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April 21, 2006

Practicing before the Federal Court

The opportunity to qualify to practice before the Federal Court occurs only twice a year, and the deadline for taking the Federal Bar Exam which qualifies you to practice in federal court is drawing near.

The exam is on the first Tuesday in December and June of each year. The next exam will be administered June 6 with a deadline to apply by May 15 at 4:00 p.m., the close of business for the federal clerk's office.

To practice before the court, an attorney must be in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio and submit an application certified by two sponsors to the court at least twenty days prior to the exam. You can download an application from the U.S. District Court website www.ohsd.uscourts.gov.  Just click on attorney information.

Now, how to prepare for the exam? The Columbus Bar offers a review session on May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. to help get you up-to-speed. Magistrate Mark R. Abel will begin the session discussing practice before the magistrate. Next, Scott Miller, a representative from the clerk's office, explains the workings of that office, followed by a review of federal court rules and procedures with Diane C. Reichwein and Alvin J. McKenna, both from Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.

This team has been preparing lawyers for federal practice for years and knows what you need to concentrate on. The clerk's office reports that those who take the review session fare far better in passing the exam than those who opt not to take the review.

Sign up now. Get your application in to take the exam, then register online at www.cbalaw.org or phone 614/221.4112. The cost is $85 prepaid/$95 day of for members and $115 prepaid/$125 day of for non-members.