To be eligible for permanent admission to practice in this Court as a “Member of the bar
of this Court”, an attorney must either: (a) be a member in good standing of the bar of the United
States District Court for the Southern, Eastern, or Northern Districts of New York; (b) be
admitted to practice before the courts of New York State; or (c) be a member in good standing of
any United States District Court and of the bar of the State in which the District Court is located.
In addition to the respective requirements set forth below, all attorneys seeking permanent
admission to practice in this Court must appear in person before a Judge of this Court to be
admitted. See Attorney Admission Procedures available at http://www.nywd.uscourts.gov for
scheduling details. On the date of admission, but prior to being admitted, an attorney seeking
permanent admission must pay to the Clerk of Court the Attorney Admission fee set forth in the
District Court Schedule of Fees.
The respective documents required for admission shall be submitted to the Clerk of Court
at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of admission (unless shortened at the discretion of the
Court). All documents and forms referenced in this Rule are available from the Clerk’s Office in
Buffalo and Rochester, and on the Court’s webpage, http://www.nywd.uscourts.gov. Applicants
who create their own documents must include all information required by the Court’s documents
and forms, in the same order. Applications left on file with the Clerk of Court for longer than one
year will be destroyed without further notice to the applicant.
(a) Attorneys Admitted to Another District Court in New York. A member in good
standing of the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern, Eastern, or
Northern District of New York shall appear in person as set forth above and submit the
following to the Clerk of Court:
(1) a Certificate of Good Standing from the Clerk of Court of which he or she is a
member (dated no earlier than six (6) months prior to submission to this Court);
(2) Attorney’s Oath;
(3) Civility Principles and Guidelines Oath; and
(4) Attorney Database and Electronic Case Filing Registration Form.
(b) Attorneys Admitted to Practice in New York State. An attorney for whom Loc. R. Civ.
P. 83.1(a) does not apply, and who is admitted to practice before the courts of New York
State shall appear in person as set forth above and submit the following to the Clerk of
Court:
(1) Admission Petition Form;
(2) Admission Sponsor Affidavit;
(3) Attorney’s Oath;
(4) Civility Principles and Guidelines Oath; and
(5) Attorney Database and Electronic Case Filing Registration Form.
On the day of admission, the attorney seeking admission shall be accompanied by a
Member of the bar of this Court, who need not be the sponsoring attorney, to move for
the petitioning attorney’s admission.
(c) Attorneys Admitted to District Courts Outside New York State. An attorney for whom
Loc. R. Civ. P. 83.1(a) does not apply, and who is a member in good standing of any
United States District Court and of the bar of the State in which the District Court is
located shall appear in person as set forth above and submit the following to the Clerk of
Court:
(1) a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the District Court of which they are a
member (dated no earlier than six (6) months prior to submission to this Court);
and
(2) all fully completed documents listed in subdivision (b)(1), (3)-(5) of this Local Rule.
(d) Pro Hac Vice Admission. An attorney who is not eligible for permanent admission under
the foregoing provisions, or an attorney who, though eligible, does not wish to become a
permanent Member of the bar of this Court, may be admitted pro hac vice to participate in
a particular matter in which they are engaged. An applicant for admission pro hac vice
must fully complete, and file with the Court, all documents listed in subdivision (b)(1)-(5),
along with submitting to the Clerk of Court a check or money order in the amount of the
pro hac vice fee set forth in the District Court Schedule of Fees. The Court, in its discretion,
will issue an order granting or denying the petition.
(e) Government Attorneys. United States Attorneys, Assistant United States Attorneys,
special attorneys appointed under 28 U.S.C. §§ 515 and 543, Federal Public Defenders,
Assistant Federal Public Defenders, and any attorney employed by a federal agency, may
practice before this Court on any matter within the scope of their employment by
submitting to the Clerk of Court an Electronic Case Filing Registration Form and filing a
notice of appearance as required by Loc. R. Civ. P. 83.2(b).
(f) Admission to Practice in Bankruptcy Matters. Only attorneys admitted to practice in
this District under subparagraphs (a)-(d) of this Rule may practice in bankruptcy matters
before the District Judges or the Bankruptcy Judges of this District. The attorney shall
certify knowledge of such sources and provisions of bankruptcy law and rules as the
Bankruptcy Court shall require by local rule approved by this Court. The “local counsel”
requirement of Loc. R. Civ. P. 83.2 shall not apply in bankruptcy matters unless otherwise
directed by a District Judge or Bankruptcy Judge. This provision shall not apply to a
student admitted under the Student Practice Rule of the Bankruptcy Court.
(g) Changes to Attorney Information. All attorneys admitted as a Member of the bar of this
Court must update PACER with any change in name, firm affiliation, office address, email
address, or telephone number within thirty (30) days of such change. Additionally,
counsel must file a Notice of Change of Address with respect to each pending case.
(h) Fees for Admission. A District Court Fund (“Fund”) is to be maintained from a portion
of the admission fees paid by attorneys seeking admission to this Court, and from the fees
paid by attorneys admitted pro hac vice. Detailed information regarding the Fund can be
found in the Amended Plan for the Administration of the District Court Fund available
on the Court’s website, http://www.nywd.uscourts.gov.
(i) Withdrawal from Admission to Other Courts. Any Member of the bar of this Court
who, for non-disciplinary reasons, withdraws, resigns, retires, or fails to renew his or her
admission to the bar of any state or district court, and, as a result of such withdrawal,
resignation, retirement or non-renewal, would no longer qualify for admission to practice
in this Court (either under the admission requirements in place at the time of the attorney’s
initial admission or the current admission requirements of this Court), shall notify the
Clerk of Court, in writing, within thirty (30) days of such action. If the Clerk of Court
receives notice from the bar of any state or district court that an attorney admitted to
practice in this Court has withdrawn, resigned, retired, or failed to renew his or her
admission to such bar or court, the Clerk may request confirmation from the attorney, in
writing within thirty (30) days, that he or she continues to meet either the admission
requirements of this Court in place at the time of the attorney's initial admission or the
current admission requirements of this Court, failing which the attorney's name will be
struck from the roll of Members of the bar of this Court by the Clerk of Court.
