DC Bar flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Unified (mandatory) bar
- A bar association in which membership is required as a condition of practicing law in the jurisdiction; the D.C. Bar is unified, so every D.C. licensee must join and pay dues.
- D.C. Court of Appeals role
- The District of Columbia's highest local court; it adopts admission rules, sets the passing score, and acts through its Committee on Admissions and Board on Professional Responsibility on licensing matters.
- Committee on Admissions
- The body appointed by the D.C. Court of Appeals that evaluates bar applicants, investigates character and fitness, and makes recommendations on whether an applicant should be admitted.
- Admission by examination
- The standard route to a D.C. license: pass the Uniform Bar Exam administered in D.C. and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, then clear character and fitness review.
- Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)
- A standardized exam consisting of the Multistate Bar Examination, Multistate Essay Examination, and Multistate Performance Test; D.C. administers it and accepts qualifying transferred scores from other UBE jurisdictions.
- Transferred UBE score
- A UBE score earned in another jurisdiction that D.C. may accept in place of sitting for the D.C. exam, provided the score meets D.C.'s minimum and falls within the allowed age limit.
- Admission on motion
- Licensing without taking the D.C. bar exam, available to attorneys already admitted and in good standing elsewhere who satisfy D.C. education, MPRE, and character requirements.
- Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
- A standardized ethics exam covering the ABA Model Rules and related doctrine; a passing MPRE score is a prerequisite for D.C. admission by exam or on motion.
- Good moral character
- The fitness standard every D.C. applicant must meet; the Committee examines criminal history, civil judgments, employment, prior discipline, and candor in the application itself.
- Duty of candor on application
- Applicants must fully and accurately disclose all requested information, including arrests, charges, debts, and prior bar applications; concealment or misstatement can independently justify denial of admission.
- Character and fitness review
- The Committee's investigation into an applicant's background and conduct, weighing factors such as recency, severity, rehabilitation, and candor to decide whether the applicant is fit to practice.
- Foreign-educated applicant admission
- D.C. rules allow certain applicants with foreign legal education or foreign licenses to seek admission, often requiring additional legal education or proof of practice and always requiring character review.
- Mandatory annual registration
- Every active D.C. Bar member must file an annual registration statement and pay dues; noncompliance can lead to administrative suspension of the license to practice.
- D.C. Bar dues obligation
- Active members pay annual dues set by the Bar; unpaid dues, after notice, can result in suspension, and suspended lawyers may not practice until reinstated.
- Inactive membership status
- A status for D.C. Bar members who do not practice law in D.C.; inactive members pay reduced dues but may not practice in the District until returned to active status.
- Continuing legal education requirement
- D.C. lawyers must earn 12 CLE credit hours each calendar year, including at least 2 ethics hours and 1 hour on substance abuse and mental health awareness.
- New lawyer professionalism course
- Newly admitted D.C. attorneys must complete a mandatory course covering D.C. practice, professionalism, and the local rules, typically within the first year of admission.
- Pro hac vice admission
- Court permission for an out-of-state lawyer to appear in a specific D.C. case without joining the D.C. Bar, usually requiring a local sponsoring attorney and a fee.
- Local counsel requirement
- In pro hac vice appearances, the out-of-state attorney generally must associate a lawyer licensed and in good standing in D.C. who remains responsible to the court.
- Unauthorized practice of law
- Practicing in D.C. without a license or valid pro hac vice order; the D.C. Bar and courts may seek injunctions and refer violators for prosecution.
- Board on Professional Responsibility
- The D.C. Court of Appeals body that hears disciplinary cases and recommends sanctions; the court imposes final discipline, including suspension or disbarment.
- Reciprocal discipline
- D.C. may impose discipline mirroring a sanction imposed by another jurisdiction, subject to review, because the Court of Appeals treats serious misconduct elsewhere as relevant to fitness in D.C.
- Legal ethics counsel
- The D.C. Bar office that issues informal and formal advisory ethics opinions and answers practitioner questions, though only the Court of Appeals binds lawyers through rules and discipline.
- Reinstatement after suspension
- A suspended D.C. lawyer must apply for reinstatement and show compliance with CLE, dues, and any disciplinary conditions before resuming the practice of law in D.C.
- Bar application withdrawal
- An applicant may withdraw a pending application, but the Committee may still investigate and report conduct, and withdrawal does not erase the duty of candor about prior applications.
- Admission ceremony
- After approval, applicants are sworn in as members of the D.C. Bar, typically before a judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, and only then may practice in D.C.
- Practice pending admission
- D.C. rules may allow limited practice by certain applicants awaiting admission, such as government or clinical attorneys, but only under explicit rule-based authorization and supervision.
- D.C. Bar sections and committees
- Voluntary practice groups within the mandatory Bar that offer CLE, networking, and policy input; joining them is optional and distinct from the required dues-paying membership.
- Fee arbitration program
- A D.C. Bar service resolving disputes between clients and lawyers over fees; participation may be voluntary or court-ordered and is separate from disciplinary proceedings.
- Clients' Security Trust Fund
- A D.C. fund that reimburses clients for losses caused by lawyer dishonesty in handling entrusted funds; it is funded by Bar members and does not replace civil remedies.
- Mandatory malpractice disclosure
- D.C. requires lawyers to disclose whether they maintain professional liability insurance on the annual registration, giving clients information about coverage without mandating insurance.
- Suspension for nonpayment
- A D.C. Bar member who fails to pay dues or file registration after notice may be administratively suspended; practicing while suspended is unauthorized and can lead to discipline.