Rhode Island Government Attorneys

Article II, Rule 2(e) (Admission of Attorneys and Others to the Practice of Law) allows attorneys associated with the Department of the Attorney General to be specially admitte for a period of up to two years. Practice under this rule cannot be used for the Rhode Island Modified Bar Exam practice of law requirement.

Government attorneys may also provide legal services to indigents as part of a Rhode Island Legal Services Organizations that is funded in whole or in part by a federal government. Attorneys may also practice on behalf of programs sponsored by the Rhode Island Public Defender.

Rhode Island also provides a Rhode Island Multijurisdictional Practice Rule (“MJP”) within its rules of professional conduct. Comment 16 to that rule provides for an interpretation that exempts government attorneys from the unauthorized practice of law.

Rhode Island does not offer Admission on Motion but administers a Rhode Island Modified Bar Exam for attorneys that have engaged in the active practice of law for at least five of the past ten years.

Please also see the Rhode Island Pro Hac Vice page to view the requirements for admission to a particular proceeding.