Minnesota Legal Services Organizations

Rule 8 of the Rules for Admission to the Bar allows attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions to be admitted under a temporary license to practice law in Minnesota when employed in Minnesota as a lawyer for a legal services program.

Time spent practicing under either Minnesota house counsel license qualifies towards the practice of law requirements for Minnesota Admission Without Exam.

Eligibility
Attorneys must be licensed in another jurisdiction and must meet the applicable character and fitness standards, graduate with a J.D. or LL.B. degree from a law school provisionally or fully approved by the ABA, and cannot currently be suspended or disbarred from practice of law in another jurisdiction.

Practice
Attorneys may only practice on behalf of the legal services organization.

Application
Attorneys are required to submit:

  • A completed application for temporary license to practice law in Minnesota for a legal services program.
  • Certificates of good standing and no charges of professional misconduct are pending.
  • Employer Affidavit. Employer Affidavit attesting to the employer’s knowledge of the applicant’s competence and good character, and the fact that the applicant
    has accepted employment as a lawyer for a legal services program in Minnesota and will be supervised by a licensed Minnesota lawyer.
  • Two additional good character affidavits prescribed by Rule 4C(4). The affidavits must be from an individual that has known the applicant for at least one year and who:
    • Is not unrelated to the applicant by blood or marriage and not living in the same household.
    • Is not a fellow law student during the applicant’s enrollment.
    • Must address the duration of time and circumstances under which the affiant has known the applicant; details respecting the applicant’s character and general reputation; and other information bearing on the applicant’s character and fitness to practice law.
  • Payment of applicable fees.

Applicants will receive an expedited character and fitness investigation in order to facilitate the issuance of a temporary license.

Termination
The temporary license is valid for 15 months from the issuing date.

The Board may revoke the temporary license upon the following events:

  • Termination of employment.
  • Admission to practice law in Minnesota pursuant to Admission by Exam, Admission Without Exam, or Admission by Eligible Test Score.
  • The lapse of 15 months.
  • Failing the Minnesota bar exam.
  • Issuance of an adverse determination related to an applicant’s character and fitness.