Rules Governing Professional Training of Law Students
Law students may be able to engage in supervised representation of low income individuals in limited circumstances pursuant to the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct (Subchapter 1C, Section .0200 Rules Governing Practical Training of Law Students of the N.C. Rules of Professional Conduct).
To engage in activities permitted by these rules, a law student must satisfy the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a law school approved by the Council of the North Carolina State Bar.
- Have completed at least three semesters of the requirements for a professional degree in law (J.D. or its equivalent).
- Be certified in writing by a representative of his or her law school, authorized by the dean of the law school to provide such certification, as being of good character with requisite legal ability and training to perform as a legal intern.
- Be introduced to the court in which he or she is appearing by an attorney admitted to practice in that court.
- Neither ask for nor receive any compensation or remuneration of any kind from any client for whom he or she renders services, but this shall not prevent an attorney, legal services corporation, law school, public defender agency, or the state from paying compensation to the law student or charging or collecting a fee for legal services performed by such law student.
- Certify in writing that he or she has read and is familiar with the North Carolina Revised Rules of Professional Conduct and the opinions interpretive thereof.
Certification forms can be found on the N.C. State Bar website.
In- and out-of-state certification forms should be submitted to the law school registrar’s office.
Clinic and externship program students: This process will be managed by law school personnel.