• Admission to Practice in the Northern District of Texas
  • Application
  • Swearing In Schedule
    
    
• Requesting a Judge to Deliver Your Oath of Admission to Another District
  
  
• Pro Hac Vice Appearance
  • Application
    
    
• Requirement of Local Counsel
  
  
• ECF Registration
  
  
• Certificate of Good Standing
  
  
• CJA Attorney Information
  
  
• Change of Name/Address
  
  
• Volunteer Information
  • Civil
  • Criminal

Admission to Practice in the Northern District of Texas

LR 83.7 and LCrR 57.7 identify the requirements for admission to practice in the Northern District of Texas. These procedures further explain the process for becoming admitted to the bar of this court. If you seek permission to appear for one case only, please see the Pro Hac Vice Appearance instructions.

Complete the Application for Admission. List your name as it will appear on all documents you will file with the Court. You must attach the required original Certificate of Good Standing issued within the last 90 days from the state or the District of Columbia in which you are admitted to practice. If a U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of Texas (NDTX) will administer the oath of office to you, you may discard the “Optional Page” 3 of the application.

Your signature must be notarized. In lieu of notarization, you may request (in person) that a NDTX deputy clerk certify the application before you present it for consideration. The fee for Certifying any Document will be collected at the time this service is provided. The fee for Admission of Attorneys to Practice will be collected only after you have been sworn in.

Arrange to be sworn in:

If you are a resident or able to come to the Northern District of Texas, consult the swearing-in schedule below and make or confirm an appointment to present your application to a U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of Texas. If approved, the District Judge will swear you in at the same appointment. If you wish to be sworn in by a U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, or U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Texas, the District Judge must approve the application (on the “Optional Page”) and you must then arrange to be sworn in by that other judge. Your sponsor must introduce you when you are sworn in before any judge.

If you are a nonresident and wish to be sworn in by a judge of another district, return your completed application (including the “Optional Page”) to the clerk’s office. A U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of Texas must first approve your application on the “Optional Page.” Do NOT send the fee for Admission of Attorneys to Practice, since it will be collected only after you have been sworn in. Your sponsor may be contacted by the U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of Texas who is considering your application. If the NDTX District Judge approves your application, the NDTX District Judge will return the approved application to you. You should arrange to be sworn in by the other judge only after your application has been approved.

After you have been sworn in, immediately return the approved application and the fee for Admission of Attorneys to Practice to the clerk's office, so we may prepare your Certificate of Admission.

If you exercised the option for your application to serve as your registration for electronic filing, the clerk will send your ECF login and temporary password to you via email. If you did not register for electronic filing, please be advised that LR 5.1(f) and LCrR 49.2(g) require that you do so within ten (10) days of your appearance in any case.

Requesting a Judge to Deliver Your Oath of Admission to Another District

If you are seeking admission to practice in another district, follow the admission procedures of that district. If you wish for a NDTX judge to administer the oath of admission for the other district, make an appointment through the judge's chambers to be sworn in.

Pro Hac Vice Appearance

If you are not admitted to practice in the Northern District of Texas, you may represent a party in proceedings in this district only by permission of the presiding judge. An exception has been granted for an attorney appearing on behalf of the United States or the Attorney General for the State of Texas (see LR 83.11 and LCrR 57.11).

To seek permission of the presiding judge, complete the court approved Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice. The presiding judge will decide whether to grant permission to proceed pro hac vice. If permission is granted, it will be for one case only. You must apply, pay the fee, and obtain permission from the presiding judge for each case in which you want to represent a party pro hac vice. If admitted pro hac vice, you become subject to the rules of the Northern District of Texas.

You may register as an ECF User before submitting your Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice. After registering you will be able to file your pro hac vice application electronically. The Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice docket event is found under the Motions category, and this docket event allows you to pay the required fee online. You may also file an Application for Admission Pro Hac Vice on paper with the required fee.

If you file your application on paper, you may exercise the option for your pro hac vice application to serve as your registration for electronic filing. If your application is granted, your ECF login and temporary password will be emailed to you shortly thereafter. If you do not indicate that you wish to register for electronic filing, be advised that LR 5.1(f) and LCrR 49.2(g) require that you do so within ten (10) days of your appearance in any case.

Requirement of Local Counsel

LR 83.10 and LCrR 57.10 require an attorney not residing or maintaining an office in the Northern District of Texas to designate local counsel (unless exempt by LR 83.11 or LCrR 57.11). A member of the bar of the Northern District of Texas who resides or maintains an office in the division where the suit is pending (or within 50 miles thereof) may serve as local counsel. Local counsel must be authorized to present and argue the client's position at any hearing called by the Court and to perform any duty required by the local rules of the Northern District of Texas.

Certificate of Good Standing

The Certificate of Good Standing verifies that an attorney is a member in good standing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. To obtain a Certificate of Good Standing, submit the required fee, a written request to the clerk's office that states your full name, state bar number, and the date you were admitted to practice in the Northern District of Texas, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Change of Address

If you change your name, business name, address, phone or fax number, or e-mail address, you must promptly update this contact information with the court. The method you must use to update the information depends on whether or not you are a registered user of ECF (see LR 83.13 and LCrR 57.13). To update your contact information electronically, use the Maintaining Your Account instructions. To update your contact information on paper, submit the Federal Bar Membership Update form.