UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS Instructions for Attorney Admission to Practice Eligibility. Rule 46(a)(1) of the Court's Rules of Practice and Procedure provides: (1) Admission of attorneys to bar of Court. (A) General. A person of good moral character and repute who has been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, or the highest court of any state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory or commonwealth within the meaning of 48 U.S.C. § 1904(e)(5), and is in good standing therein, may be admitted to the bar of the Court upon application. See Rules of Admission and Practice. (B) Active Status. Practice before the Court requires an attorney to maintain active status in good standing in the highest court of any state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory or commonwealth within the meaning of 48 U.S.C. § 1904(e)(5). (C) Application. An attorney at law may be admitted to the bar of the Court upon filing with the Clerk a completed application accompanied by the applicable fee (payable by check or money order) and a current certificate from the clerk of the appropriate court showing that the applicant is a member in good standing of the bar of one of the courts named in paragraph (A) of this subsection. A current court certificate is one executed not earlier than 3 months before the date of the filing of the application. Application. Attached is an application for admission. You must submit a certificate of good standing from the clerk of one of the specified courts [not a letter from your state bar]. If no local attorney is sponsoring your admission, you may leave the motion portion of the form blank and a Court staff attorney will move your admission. Restrictions on practice. If you are an officer or employee of the U. S. Government, or if you are a former federal officer or employee whose service involved matters relating to veterans affairs, 18 U.S.C. § 205 or § 207 may prohibit you from representing an appellant or petitioner before this Court. These laws will not prevent your admission to practice, but if you think they may apply to you, you should contact the Designated Agency Ethics Official or an ethics counselor at your current or former agency, or the Office of Government Ethics, for advice before you agree to represent someone. Fee Agreements. If you represent an appellant or petitioner before this Court, you must submit for filing with the Court a notice of appearance in the detail set out in Form 3 in the Appendix of Forms, and a copy of any retainer agreement and any fee agreement with that person. Rule 46(b) and 38 U.S.C. § 7263. Practitioner lists. The Court maintains two practitioner lists. a. An internal list of all persons admitted to practice. We use this list to verify your status when you enter an appearance in a case, to tell you about judicial conferences and other significant Court matters, and to provide certificates of good standing at your request. b. A public list of practitioners who have said that they are available to represent appellants. We send this state-by-state alphabetical list with our notice of docketing to each self-represented person who files a notice of appeal, and we post the list on our website. We will include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address only if you request. You may receive inquiries from appellants about representation and from persons who want to sell books, conduct education programs, or organize bar activities. Info 46A (2/12) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION OF AN ATTORNEY TO THE BAR OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS Rule 46: "A person of good moral character and repute who has been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, or the highest court of any state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory or commonwealth within the meaning of 48 U.S.C. § 1904(e)(5), and is in good standing therein, may be admitted to the bar of the Court upon application." 1. Name: (Mr.)(Ms.)_____________________________________________________ Date of Birth:__________________________________ 2. Business Mailing Address:_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 3. Telephone Numbers: (Office)________________________(Home or Cell) FAX Number: ________________________E-mail Address:__________________________________ List all courts in which you are currently admitted: COURT DATE OF ADMISSION _______________________________________ _________________________________ _______________________________________ _________________________________ _______________________________________ _________________________________ _______________________________________ _________________________________ Attach a current certificate of good standing from one of the courts specified in Rule 46 executed within the three months preceding the date of submission of this application. A letter or certificate from a state bar will not satisfy this requirement. 4. Have you ever been suspended for misconduct or disbarred from the practice of law in any jurisdiction, or is any action pending as to your conduct or fitness to practice law which could result in public discipline? ____If yes, explain in full (including dates) on continuation sheet. FORM 46A (2/12) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 5. Have you ever had your right to practice in any jurisdiction or before any federal, state, or municipal department, bureau, commission, office, or agency qualified, terminated, or withdrawn, or has any such entity ever imposed public discipline on you, or is any such action pending? ______If yes, explain in full (including dates) on continuation sheet. 6. Do you want to be admitted to the bar of this Court in open Court? ______ (If "Yes," the Clerk of the Court will contact you with the date and time of the admission ceremony.) 7. Do you want your name, address, and office telephone number included in the Court's public list of practitioners who have indicated their availability to represent appellants? _____________ OATH (AFFIRMATION) I,_________________________________, solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am an attorney at law in good standing in the Courts listed above, and that I will conduct myself as an attorney and counselor of this Court uprightly and according to law, and that I will support the Constitution of the United States. I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. (28 U.S.C. § 1746) ________________________________________ (Signature of Applicant) Date____________________________________ MOTION (Admission must be moved by a member of the Court's bar; if you do not know a member to act on your behalf, a Court staff attorney will do so upon approval of your application.) I,____________________________,a member of the bar of this Court, move for admission of the above named attorney. Date_____________________ __ ____________________________________________________ (Signature of Attorney) FEE: A practice fee of $100 must accompany your application. Make check payable to: U. S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims *FOR COURT USE ONLY* Fee Paid [ ] Date: ________________________ Send to: Admissions Clerk U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 625 Indiana Avenue NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20004 Admitted [ ] \ Not Admitted [ ] _______________________ Clerk of the Court Date:__________________________ 2 FORM 46A (2/12) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com