Rule 219. Annual registration of attorneys.

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(a) Every attorney admitted to practice law in this Commonwealt h shall pay an annual fee of $14 0.00 and electronically file the annual fee form provided for in this rule by July 1. The fee shall be collected under the supervision of the Attorney Registration Office, which shall make the annual fee form available for filing through a link on the Board’s website (http://www.padisciplinaryboard.org) or directly at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us. The said fee shall be used to defray the costs of disciplinary administration and enforcement under these rules, and for such other purposes as the Board shall, with the approval of the Supreme Court, from ti me to time determine. Upon an attorney’s written request submitted to the Attorney Registration Office and for good cause shown, the Attorney Registration Office shall grant an exemption from the electronic filing requirement and permit the attorney to fil e the annual fee form in paper form.

Note: Pa.R.P.C. 1.15(u) imposes an additional annual fee for use by the IOLTA Board, and Pa.R.D.E. 502(b) imposes an additional annual fee for use by the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security.

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(c) On or before May 15 of each year, the Attorney Registration Office shall transmit to all attorneys required by this rule to pay an annual fee a notice by e

- mail to register electronically by July 1. Failure to receive notice shall not excuse the filing o f the annual fee form or payment of the annual fee.

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(f) Any attorney who fails to complete registration by July [31] 16 shall be automatically assessed a non

- waivable late payment penalty established by the Board. A second,

non

- waivable late payment p enalty established by the Board shall be automatically added to the delinquent account of any attorney who has failed to complete registration by August [31] 1 , at which time the continued failure to comply with this rule shall be deemed a request to be
ad ministratively suspended. Thereafter, the Attorney Registration Office shall certify to the Supreme Court the name of every attorney who has failed to comply with the registration and payment requirements of this rule, and the Supreme Court shall enter an order administratively suspending the attorney. The Chief Justice may delegate the processing and entry of orders under this subdivision to the Prothonotary. Upon entry of an order of administrative suspension, the Attorney Registration Office shall tra nsmit by certified mail, addressed to the last known mailing address of the attorney, or by electronic means, the order of administrative suspension and a notice that the attorney shall comply with Enforcement Rule 217 (relating to formerly
admitted attorn eys), a copy of which shall be included with the notice.

For purposes of assessing the late payment penalties prescribed by this subdivision (f), registration shall not be deemed to be complete until the Attorney Registration Office receives a completed annual fee form and satisfactory payment of the annual fee and of all outstanding collection fees and late payment penalties. If a check in payment of the delinquency has been returned to the Board unpaid, a collection fee, as established by the Board und er subdivision2

(d)(2) of this rule, shall be added to the attorney’s delinquent account and registration shall not be deemed to be complete until the delinquent account has been paid in full.

The amount of the late payment penalties shall be established by the Board annually pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (h)(3) of this rule.

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