline date for registration, the Clerk shall issue a notice and registration form to each attorney who is then registered as a member of this Court's bar.

(3) Method of Registration. A member shall register by:

(A) Completing and filing the registration form provided by the Clerk which form shall include: (i) a certification that the attorney continues to satisfy all of the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this rule; and (ii) a statement as to whether the attorney has been convicted of a serious crime as defined in LR Gen 213(a)(3) or been disciplined by any other court or body having disciplinary authority over attorneys; and

(B) Paying the applicable registration fee established by the Court, except that the fee need not be paid by attorneys employed on a full-time basis by the United States and/or the State of Rhode Island.

(4) Action by the Court.

(A) Except as provided in subsection (B) of this subsection, upon receipt of an attorney's properly completed registration form and registration fee, the Clerk shall maintain the attorney's name on the list of active members of the bar of this Court.

(B) If an attorney fails to register in accordance with this Rule or if an attorney's registration form shows (i) that the attorney does not satisfy the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this rule; (ii) that the attorney has been the subject of disciplinary action referred to in subsection (b)(1)(B) or (iii) that the attorney has been convicted of a crime as defined in subsection (b)(1)(C), the Clerk shall notify the Chief Judge who, then, may issue a show cause order as to why the attorney should not be administratively suspended or why disciplinary action should not be initiated pursuant to LR Gen 209.

(d) Effect of Failure to Register. An attorney's failure to register in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) may be cured by filing the completed registration form no later than 60 days after the applicable deadline for registration and paying the registration fee and the late fee established by the Court except that the Court, for good cause shown, may permit the attorney to cure more than 60 days after the applicable deadline for registration.

An attorney who does not cure a failure to register within the aforesaid 60-day period, or at any extension permitted by the Court, must apply for reinstatement pursuant to LR Gen 215.

(e) Use of Registration Fees. All registration and late fees paid shall be deposited in the Bar Fund maintained by the Court and shall be used only for purposes benefitting the members of the bar of this Court in accordance with the regulations governing the Bar Fund adopted by this Court and any applicable regulations established by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Effective 12/1/15: §(a)(1) amended. Effective 12/2/13: Footnote to §(c)(3)(B) deleted. Effective 12/1/11: The numerical references in this rule were altered as part of the restyling of numerical references throughout the Local Rules. Effective 1/3/11: §(c) deleted; §§(d), (e), (f) redesignated as (c), (d), and (e); footnote added to §(c)(3)(B); and §(d) amended. Effective 1/5/09: §§(a)(1), (a)(2) and (d)(3)(A) amended.

CROSS-REFERENCES See LR Gen 202 (attorney admissions to bar) and LR Gen 215 (reinstatement of bar membership). See also LR Gen 304 (registration for Court's ECF filing system).