Law Students

Every state provides special practice rules for law students. The special or temporary licenses generally allow law students to practice law on a limited basis under a supervising attorney. When implementing student practice rules, states often cite a policy of responsibility for providing competent legal services, providing supervised practical legal training, assisting clients unable to pay for legal services, preventing unnecessary disruption between graduation and the announcement of the bar exam results, and encouraging law schools to provide clinical instruction to law students.

Issues for law students include the types of practice eligible for participation, the minimum amount of credits required prior to practice, and the nature of the supervision. In addition, states may provide separate rules for law students in clinic programs, those participating in internships, and law school graduates.

Every jurisdiction provides special admission rules relating to law student practice.

States with Law Student Rules