Local Counsel Requirements – Western District Texas

The following sets forth the local counsel requirements – Western District Texas along with an application to appear pro hac vice and attorney admission requirements.

Attorney Admission - Western District of Texas

The attorney admission requirement for the Western District of Texas is set forth in Local Rule AT-1:

RULE AT-1. ADMISSION OF ATTORNEYS

(a) Eligibility for Admission.

(1) In General. An attorney may be admitted to the bar of the U.S. District Court

for the Western District of Texas if the attorney is licensed to practice by the highest court of a state, is in good standing in that bar; and has good personal and professional character. An applicant who is not licensed to practice by the highest court of any state may apply for admission, however, if admitted, such an attorney must obtain a license from the highest court of any state within one year after being admitted to the bar of this Court.

(2) Bankruptcy Court. An attorney seeking to practice before the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas must make application to the U.S. District Court for theWestern District of Texas as this rule requires.

(b) Application for Admission.

(1) Contents. An application for admission must be made on the form prescribed by the court. It must be supported by a certificate of good standing (or equivalent documentation) from the highest state court and the United States district court, if licensed, where the applicant practices. All certificates of good standing must be dated no earlier than 60 days before the date the application is filed. The application must also be supported by two letters of recommendation in the form prescribed by the court. For an applicant residing in this district, the letters must be from attorneys admitted to practice and in good standing in the bar of this court. For an applicant practicing in another federal judicial district, the letters must be from attorneys admitted to practice and in good standing in the bar of that court. The letters must be written and dated no earlier than 6 months before the date the application is filed.

(2) Seminar Requirement. Within one year before the application is filed, the applicant must complete a live, video or on-line continuing legal education program on federal court practice approved by the court, and must certify that attendance on a form prescribed by the court. This requirement does not apply to a nonresident applicant who is admitted to practice and in good standing in the bar of another U.S. district court. In the event that the applicant was previously admitted to this Court and previously fulfilled the CLE requirement, this requirement is waived.

(3) Filing. An applicant residing in this district must file the application with the clerk in the division where he or she resides. An applicant residing outside this district may file the application in any division of the district.

(4) Time for Completing Application. An applicant must complete all requirements for admission (including any requested supplemental or explanatory information) within one year after filing an application. If the applicant fails to do so, the application expires. In that event, an applicant who seeks admission again must file a new application.

Pro Hac Vice Application

You can find a PDF of the Western District of Texas’s Pro Hac Vice application below as well as by using this link to the court’s website.

Pro Hac App – Western District of Texas

Local Counsel Requirements – Western District Texas

The local counsel requirement for the Western District of Texas for civil cases is set forth in Local Rule AT-2:

RULE AT-2. LOCAL COUNSEL

A judge presiding has discretion to require, upon notice, that an attorney who resides outside the district designate as local counsel an attorney who is licensed in this court and maintains a law office in this district. Local counsel must have authority to act as attorney of record for all purposes, and must be prepared to present and argue the party’s position at any hearing or status conference called.

Read more on the Western District of Texas website.