Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-18 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-18
Inactive status - Application - Reactivation
Status: in_force

A. Any person who has been admitted to practice as an attorney

in this state, who is a member in good standing of the bar of this

state, and who meets all requirements for licensure in this state

may apply for status as an inactive member of the bar.

B. The application for such status shall contain:

1. The person's name, bar number, residence address, telephone

number or numbers where he can be reached;

2. The reason or reasons he desires such status;

3. A statement that he understands that, while on such status,

he may not do anything which constitutes the practice of law while

in this state;

4. A statement that he has notified all of his clients in this

state that he is no longer practicing in this state; and

5. An affidavit that the information given is true and correct.

C. Immediately upon receipt of the application, the Supreme

Court or its designee shall acknowledge the application and enter

the person's name on a roll of inactive attorneys.

D. While on inactive status, an attorney shall not be required

to complete any continuing legal education requirements and shall be

required to pay only twenty percent (20%) of the annual dues of an

active member.

E. While on inactive status, an attorney shall not receive the

Oklahoma Bar Journal or any other services from the Oklahoma Bar

Association except upon such terms and conditions, including payment

of charges and fees, as shall be established by the Association.

F. Once on inactive status, an attorney may reactivate his

license to practice upon payment of the equivalent of one year's

annual dues to the Association and upon successful completion of one

year's mandatory continuing legal education requirement.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-5 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-5
Proof of authority - Stay of proceedings
Status: in_force

The court, on motion of either party and on the showing of

reasonable grounds therefor, may require the attorney for the

adverse party or for any one of the several adverse parties to

produce or prove by oath, or otherwise, the authority under which

the attorney appears and, until the attorney does so, may stay

proceedings by the attorney on behalf of the parties for whom the

attorney assumes to appear.

R.L. 1910, § 246. Amended by Laws 1965, c. 483, § 1, emerg. eff.

July 14, 1965; Laws 2006, c. 30, § 1, emerg. eff. April 11, 2006.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-14 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-14
Examination of applicants - Admission - Oath - Order -
Status: in_force

Examining commission.

When a person applies to the Supreme Court for admission to the

bar, he shall be examined by the Court, or by a commission appointed

by the Court, under such rules and regulations as the Court may

provide, touching his fitness and qualifications; and if, on such

examination the Court is satisfied that he is of good moral

character, and has a competent knowledge of the law, and sufficient

general learning, an oath of office shall be administered to him,

and an order shall be made on the journal that the applicant be

admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in all

courts of record of this state; provided, that said Court may

appoint, to serve for one or more years, a commission composed of

not less than five (5) persons learned in the law to assist in such

examination. The Court Clerk of the Supreme Court shall be ex

officio secretary of any commission appointed by the Supreme Court

to assist in the examination of applicants. The members of said

commission and all other expenses of said examination shall be paid

out of funds collected from applicants for admission to the bar,

said fees to be fixed by the Supreme Court in a sum of not more than

$________.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-11 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-11
Licensed attorneys and their spouses - Prohibition on
Status: in_force

becoming sureties - Effect of unauthorized bond.

Licensed attorneys of this state, their spouses or anyone to

whom said attorneys have conveyed property for the purpose of

signing bonds for said attorneys, are prohibited from signing any

bonds as surety in any civil or criminal action, pending or about to

be commenced in any of the courts of this state, or before any

justice of the peace. No court clerk or judicial officer of this

state shall accept any bonds signed by licensed attorneys, their

spouses or anyone to whom said attorneys have conveyed property for

the purpose of signing bonds for said attorneys. All such bonds,

signed by an attorney or his or her spouse, shall be absolutely

void, and no penalty can be recovered of the attorney or his or her

spouse signing the same.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-3 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-3
Duties of attorney and counselor
Status: in_force

It is the duty of an attorney and counselor:

First. To maintain, while in the presence of the courts of

justice, or in the presence of judicial officers engaged in the

discharge of judicial duties, the respect due to the said courts and

judicial officers, and at all times to obey all lawful orders and

writs of the court.

Second. To counsel and maintain no actions, proceedings or

defenses, except those which appear to him legal and just, except

the defense of a person charged with a public offense.

Third. To employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes

confided to him such means only as are consistent with truth, and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 4

never to seek to mislead the judges by any artifice or false

statements of facts or law.

Fourth. To maintain inviolate the confidence, and, at any peril

to himself, to preserve the secrets of his client.

