Section 3 Authorization to Practice; Conditions; Compensation
Rule Text
Before any student shall be eligible to provide legal services and/or appear in court under this rule, the law student shall petition the court and take the oath, as prescribed in this rule, and be admitted to limited practice by an order of a circuit or chancery court judge, as prescribed in this rule, in the district in which the student will practice. Upon filing the oath and order in the office of the clerk of that court, the law student will be authorized to engage in limited practice in any court in the state subject to the controls and limitations ordered by the judge of the court.
The authority for limited practice by a law student will continue during any regular school terms in which the law student is enrolled in a legal internship or clinical legal education course, including intercessions between terms. The authority for limited practice by a law student in a volunteer legal services program will continue until the earlier of the expiration of 12 months or until the law student graduates or officially withdraws from law school, whichever is earlier. The authority may be revoked by the court granting it for good cause.
A law student may not directly represent clients but may only assist the supervising attorney or clinical teacher in representing their clients. All pleadings and entries of record in courts must be signed by the supervising attorney or clinical teacher. Law students may appear and participate in trials and hearings in courts if the supervising attorney or clinical teacher is present and supervising the student. Law students assigned as interns to prosecuting attorneys may assist the supervising attorney before grand juries subject to the same prohibitions and penalties as to disclosure and secrecy as are members of the grand jury. Law students will be subject to the same standards and rules of professional conduct and ethics and the same rules of discipline as are licensed attorneys. Law students shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed actual expenses if funds are available for that purpose.