Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
General rule. The requirements for eligibility for formal
participation in legal matters by a law student or law school graduate pursuant
to Rule 322 (relating to authorized activities of certified legal interns) are:
(1) Enrollment in or graduation from an
accredited law school or a law school that has been approved by the Board which
has filed and is actively pursuing an application for accreditation with the
American Bar Association; provided that students who attend or graduated from a
law school that is located in a jurisdiction that has a program permitting law
students to participate in legal matters which does not afford students
attending law school in Pennsylvania the same privilege or opportunity to
formally participate in legal matters as a law student in the jurisdiction as
is granted to students attending law school in the jurisdiction, shall not be
eligible to participate in legal matters pursuant to Rule 322.
(2) Completion of legal studies amounting to
at least three semesters, or the equivalent if the law school is on a basis
other than the semester basis.
(3)
Existence and maintenance of certification as prescribed in Subdivision (b) of
this rule.
(4) Introduction to the
judge or magisterial district judge before whom the law student or law school
graduate is appearing by a member of the bar of this Commonwealth.
(5) Absence of a request for or receipt by
the law student or law school graduate of compensation or remuneration of any
kind for his or her services from the person on whose behalf the law student or
law school graduate renders services. This paragraph shall not prevent:
(i) An attorney or a law school, legal
services program, defender association, or government unit from paying
compensation to the law student or law school graduate.
(ii) Any person other than the law student or
law school graduate from making such charges for services as such person may
otherwise properly require.
(b)
Certification. Only
those law students or law school graduates shall be eligible for the benefits
of Rule 322 who have been certified by the dean of their law school as being of
good character and competent legal ability, and as being adequately trained to
perform as a legal intern. The certification shall be made by filing one copy
thereof with the Prothonotary. The certification:
(1) Shall be in writing on a form prescribed
by the Board and shall remain in effect until the expiration of 24 months after
it is filed, or until the announcement of the results of the first bar
examination following the completion of the study of law by the student or law
school graduate, whichever is earlier. In the case of a student or law school
graduate who passes that examination, the certification shall continue in
effect until the student or law school graduate is admitted to the
bar.
(2) May be withdrawn at any
time by the dean by filing a notice to that effect with the Prothonotary. It is
not necessary that the notice state the cause for withdrawal.
(3) May be terminated by the Court at any
time without notice or hearing and without any showing of cause.