Thu Jul 16 2020
TEMPORARY PRACTICE AUTHORIZATION PROGRAM

The New York State Court of Appeals has amended Part 524 of its Rules, effective July 22, 2020, to establish a program by which eligible graduates of ABA-approved law schools may apply for temporary authorization to practice law under the supervision of an attorney who is admitted to practice in New York State.  This program is intended to meet the needs of law graduates who are employed in New York, pending their admission to the bar.  Pursuant to the amended rules of the Court of Appeals, temporary authorization to practice may be granted by order of the Appellate Division upon application by an eligible applicant.  

Program requirements and application instructions are provided below, along with the required forms that need to be completed in support of the Temporary Authorization application (please click on the links).  Applicants who anticipate being certified by the State Board of Law Examiners for admission in the Fourth Judicial Department may submit their completed application materials to this Court electronically by email to the following address:

AD4-temporarylawpractice@nycourts.gov

The Appellate Division recognizes the unique challenges that are confronting recent law graduates and joins the Court of Appeals in seeking to provide an impactful means of assisting these graduates in pursuing legal employment in New York pending their admission to the bar.

TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION PROGRAM:
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION INFORMATION

Pursuant to Part 524 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division is establishing a program by which eligible graduates of ABA-approved law schools may apply for temporary authorization to practice law under the supervision of an attorney who is admitted to practice in New York.  Consistent with Part 524, temporary authorization to practice may be granted by order of the Appellate Division upon application by an eligible applicant.  Below is a summary of eligibility criteria, and instructions on how eligible candidates may submit a completed application for temporary authorization to practice law.

Program Requirements

To be eligible to apply for temporary authorization, an applicant must:

1. Have received a J.D. or an LL.M. degree from a law school that is approved by the American Bar Association

2. Be employed to engage in the practice of law in the State of New York

3. Be qualified to take the New York State bar examination, pursuant to the Rules for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law

4. Not have previously failed a bar examination administered in New York or any other state or territory of the United States, or in the District of Columbia

Application Instructions

A Temporary Authorization application must be supported by the following two forms:

1. Employer Supporting Affirmation

2. Application Form

Applications must contain all required forms and signatures must be by hand.  Completed applications should be submitted to this Court if the applicant expects to ultimately be certified for admission by the New York State Board of Law Examiners for admission within this Department.  Completed applications should be submitted to the following email address:

AD4-temporarylawpractice@nycourts.gov