Attorney Admitted in Other States – Temporary Admission

​Generally, admission to the Rhode Island Bar requires passing the Rhode Island Bar Examination or successful transfer of a Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) score. In Article II of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Others to Practice Law, the Supreme Court has created limited exceptions to the requirement that only Rhode Island attorneys who have passed the Rhode Island Bar Examination or transferred a UBE can practice law in Rhode Island.

​Under Article II, Rule 2(b) of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Others to Practice Law, out-of-state attorneys can seek two-year admission to practice law as part of a Supreme Court approved program which provides legal services to indigents. Under Article II, Rule 2(e), out-of-state attorneys who are employed as a full-time permanent or visiting faculty member of an American Bar Association accredited law school may be admitted to practice law in Rhode Island solely for the purpose of supervising clinical law students providing legal services to indigents as part of a Supreme Court approved program.

​​Article II, Rule 2(c) and (d) of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Others to Practice Law authorize out-of-state attorneys in the armed services to provide certain legal services to other service members.  Article II, Rule 2(c)(2) provides for temporary admission of military spouses. 

​Under Article II, Rule 9(a) of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Others to Practice Law, out-of-state attorneys can obtain permission to appear before the courts of this state. Pro hac vice admission is limited to appearing in three (3) cases in a five-year period. All papers filed with the court by an attorney admitted pro hac vice must be signed by a member of the Rhode Island Bar who is actively engaged in the practice of law out of an office located in this state.

​An attorney who is employed by a corporation or other entity at an office in this state and who is a member in good standing of the bar of any other state but is not a member of the bar of this state, may be permitted to practice law in Rhode Island. In-house counsel attorneys can practice law in Rhode Island only on behalf of the corporation or other business entity except that an in-house counsel attorney may not appear before state courts and cannot appear before state agencies or municipalities in contested cases unless the attorney is admitted pro hac vice.

Attorneys who have previously failed the Rhode Island Bar Examination are not eligible for registration under Article II, Rule 9(b) of the Supreme Court Rules for Admission of Attorneys and Others to Practice Law.

An in-house counsel shall be subject to Articles III (Disciplinary Procedures), IV (Periodic Registration of Attorneys and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulations), and V (Rules of Professional Conduct) of the Supreme Court Rules.

The required materials for In-house Counsel Registration Application are as follows:​

• Completed In-House Couns​​el Registration Application​;

• Affidavit of Employment stating title or position;

• Affidavit of Good Standing by office of corporation or business entity;

• A Certificate of Good Standing for every jurisdiction where licensed; and​
  

• Check or money order payment of $200.00 made payable to Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Please mail applications to the Clerk's Office.​​​

​A senior law student in a law school accredited and approved by the American Bar Association may seek certification from the Supreme Court to appear without compensation on behalf of the state (including a subdivision thereof or a municipal corporation) or on behalf of indigent parties in criminal or civil proceedings in the Family Court, District Court, Traffic Tribunal, in any municipal court (including probate or housing), or before any state or municipality administrative agency, board, or department, providing that the conduct of the case is under the general supervision of a member of the bar of this state who meets Rule 9's qualifications.

Requests for Rule 9(c) Certification must be submitted by the dean of the senior law student's law school and provide the following information:

• Full name, contact information, and expected graduation date of senior law student;
• Placement site, address, and start and end dates of placement;
• Supervising attorney's name, Rhode Island bar number, and contact information;
• Brief explanation of general supervision of senior law student;
• Certification that the senior law student has successfully completed the equivalent of at least three (3) full-time semesters of the student's course of law school study, has completed or is enrolled in a course for credit in evidence or trial practice, possesses good character, legal ability, and training; and
• ​Signatures of the senior law student, supervising attorney, and dean of the accredited law school.

​Please mail requests to the Clerk's Office.  ​​