Fifth. To abstain from all offensive personalities, and to

advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or

witness unless required by the justice of the cause with which he is

charged.

Sixth. Not to encourage either the commencement or continuance

of an action or proceeding from motive of passion or interest.

Seventh. Never to reject for any consideration personal to

himself the cause of the defenseless or the oppressed.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-6 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-6
Attorneys' lien - When attaching - Extent - Effect of
Status: in_force

settlement on lien - Notice of lien - Filing - Endorsement.

A. From the commencement of an action, or from the filing of an

answer containing a counterclaim, the attorney who represents the

party in whose behalf such pleading is filed shall, to the extent

hereinafter specified, have a lien upon his client's cause of action

or counterclaim, and same shall attach to any verdict, report,

decision, finding or judgment in his or her client's favor; and the

proceeds thereof, wherever found, shall be subject to such lien, and

no settlement between the parties without the approval of the

attorney shall affect or destroy such lien, provided such attorney

serves notice upon the defendant or defendants, or proposed

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 5

defendant or defendants, in which he or she shall set forth the

nature of the lien he or she claims and the extent thereof; and the

lien shall take effect from and after the service of such notice,

but such notice shall not be necessary provided such attorney has

filed such pleading in a court of record, and endorsed thereon his

or her name, together with the words "Lien claimed."

B. In order to claim an attorney's lien on real property, the

attorney shall file a Notice of Attorney's Lien in the office of the

county clerk of the county where the real estate is situated and

shall refile the Notice of Attorney's Lien every five (5) years

before the expiration of the date previously filed. The Notice of

Attorney's lien shall contain the style of the case, the court where

pending, the case number, the attorney's name, address and phone

number and a complete legal description of the property subject to

the lien.

C. Any attorney claiming an attorney's lien prior to the

effective date of this act shall have a period of one (1) year from

such date to file a Notice of Attorney's Lien in accordance with

subsection B of this section.

D. An action to enforce an attorney's lien against real

property shall be commenced in the county where the real property is

situated within ten (10) years of recordation of the Notice of

Attorney's Lien with the county clerk. The ten-year period for an

attorney's lien claimed prior to the effective date of this act

shall run from the effective date regardless of when the Notice of

Attorney's Lien is recorded.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-8 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-8
Adverse party - Liability on settlement or compromise of
Status: in_force

claim involving lien - Lien as against judgment debtor - Enforcement

of lien.

Should the party to any action or proposed action whose interest

is adverse to the client contracting with an attorney settle or

compromise a cause of action, claim or judgment wherein any lien

perfected under Sections 6 and 7 of this title is involved and such

settlement or compromise is made without the consent of the attorney

holding such lien, such adverse party shall thereupon become liable

to such attorney for the fee that was due or would have become due

under a contract of employment but for the settlement. After

judgment in any court of record, the attorney's lien provided for

herein may also be effective against the judgment debtor upon

endorsement of the words "subject to the attorney's lien in favor of

[insert name]" on the judgment. An attorney may enforce any lien

provided for by this act in any court of competent jurisdiction by

action filed within one (1) year after the attorney becomes aware of

such compromise or payment of such judgment, or judgment may be

rendered on motion in the case in the court in which the suit was

brought.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-16 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-16
Examinations for applicants
Status: in_force

Within thirty (30) days after this act takes effect, the Supreme

Court shall examine applicants for admission to the bar and all

applicants who have heretofore been passed upon and allowed to take

the examination of the Committee of State Bar Examiners shall be

eligible for examination by the Supreme Court at its first

examination, and thereafter the Supreme Court shall hold

examinations for applicants at least twice each year and at such

other times as the Supreme Court may prescribe.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 9
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-1 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-1
Persons disqualified to practice law – Alien eligibility
Status: in_force

No person shall practice as an attorney and counselor at law in

any court of this state who is not a citizen of the United States,

or who holds a commission as judge of any court of record, or who is

a sheriff or coroner; nor shall the clerk of the Supreme Court, or

the clerk of the district court, or probate court, or the deputy of

either, practice in the particular court of which he is clerk or

deputy clerk; but nothing herein contained shall prevent any judge

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 2

of any of the courts of this state from finishing any business by

him undertaken in the district, circuit, or Supreme Court of the

United States, prior to his election or appointment as judge; and an

alien who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the

United States may practice as if he were a citizen.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-2 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-2
Oath
Status: in_force

