In-house counsel who are employed in Louisiana but are not licensed to practice law here have until July 1, 2005 to file an application for limited licensure to practice under the Louisiana Supreme Court’s new In-House Counsel Rule. Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XVII, Section 14, provides that a lawyer who is admitted and authorized to practice law in another state or territory may receive a limited license to practice law in this state when the lawyer is employed in Louisiana as a lawyer exclusively for a corporation, its subsidiaries or affiliates and/or a business which consists of activities other than the practice of law if the lawyer has filed an application for a limited license with the Committee on Bar Admissions. The Committee on Bar Admissions is comprised of 15 active members of the Louisiana State Bar Association who are appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Click here for the application for Limited Licensure As In-House Counsel. This application, together with a filing fee in the amount of $300.00 made payable to the Committee on Bar Admissions must accompany the application. The applicant must also complete the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) character report which can be completed on line at www.ncbex.org/character.htm. A hard copy of the NCBE application must be submitted together with a second check made payable to the NCBE in the amount required for the character report. A Lawyer Discipline Attestation must also accompany the application. The Attestation certifies that there are no complaints pending with any disciplinary authority in any jurisdiction and no charges of professional misconduct pending in any jurisdiction against the applicant. A Certificate of Disciplinary History certifying that the attorney is in good standing and that there are no complaints or charges of professional misconduct must also accompany the application. Finally, an Affidavit of the applicant’s employer must be submitted with the application. The employer must attest that the employer is a corporation, association or other legal entity authorized to transact business in Louisiana; that it is not itself engaged in the practice of law or rendering of legal services outside of such corporation and that it does not charge or collect a fee for any legal representation or advice. The employer must further attest that the applicant is not licensed to practice law in Louisiana; that the applicant will be exclusively employed by this employer; that the nature of the applicant’s employment conforms to the requirements of the In-House Counsel Rule and that the applicant is of good moral character. Copies of the Application and required forms are attached hereto for your ready reference as is a copy of Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XVII. Licensure pursuant to the In-House Counsel Rule is discretionary and is not a matter of right. The license issued pursuant to this rule only authorizes the lawyer to practice exclusively for the employer filing the affidavit submitted with the application. The license is automatically terminated if the lawyer’s employment with the employer filing the affidavit is terminated. If the lawyer’s employment is terminated but the lawyer is immediately thereafter employed by another employer who files an affidavit, the limited license shall be reinstated. A limited license is valid for four years from the date of issuance. The limited license may be renewed for a successive four year period by filing a written application required by the Committee at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current license. The application for renewal shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee. A lawyer admitted pursuant to the In-House Counsel Rule is required to pay the annual disciplinary assessment required of attorneys admitted to practice three years or more in Louisiana, and State Bar Association annual dues during the period of the limited license. The in-house counsel must also comply with the Louisiana Continuing Legal Education requirements. If you have questions about the In-House Counsel Rule, please contact us, or the Louisiana Committee on Bar Admissions.