Local Rule 83.I.03: Procedure for Admission

83.I.03: Procedure for Admission. Before being presented to the district court for taking the required oath, an applicant for admission shall certify in a written application that such applicant:

(A) Is a member in good standing of the bar of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

(B) Has studied the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 407 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules), and the Local Civil and Criminal Rules of this court.

(C) Has either completed the required trial experiences listed in Rule 403 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules for the examination and admission of persons to practice in South Carolina or has completed a "judicial clerkship with equivalent courtroom experience" as defined below and certified by the judge for whom the clerkship was served.

A "judicial clerkship with equivalent courtroom experience" requires that all of the following be satisfied: (1) the applicant must have served for at least one year as a law clerk to a federal or state judge; (2) the applicant must have observed the equivalent of at least four complete trials (jury selection through verdict); (3) the applicant must have observed at least six oral arguments of motions or appeals; and (4) at least two of the trial equivalents and two of the oral arguments referenced above must have been in the federal court system.

An applicant may demonstrate satisfaction of these requirements by submitting a certification signed by the judge for whom the clerkship was served in the form provided by the clerk of court. To the extent an applicant relies on experiences beyond the clerkship to satisfy the requirements of (2)(4) above, he or she should attach a partially completed state court form (S.C. App. Ct. Rule 403(e)) or comparable documentation of the required courtroom experience.

In addition to these certifications, the written application shall contain the certification of two attorneys who are members in good standing of the bar of this court that, to the best of their knowledge, information, and belief, the applicant is of good moral character and professional reputation and meets the requirements for admission.

The applicant shall file the application, accompanied by the appropriate fee, with the clerk of court. The appropriate fee at the time of filing is established in the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule issued in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b). If the application is in order and upon approval of the court, the clerk of court shall then issue to the applicant a certificate of admission to the bar of this court. See Local Civ. Rule 5.02 (D.S.C.) (Filing With the Clerk).