Forms - Bar Membership

Admission to Practice in the Northern District of Texas
An attorney seeking admission to practice in the Northern District of Texas should refer to LR 83.7 and LCrR 57.7. General procedures for admission are outlined below. If you want a judge of the Northern District of Texas to administer the oath, please follow the instructions for Procedure for Taking Oath in the Northern District. If you want a judge from another federal district court to administer the oath, please follow the instructions for Procedure for Taking Oath in Another District. If you want to be admitted to practice for one case only, you have the option of applying for Pro Hac Vice status. Pro Hac Vice instructions are also provided below. An attorney seeking admission to practice in the Northern District of Texas or seeking to apply to proceed pro hac vice is strongly encouraged to submit an application for electronic noticing at the time the attorney submits the admission or pro hac vice application form.

Procedure for Taking Oath in the Northern District
An attorney must complete an Application for Admission to the Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas if he or she will be taking the oath of admission in the Northern District. Be sure to list the attorney's name as it will appear on all documents he or she will be filing with the Court in item two on the form. Do not retype the form.

Before submitting the application for approval, it must be signed by the applicant and notarized. In lieu of a notary public's signature, the applicant may request a deputy clerk sign the application prior to presentation to the district judge for approval. There is an additional fee of $9.00 for the deputy clerk's certification. (This fee will be collected with the application fee after the attorney has been sworn in.)

The application must be approved by a district judge; then the attorney must be sworn in by a district judge, magistrate judge, or bankruptcy judge in the Northern District of Texas. If the attorney elects to be sworn in by a district judge, the approval and swearing in may take place during the same appointment. (The swearing-in schedule for the district judges is below.) However, if the attorney chooses to be sworn in by either a magistrate judge or bankruptcy judge, the applicant must make appointments with a district judge to present the application for approval and a magistrate judge or bankruptcy judge to be sworn in. Another member of the bar of the Northern District of Texas who is willing to speak on the applicant's behalf must accompany the applicant to the swearing-in.

After being sworn in, the attorney must hand-deliver the application and fee(s) to the United States District Clerk's Office. Make the check payable to "Clerk, U.S. District Court." (If the attorney is sworn in by a judge in the Abilene, San Angelo, or Wichita Falls divisions, the attorney may mail the form and fee to the Clerk's Office in the appropriate division.) The Clerk's Office will mail a Certificate of Admission to the attorney within one (1) week.

If the attorney is going to take the oath before a magistrate judge or bankruptcy judge, the attorney must first get the Application for Admission approved and signed by a district judge. Another attorney who is currently admitted to practice in the Northern District must accompany the attorney who is to be sworn in and must be willing to speak on his/her behalf.

After being sworn in, the attorney must hand-deliver the Application for Admission and fee to the United States District Clerk's Office. Make the check payable to "Clerk, U.S. District Court." (If the attorney was sworn in by a judge in the Abilene, San Angelo, or Wichita Falls division, the attorney may mail the form and fee to the Clerk's Office in the appropriate division.) The Clerk's Office will mail a Certificate of Admission to the attorney within one week.

Procedure for Taking Oath in Another District
A nonresident attorney may, with the permission of a district judge in the Northern District of Texas, have the oath of admission administered by a district judge or magistrate judge in another district. To accomplish this, the attorney must obtain the Application for Admission to the Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Oath to be Taken in Another District) from the Clerk's Office. The attorney must complete the Application, have it notarized, and return it to the District Clerk's Office in the appropriate division in the Northern District of Texas. Be sure to list the attorney's name as it will appear on all documents he or she will be filing with the Court. Do not retype the form. Do not send admission fee.

After a district judge in the Northern District of Texas reviews the completed application and signs an order allowing the attorney to be sworn in, the District Clerk's Office will mail out a letter of instructions, an oath to be taken before a district judge or magistrate judge in another district, and a certified copy of the order allowing the attorney to be sworn in.

The applying attorney is responsible for making arrangements to be sworn in by a judge in another district. The attorney has 90 days from the date of the order to return the executed oath to the District Clerk's Office, together with a check payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court. Should the executed oath and admission fee fail to be returned within 90 days, the application is void and it will be necessary to start the whole process over. On receipt of a timely submitted oath and fee, the District Clerk's Office will add the attorney's name to the attorney roll and mail a Certificate of Admission and a packet of information to the attorney.

Taking Oath of Admission for Another District Court
An attorney seeking admission to practice in another district must follow the admission procedures of that district. If the attorney wants a judge in the Northern District to administer the oath of admission for the other district, the attorney may make an appointment through the judge's chambers to be sworn in.

Pro Hac Vice Appearances
An attorney not admitted to practice in the Northern District may represent a party in proceedings in the Northern District only by permission of the presiding judge (see LR 83.9 and LCrR 57.9). This is known as admission pro hac vice. 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, the attorney must follow these steps: (a) complete all questions on the court approved pro hac vice form and (b) submit the form to the Clerk's Office in the division where the case is pending along with a $25.00 check payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court. (In the Dallas division, the Clerk's Office also accepts Visa and MasterCard.).

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. An attorney must apply, pay the fee, and obtain permission from the presiding judge for each case in which the attorney wants to represent a party pro hac vice. An attorney appearing pro hac vice becomes subject to the rules of the Northern District of Texas.

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, an attorney must submit a written request to the District Clerk's Office that states the attorney's full name, state bar number, and the date the attorney was admitted to practice in the Northern District of Texas. The attorney must provide $15.00 and a self-addressed stamped envelope. (Checks should be made payable to Clerk, United States District Court.) The Clerk's Office will process and mail the Certificate of Good Standing on the same day.

Change of Address
An attorney who changes a business name or address must, within thirty days, file notice of the change with the Clerk's Office on a Federal Bar Membership Update form (see LR 83.13 and LCrR 57.13). Failure to comply with this rule will result in court orders and judgments being sent to the old address. To update an e-mail address, submit an amended "Electronic Notice Consent" form.

Electronic Notice System
An attorney may receive notice of orders and judgments via electronic transmission in lieu of receiving paper copies by mail. There is no charge for this service. In most instances, electronic transmissions of the orders and judgments will be done within minutes of entry on the official court docket. The Clerk’s Office will receive notice immediately of electronic mail notices that are unable to be delivered. If the Clerk is unable to confirm receipt of an electronic notice, and alternate means of document notice will be arranged for with the attorney.

To receive orders and judgments via electronic transmission, an attorney must (a) have an Internet e-mail account and (b) execute an Electronic Notice Consent Form and return it to the Clerk’s Office. The Clerk’s Office typically processes such requests within 72 hours of receipt. Be aware that an attorney’s e-mail address will appear on the public docket if the attorney receives orders and judgments by electronic transmission. Please review the Electronic Transmission of Notice Overview for more information.

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