Recent News

July 23, 2010

Changes Coming for Out-of-State Attorneys

In about six months out-of-state attorneys who want to appear temporarily in a proceeding in Ohio (pro hac vice) will notice some significant changes to the process.

The Supreme Court of Ohio adopted the pro hac vice amendments last year, which become effective Jan. 1, 2011. Pro hac vice is a privilege granted by a tribunal to out-of-state attorneys not admitted to practice law in Ohio to appear before the tribunal on a limited basis.

Amendments to Gov. Bar R. XII of the Rules for the Government of the Bar will:

• Centralize the administration of pro hac vice admission through the Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Services.
• Require an out-of-state attorney to file an application and $100 annual registration fee before applying to appear pro hac vice.
• Establish basic criteria for appearing pro hac vice before a tribunal, including acknowledgement of Ohio’s attorney disciplinary rules and a statement that the attorney has not been granted permission to appear pro hac vice in more than three proceedings before Ohio tribunals in the current calendar year.
• Permit the administrative revocation of privileges to practice pro hac vice if the attorney does not comply with certain provisions of the rule.

Susan Christoff, Attorney Services Division director, said that attorneys seeking pro hac vice registration will be able to submit registration applications electronically. She also noted that the Office of Attorney Services will maintain an online public directory that includes the names of attorneys who have registered under the new rule and the cases in which they have received permission to appear pro hac vice.