District of Rhode Island (D.R.I.)
Common questions
Who can be admitted to the bar of the District of Rhode Island (D.R.I.)?
Member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island AND in good standing in every other jurisdiction of admission (LR Gen 202(a)). Rule: LR Gen 202.
What is the admission fee for the District of Rhode Island (D.R.I.)?
$200. Payment: check, money order or credit card via CM/ECF; checks/money orders payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court.
Does the District of Rhode Island (D.R.I.) allow pro hac vice admission, and what does it cost?
Pro hac vice available: yes. Local counsel: Local counsel files motion via CM/ECF and pays via Pay.gov. Fee: $100 (fee schedule); non-refundable if denied.
General admission
- Who qualifies
- Member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island AND in good standing in every other jurisdiction of admission (LR Gen 202(a))
- Rule
- LR Gen 202
- Exam or course
- None: stated in the source documents (stated in source)
- Good standing cert.
- R.I. Supreme Court cert. plus certs from any other jurisdiction
- Oath
- Oath taken in person
- Swearing-in
- in person
- Certificate age
- issued within 30 days of application
- Fee
- $200
- Fee payment
- check, money order or credit card via CM/ECF; checks/money orders payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court
2 not found in the pulled documents
- Sponsor
- Not in the pulled documents
- Apply
- Not in the pulled documents
Pro hac vice
- Available
- yes
- Who qualifies
- Member in good standing of bar of another state AND another federal district court; otherwise qualified and fit
- Rule
- LR Gen 204(a)
- Local counsel
- Local counsel files motion via CM/ECF and pays via Pay.gov
- Certifications
- Satisfy court qualified and fit
- Fee
- $100 (fee schedule); non-refundable if denied
- E-filing
- May request e-filing via PACER upon approval
4 not found in the pulled documents
- Residency limits
- Not in the pulled documents
- Limits
- Not in the pulled documents
- Fee covers
- Not in the pulled documents
- Form
- Not in the pulled documents
Ongoing and other
- Renewal
- Biennial, $35, June 1-Aug 31 of every second year (2026 cycle); $15 late; demographic survey; failure -> inactive
- CLE or course
- No CLE mentioned
- Pending changes
- None found as of Oct. 5, 2026. Rules approved Dec. 2024.
- Rules dated
- December 1, 2023
1 not found in the pulled documents
- Bankruptcy court
- Not in the pulled documents
Checked against the rule text
(LR Gen 202(a) (rules approved Dec. 2024)): "ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION (a) Requirements for Admission. In order to be eligible for membership in the Bar of this Court, an attorney must: (1) Be a member in good standing of the Ba r of the Supreme Court of the State of Rhode Island; and (2) Be a member in good standing in every other jurisdiction in which the attorney has been admitted to practice; and (3) Cer..." Source: https://www.rid.uscourts.gov/sites/rid/files/documents/Approved%20Dec%202024%20Rules.pdf
Language from the source documents
10 quoted passages
Who qualifies
In order to be eligible for membership in the Bar of this Court, an attorney must: (1) Be a member in good standing of the Ba r of the Supreme Court of the State of Rhode Island; and (2) Be a member in good standing in every other jurisdictionrid.uscourts.gov
Good standing certificate
attach current (issued within 30 days of application) certificate(s) of good standing from the Rhode Island Supreme Court and any other jurisdiction in which the attorney has been admitted to practice (if applicable)rid.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice available
An attorney who is not a member of the bar of this Court may appear and practice before this Court in any case in which the attorney has been admitted to practice pro hac vice.rid.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice: who qualifies
must be a member in good standing of the bar of another state and another federal district court and the bar in every jurisdiction in which the attorney has been admitted to practicerid.uscourts.gov
Local counsel
an attorney shall be affiliated with local counsel who is a member of the Bar of this Court and who has entered an appearance as co-counsel.rid.uscourts.gov
Renewal
Any renewals received after August 31, 2026, are subject to the $35.00 fee, plus a $15.00 late fee (See, LR Gen 203(d)).rid.uscourts.gov
Fee payment
All payment must be in the form of check, money order or credit card via CM/ECF only PAYMENTS BY CHECK/MONEY ORDER All checks/money orders must be made payable to: Clerk, U.S. District Courtrid.uscourts.gov
Certificate age limit
attach current (issued within 30 days of application) certificate(s) of good standing from the Rhode Island Supreme Courtrid.uscourts.gov