Pennsylvania Code › Title 204 - JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part IV - ADMISSION TO PRACTICE LAW › Chapter 71 - PENNSYLVANIA BAR ADMISSION RULES › Subchapter C - RESTRICTED PRACTICE OF LAW › ATTORNEY PARTICIPANTS IN DEFENDER OR LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS › Rule 311 - Attorney participants in defender or legal services programs

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Scope
. This rule applies
					 to an attorney who is not a member of the bar of this Commonwealth but is
					 qualified to practice in the courts of another state and who is employed by or
					 associated with an organized legal services program in this Commonwealth
					 providing legal assistance to indigents in civil matters or a public defender's
					 office or defender association in this Commonwealth providing legal assistance
					 to indigents in criminal matters.
(b)
General Rule
. An
					 attorney to which this rule applies shall be admitted to practice before the
					 courts and magisterial district judges of this Commonwealth in all matters in
					 which the attorney is employed by or associated with a public defender's
					 office, an organized defender association, or an organized legal services
					 program which is sponsored, approved or recognized by the local county bar
					 association. Admission to practice under this rule shall be limited to the
					 matters specified in the preceding sentence.
(c)
Application
. An
					 applicant for limited admission to practice under this rule shall file with the
					 Board an application on a form prescribed by the Board which shall include or
					 be accompanied by a statement signed by a representative of the public
					 defender's office, defender association; or organized legal services program
					 indicating that the attorney will be employed by or associated with such
					 entity.
Any such statement shall also contain an undertaking by
						the public defender's office, defender association or legal services program to
						notify the Prothonotary immediately whenever the attorney ceases to be employed
						by or associated with such office, association or program.
The application shall be processed in accordance with the
						provisions of Rules 212 through 222.
(d)
Requirements
. The
					 requirements for issuance of a limited license under this rule are:
1. Completion of the study of law at and
					 receipt without exception of an earned Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree
					 from an accredited law school;
2.
					 Admission to the practice of law in another state, on active status at the time
					 of filing the application;
3.
					 Absence of prior conduct by the applicant which in the opinion of the Board
					 indicates character and general qualifications incompatible with the standards
					 expected to be observed by members of the bar of this Commonwealth;
					 and
4. Presentation of a
					 certificate of good standing from the highest court or the agency having
					 jurisdiction over the admission to the bar and the practice of law in every
					 jurisdiction in which the applicant has been admitted to practice law, stating
					 that the applicant is in good professional standing at the bar of such court or
					 such state. An applicant who is disbarred or suspended for disciplinary reasons
					 from the practice of law in another jurisdiction at the time of filing an
					 application shall not be eligible for a limited license under this
					 rule.