Northern District of California (N.D. Cal.)
Common questions
Who can be admitted to the bar of the Northern District of California (N.D. Cal.)?
California State Bar (Civ. L.R. 11-1). Rule: Civil L.R. 11-1.
What is the admission fee for the Northern District of California (N.D. Cal.)?
$328.00. Payment: Petitions submitted via CM/ECF with payment online via Pay.gov; fees may be paid at Clerk's Office by check, money order, or credit card, or online at Pay.gov, checks/money orders to CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT.
Does the Northern District of California (N.D. Cal.) allow pro hac vice admission, and what does it cost?
Pro hac vice available: yes. Local counsel: Yes: member of the bar of the Court who maintains an office in California (Civ. L.R. 3-4(a)(2), 11-3). Fee: $328.
General admission
- Who qualifies
- California State Bar (Civ. L.R. 11-1)
- Rule
- Civil L.R. 11-1
- Sponsor
- sworn petition for admission, no sponsor stated
- Oath
- applicant must sign prescribed oath
- Swearing-in
- Applicant signs the prescribed oath; Clerk or Judge may admit after verification
- Fee
- $328.00
- Fee payment
- Petitions submitted via CM/ECF with payment online via Pay.gov; fees may be paid at Clerk's Office by check, money order, or credit card, or online at Pay.gov, checks/money orders to CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT
- Apply
- pacer.gov
3 not found in the pulled documents
- Exam or course
- Not in the pulled documents
- Good standing cert.
- Not in the pulled documents
- Certificate age
- Not in the pulled documents
Pro hac vice
- Available
- yes
- Who qualifies
- active member in good standing of the bar of a United States Court or of the highest court of another state or the District of Columbia
- Local counsel
- Yes: member of the bar of the Court who maintains an office in California (Civ. L.R. 3-4(a)(2), 11-3)
- Residency limits
- not eligible if resides in California or regularly engaged in practice in California
- Fee
- $328
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- Rule
- Not in the pulled documents
- Limits
- Not in the pulled documents
- Certifications
- Not in the pulled documents
- Fee covers
- Not in the pulled documents
- Form
- Not in the pulled documents
- E-filing
- Not in the pulled documents
Ongoing and other
- Bankruptcy court
- Member of the bar of this Court may practice in the Bankruptcy Court of this District
- Rules dated
- May 1, 2026
3 not found in the pulled documents
- Renewal
- Not in the pulled documents
- CLE or course
- Not in the pulled documents
- Pending changes
- Not in the pulled documents
Checked against the rule text
(Civil L.R. 11-1(b), eff. Nov. 1, 2021): "an attorney must be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California." PHV Civil L.R. 11-3: applicant must be an active member in good standing of a U.S. Court bar or highest court of another state/D.C.; designates co-counsel "who is a member of the bar of this Court in good standing and who maintains an office within the State of California" (11-3(a)(3)); must state number of prior PHV admissions in preceding 12 months (11-3(a)(4)); 11-3(c) bars applicants who reside in California or regularly practice law in California (exception: <1 yr California residents registered for/awaiting results of the California bar exam); fee per Court fee schedule (11-3(e)). Source: cand.uscourts.gov/rules-forms-fees/local-rules/civil-local-rules
Language from the source documents
12 quoted passages
Who qualifies
To be eligible for admission to and continuing membership in the bar of this Court, an attorney must be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.cand.uscourts.gov
Sponsor
Each applicant for admission must present to the Clerk a sworn petition for admission in the form prescribed by the Court.cand.uscourts.gov
Oath
The Clerk or a Judge may admit an applicant to the bar of the Court after the applicant signs the prescribed oath and pays the prescribed fees, and after the Clerk verifies the applicant’s qualifications.cand.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice available
An attorney who is not a member of the bar of this Court may apply to appear pro hac vice in a particular action in this districtcand.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice: who qualifies
(1) That he or she is an active member in good standing of the bar of a United States Court or of the highest court of another state or the District of Columbia, specifying such bar;cand.uscourts.gov
Local counsel
(3) That an attorney, identified by name and office address, who is a member of the bar of this Court in good standing and who maintains an office within the State of California, is designated as co-counsel.cand.uscourts.gov
Residency limits
an applicant is not eligible for permission to practice pro hac vice if the applicant: (1) Resides in the State of California; or (2) Is regularly engaged in the practice of law in the State of California.cand.uscourts.gov
Fee payment
Fees may be paid at the Clerk's Office by check, money order, or credit card; or online at Pay.gov . Checks and money orders must be made out to: CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT. Filing Fees Civil case ($350.00 plus $55.00 Administrative Fee) $405.00cand.uscourts.gov
Application link
Step 1: Create your PACER account: Go to https://www.pacer.gov and create your individual PACER account.cand.uscourts.gov
Bankruptcy court admission
an attorney must be a member of the bar of this Court to practice in this Court and in the Bankruptcy Court of this District.cand.uscourts.gov