Upon being permitted to practice as attorneys and counselors at

law, they shall, in open court, take the following oath: You do

solemnly swear that you will support, protect and defend the

Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State

of Oklahoma; that you will do no falsehood or consent that any be

done in court, and if you know of any you will give knowledge

thereof to the judges of the court, or some one of them, that it may

be reformed; you will not wittingly, willingly or knowingly promote,

sue, or procure to be sued, any false or unlawful suit, or give aid

or consent to the same; you will delay no man for lucre or malice,

but will act in the office of attorney in this court according to

your best learning and discretion, with all good fidelity as well to

the court as to your client, so help you God.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-7 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-7
Contingent fee - Limitation on amount - Compromise or
Status: in_force

settlement - Effect on lien - Certain contracts void.

It shall be lawful for an attorney to contract for a percentage

or portion of the proceeds of a client's cause of action or claim

not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the net amount of such judgment

as may be recovered, or such compromise as may be made, whether the

same arises ex contractu or ex delicto, and no compromise or

settlement entered into by a client without such attorney's consent

shall affect or abrogate the lien provided for in this chapter.

Provided that all such contracts in personal injury or wrongful

death cases including, but not restricted to, cases in which

jurisdiction is in the Industrial Commission, shall be void and

unenforceable (1) if secured as a result of the intervention of any

laymen, association, or corporation for compensation, or promise of

compensation, or anticipation of gift, compensation or hope of

reward, or (2) where any laymen, association or corporation has a

direct or indirect interest in, or growing out of, any judgment

arising out of such claim recovery or compensation from, or

settlement of any such claim.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 6
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-10 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-10
Bond to dissolve lien
Status: in_force

Any person interested may release said lien by executing a bond

in the sum double the amount claimed, or in such sum as may be fixed

by a judge of the court in which the action or judgment is or has

been pending, payable to the attorney, with security to be approved

by the clerk of the court, conditioned to pay the amount finally due

the attorney for his services, which amount may be ascertained by

suit on the bond.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-12 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-12
Qualifications and fitness for admission to practice law
Status: in_force

The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma shall have exclusive

power and authority to pass upon qualifications and fitness of all

applicants for admission to practice law in the State of Oklahoma,

and the qualifications of such applicants shall be those which are

now or may be hereafter prescribed by the statutes of Oklahoma and

the rules of the Supreme Court including, but not limited to,

requiring a national criminal history record check as defined by

Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes on applicants.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 8
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-13 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-13
Disciplinary power and revocation of permit
Status: in_force

The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma shall have the

exclusive power and authority to discipline attorneys and counselors

at law or revoke the permit to practice law granted to attorneys and

counselors at law and the rules of conduct of attorneys and

counselors at law in this state shall be such as are now or may

hereafter be prescribed by the statutes of Oklahoma and the rules of

the Supreme Court.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-4 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-4
Receipt of money for client - Discharge of claim -
Status: in_force

Acknowledging satisfaction of judgment.

An attorney and counselor has power to receive money claimed by

his client in an action or proceeding during the pendency thereof,

or afterwards, unless he has been previously discharged by his

client, and, upon payment thereof, and not otherwise, to discharge

the claim or acknowledge satisfaction of the judgment.
Okla. Stat. tit. 5, § 5-9 — OK Code / Title 5 / Section 5-9
Adverse party - Amount of liability on settlement or
Status: in_force

compromise.

Should the amount of the attorney's fees be agreed upon in the

contract of employment, then such attorney's lien and cause of

action against such adverse party shall be for the amount or portion

of the property so agreed upon. If the fee be not fixed by contract

the lien and cause of action, as aforesaid, shall be for a

reasonable amount for not only the services actually rendered by

such attorney, but for a sum, which it might be reasonably supposed,

would have been earned by him, had he been permitted to complete his

contract, and been successful in the action, and such attorney in

order to recover need not establish that his client, if the case has

gone to trial, would have been successful in the action, but the

fact of settlement shall be sufficient without other proof to

establish that the party making the settlement was liable in the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 5. Attorneys and State Bar Page 7

action. Should the contract be for a contingent fee and specify the

amount for which action is to be filed, then the lien and cause of

action, as aforesaid shall be for the amount contracted for if fixed

at a definite sum of money or for the percentage of the amount or

property sued for as mentioned in said contract where the fee is

fixed on a percentage basis, not exceeding thirty-three and one-

third percent (33 1/3%) of the amount sued on where the settlement

is before a verdict or judgment and if made after verdict or

judgment then the full contract price.