District of Puerto Rico (D.P.R.)
Common questions
Who can be admitted to the bar of the District of Puerto Rico (D.P.R.)?
Good standing before highest court of a state, DC, PR, or specified territories; must pass Federal Bar Exam. Rule: Local Civil Rule 83A.
What is the admission fee for the District of Puerto Rico (D.P.R.)?
$300 petition for admission.
Does the District of Puerto Rico (D.P.R.) allow pro hac vice admission, and what does it cost?
Pro hac vice available: yes. Local counsel: Must designate member of bar of this court as local counsel; remain associated; both sign filings; local counsel attendance required unless excused. Fee: $300 per appearance.
General admission
- Who qualifies
- Good standing before highest court of a state, DC, PR, or specified territories; must pass Federal Bar Exam
- Rule
- Local Civil Rule 83A
- Sponsor
- Sworn written petition with three personal references, two of which must be by members in good standing of the bar of this court
- Exam or course
- Federal Bar Exam twice yearly (Spring/Fall; next Oct. 24, 2026); includes English essay; exam fee $100 credited to admission
- Good standing cert.
- Original certificate of good standing, not more than 6 months old
- Oath
- Must take and subscribe oath before court; sign roll; assigned bar number; clerk issues certificate of admission
- Swearing-in
- before this court
- Certificate age
- three (3) months
- Fee
- $300 petition for admission
2 not found in the pulled documents
- Fee payment
- Not in the pulled documents
- Apply
- Not in the pulled documents
Pro hac vice
- Available
- yes
- Who qualifies
- Attorney who does not reside in Puerto Rico and is authorized to practice before any US court or highest court of state, DC, PR, Guam, NMI or Virgin Islands, for a particular case or proceeding
- Local counsel
- Must designate member of bar of this court as local counsel; remain associated; both sign filings; local counsel attendance required unless excused
- Residency limits
- Only attorneys who do not reside in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may apply
- Fee
- $300 per appearance
- Fee covers
- per appearance
- Form
- prd.uscourts.gov
4 not found in the pulled documents
- Rule
- Not in the pulled documents
- Limits
- Not in the pulled documents
- Certifications
- Not in the pulled documents
- E-filing
- Not in the pulled documents
Ongoing and other
- Renewal
- Annual, $75, due Oct. 1
- CLE or course
- CLE program offered (6 hrs, Mar. 27, 2026, free to eligible members); mandatory requirement not found
- Bankruptcy court
- require district court admission
- Pending changes
- Adopted Oct. 17, 2025, effective immediately: Local Civil Rule 83A(a)(2) now counts one year of service as a bankruptcy judge, special assistant U.S. attorney, or federal public defender research and writing specialist toward admission.
- Rules dated
- 12.14.2023
Language from the source documents
19 quoted passages
Who qualifies
Any attorney who is of good personal and professional character, and who is an active member in good standing of, and eligible to practice before, the bar of the highest court of a stateprd.uscourts.gov
Sponsor
three (3) personal references, of which two (2) must be by members in good standing of the bar of this court.prd.uscourts.gov
Exam or course
(1) Has received a satisfactory score on the bar examination as determined by the District Bar Examination Committee; or,prd.uscourts.gov
Good standing certificate
certificate of admission and good standing from the clerks of all courts to which applicant is admitted to practiceprd.uscourts.gov
Oath
Upon admission to the bar of this court and payment of the applicable admissions fee, the clerk shall issue a certificate of admission after the applicant has taken and subscribed the following oath or affirmation before this court:prd.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice available
(f) Pro Hac Vice. An attorney who does not reside in the Commonwealth of Puerto Ricoprd.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice: who qualifies
An attorney who does not reside in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and who is authorized to practice law before the bar of any United States court or of the highest court of any stateprd.uscourts.gov
Pending changes
the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico is publishing amendment s to L ocal Civil Rule 83A(a)(2) (Eligibility for Admission) for public comment.prd.uscourts.gov
Certificate age limit
The date of issuance of the documents must not exceed three (3) months from the date of the Petition.prd.uscourts.gov
Swearing-in
after the applicant has taken and subscribed the following oath or affirmation before this court:prd.uscourts.gov
Pro hac vice form
https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/forms/us-district-court-application-admission-pro-hac-viceprd.uscourts.gov
Bankruptcy court admission
provided that in promul gating the rules governing the admission or eligibility to practice in the bankruptcy court, the bankruptcy judges shall require district court admission, except for pro se appearances or for appearances pursuant to the student practice rule of this court.prd.uscourts.gov