Connecticut Law Student Admission

Sections 3-14 through 3-21 of the Connecticut Rules of Superior Court Regulating Admission to the Bar allow supervised law student interns to appear in court with the written approval of the client and supervising attorney.

Requirements and Limitations
The law student intern must:

  • Have completed legal studies amounting to at least two semesters for credit in a three or four year course of legal studies (or the equivalent). The Dean may certify a law student that has completed less than two semesters (or the equivalent) in order to participate in a faculty supervised law school clinic program.
  • Be certified by the Dean of his or her law school as being of good character and competent legal ability.
  • Be introduced to the court by an attorney admitted to practice in that court.
  • Cannot be compensated directly be a client for services rendered. Attorneys, legal aid bureaus, law schools, public defender agencies, or the state may compensate an eligible intern.

Law student interns enrolled in a legal internship program or student practice rule in another state or the District of Columbia may appear in a Connecticut court or before an administrative tribunal under the same or similar circumstances, and on the same conditions, as those applicable to certified Connecticut legal interns. The out-of-state intern must file with the Clerk of the Connecticut Superior Court in Hartford a certification by his or her law school’s Dean and the text of his or her jurisdiction’s applicable statute or rule. A copy must also be sent to the Connecticut legal internship committee.

Practice
Law student interns may appear in court or other hearing in the following situations:

  • The client is financially unable to afford counsel;
  • The intern is assisting a privately retained attorney; or
  • The intern is assisting an established legal aid bureau or organization, a public defender, the prosecutor’s office, or a state agency.

The law student intern may:

  • Prepare pleadings and other documents to be filed in any matter.
  • Prepare briefs, abstracts, and other documents.
  • Each document or pleading must contain the name of the intern who participated in drafting the document and must be signed by the supervising attorney.

Requirements and Filings
The client’s written consent and approval must be filed with the record of the case and shall be brought to the attention of the judicial authority of the presiding officer of the administrative tribunal.

The Law School Dean Certificate must be filed with the clerk of the superior court in Hartford

Supervising Attorney
The supervising attorney must:

  • Be a member of the Connecticut Bar:
    • For at least three years;
    • Employed by an attorney with five years’ standing;
    • Employed by an accredited law school in Connecticut; or
    • Approved by the presiding judge in the case.
  • Assume professional responsibility for the student intern’s work.
  • Assist the intern in his or her preparation to the extent the supervising attorney considers necessary.
  • Be present in court with the intern.

Termination
The Law School Dean certificate may terminate upon:

  • The Law School Dean Certificate remains in effect until the results of the second Connecticut bar exam following the intern’s graduation. The certificate remains in effect until the date of admission for any student successfully passing the Connecticut bar exam.
  • The authorization terminates if the student is no longer enrolled at an ABA accredited law school.
  • The Dean may terminate the authorization without stating cause at any time by mailing a notice to the Clerk of the Connecticut Superior Court
    in Hartford and to the intern.
  • The Connecticut Superior Court may terminate the authorization at any time upon notice to the intern, the law school Dean, and to the Connecticut Superior Court in Hartford.