Local Rule LR83.2.13: Appearances by Law Students

LR83.2.13 Appearances by Law Students

(a) Limited appearances by law students, if the person on whose behalf the student is appearing has consented to that appearance in writing and the supervising lawyer has also approved the appearance in writing, are allowed in any civil matter in which a fee is not provided for or could not reasonably be anticipated.

(b) The written consent and approval referred to above must be filed in the record of the case and shall be brought to the attention of the Judge.

(c) The supervising lawyer must personally be present throughout the proceedings and will be responsible for the manner in which they are conducted.

(d) Prerequisites to Law Student Appearances. In order to make an appearance pursuant to this rule, the law student must:

(1) Be duly enrolled in a law school in this state approved by the American Bar Association;

(2) Have completed four full-time semesters of legal studies or the equivalent if the school is on some based other than a semester basis;

(3) Be certified by the dean or chancellor of the student's law school as being of good moral character, competent legal ability, and adequately trained to perform as a legal intern;

(4) Be introduced to the Court by an attorney admitted to practice in this Court;

(5) Neither ask for not receive remuneration of any kind for services;

(6) Take the following oath:

"I, _________, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Louisiana and have read and am familiar with the Code of Professional Responsibility of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and I understand that I am bound by the precepts therein contained as fully as if I were admitted to the practice of law in Louisiana; and that I further accept the privileges granted to me as well as the responsibilities which will devolve upon me, so that I may be more useful through my clinical education in the service of justice."

(7) Certification of Students. The certification of a student by the law school dean or chancellor:

a. Must be filed with the Clerk of Court and, unless sooner withdrawn, it will remain in effect for twelve months after it is filed, or until the announcement of the results of the first bar examination following the student's graduation, whichever comes earlier. For any student who passes that examination, the certification will continue in effect until the date one is admitted to the bar.

b. May be withdrawn by the dean or chancellor at any time by mailing a notice to that effect to the Clerk of Court. The notice need not state the cause for withdrawal.

c. May be terminated by this Court at any time without notice or hearing and without any showing of cause. Notice of the termination may be filed with the Clerk of Court.

(8) Supervision of Students. The member of the bar under whose supervision an eligible law student works must:

a. Be admitted to practice before this Court, and be approved by the dean or chancellor of the law school in which the law student is enrolled for service as a supervising lawyer for this program;

b. Assume personal professional responsibility and liability for the student's guidance in any work undertaken and for supervising the quality of the student's work;

c. Assist the student in the student's preparation.