Rule 1.06 Corporations Must Be Represented by Counsel

If a corporation is suing someone, it can't represent itself in court. It needs to hire a lawyer who is licensed to practice law in that state. The lawyer's name has to be on the paperwork before it gets filed with the court.

This rule exists because a corporation is a legal entity, not a person, so it can't stand up in court and speak for itself. Someone who works for the company, like an owner or manager, isn't allowed to file the lawsuit or argue the case on the company's behalf either. Only a licensed attorney can do that.

This means if a business wants to bring a case as a plaintiff, the first step is finding a lawyer. Without one, the court can reject the filing or dismiss the case.