Law Student Practice

(a) An eligible law student may, upon compliance with the requirements of this rule,

with the approval of the presiding judge, and under supervision of an attorney

who has filed a notice of appearance, appear on behalf of any person who has

consented in writing.

(b) The attorney who supervises a law student must:

(1) be a member of the bar of the district court where the case is pending who

has filed a notice of appearance in the case in which the law student is

participating;

(2) assume personal professional responsibility for the law student’s work;

(3) assist the law student to the extent necessary;

(4) be present with the law student in all proceedings before the Court;

(5)

indicate in writing his or her consent to supervise the law student;

(6) obtain the client’s approval, in writing, for the law student to appear in the

matter; and

(7) obtain the approval of the presiding judge for the law student to appear in

the matter.

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(c)

In order to be eligible to appear, the law student must certify in writing that the

law student:

Joint Local Rules, S.D.N.Y. and E.D.N.Y. Effective January 2, 2026

(1)

is duly enrolled in a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

The law student will be deemed to continue to satisfy this requirement

following graduation as long as the law student is preparing to take the first

applicable bar examination for which the law student is eligible, or, having

taken the examination, is awaiting the publication of the results or admission

to the bar after passing the examination;

(2) has completed at least two semesters of legal studies;

(3) has been certified by either the law school dean or his or her authorized

designee as qualified to provide the legal representation permitted by this

rule. Such certification may be withdrawn by the certifier at any time by filing

a notice in any case where the law student has appeared.

(4) will not ask for nor receive any compensation or remuneration of any kind

from the client. This rule does not affect the right of any party or other

attorney to seek or recover attorney’s fees.

(5)

is familiar and will comply with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct;

and

(6)

is familiar with the federal procedural and evidentiary rules relevant to the

action in which the law student is appearing, including any applicable federal

procedural or evidence rules, Local Rules, and individual rules of the

presiding judge.

(d) A law student who is supervised in accordance with this rule may:

(1) appear as counsel in court or at other proceedings, provided that the law

student is accompanied by the supervising attorney; and/or

(2) prepare and sign any document, provided that any such document is also

signed by the supervising attorney.

(e) The judge’s consent for the law student to appear may be withdrawn without

notice or hearing and without showing of cause. Unless a judge specifies

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Joint Local Rules, S.D.N.Y. and E.D.N.Y. Effective January 2, 2026

otherwise, the withdrawal of consent by a judge, or a judge’s decision to decline a

law student’s request to appear, should not be considered a reflection on the

character or ability of the law student.

(f) Participation by law students under the rule should not be deemed a violation in

connection with the rules for admission to the bar of any jurisdiction concerning

practice of law before admission to the bar.

For relevant historical context for this local rule, consult the Appendix of Committee Notes.