Local Rule LR83.1: Admission to Practice

LR83.1. Admission to Practice.

A. Eligibility. A lawyer applying for admission to the bar of this court must be licensed to practice law by the licensing authority of one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or a Territory of the United States. If licensed by a licensing authority other than the State of Texas, then an attorney must also be a member in good standing of a United States District Court. Attorneys employed by the Department of Justice or the Federal Public Defender are exempt from the requirement of good standing in another United States District Court. (Amended by General Order 2018-6, effective March 22, 2018).

B. Application. The lawyer shall file an application on a form prescribed by the Court.

C. Committee on Admissions. The district shall have one committee on admissions comprised of seven attorney members chosen by the Chief Judge and who shall serve staggered three-year terms. The participation of four members, either in person or by electronic means, shall constitute a quorum.

D. Action on the Application. After a review of the application, the Court will admit or deny admission. A person not admitted may request a hearing to show why the application should be granted. The hearing will be conducted under the procedures for disciplinary matters.

E. Uncompensated Assignments. The pro bono representation of indigent clients is encouraged by this Court. It is hoped that as a matter of public service a member of the Bar of the Southern District of Texas will accept an uncompensated assignment to an indigent's civil matter as often as every twelve months.

F. Expiration. Members of the bar must renew their membership every five years from the date of admission by filing a renewal application and paying the fee. If a member fails to renew before the expiration of the term, the attorney may file a request for renewal after expiration. If an attorney's membership has been expired for 10 years, the attorney will need to submit a new application to be readmitted to the Southern District of Texas.

G. Oath. On admission, the lawyer will take this oath before any judicial officer of the United States, clerk of court or deputy clerk, or notary public:

I do solemnly swear [affirm] that I will discharge the duties of attorney and counselor of this court faithfully, that I will demean myself uprightly under the law and the highest ethics of our profession, and that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

H. Fee. The applicant will pay the fee set by order.

I. Practice Without Admission. A lawyer who is not admitted to practice before this Court may appear for a party in a case in this Court with the permission of the judge before whom the case is pending by filing a Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on the prescribed form. A Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice filing fee may be set by the Court.

J. Conduct of Attorneys. The Rules of Discipline in Appendix A govern membership in the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.