Utah Courts
SCRP Rule 4-719 (Supreme Court Rules of Professional Practice)
SCRP Rule 4-719 (Supreme Court Rules of Professional Practice)
Rule 4-719. Qualifications for admission of House Counsel Applicants.
(a) Scope of practice. An attorney admitted to the Bar as House Counsel will limit the attorney’s practice of law including legal representation to the business of the attorney’s employer. However, House Counsel can provide pro bono legal services under the auspices of an approved sponsoring entity consistent with Rule 14-803 of the Utah Rules of Lawyer Discipline and Disability. House Counsel may not:
(1) Appear before a court of record or not of record as an attorney or counselor in the State of Utah except as otherwise authorized by law or rule; or
(2) Offer legal services or advice to the public or represent that the attorney so engaged or authorized. An attorney granted a House Counsel license is not prevented from appearing in any matter pro se, performing pro bono services under Rule 14-803, or from fulfilling the duties of a member of the active or reserve components of the armed forces or the National Guard.
(b) Requirements of House Counsel Applicants. To be recommended for admission to the Bar as House Counsel, an attorney must establish by clear and convincing evidence that the attorney:
(1) has filed a Complete Application for admission and paid the prescribed application fee;
(2) is at least 21 years old;
(3) graduated with a First Professional Degree in law from an Approved Law School, or from an Unapproved Law School located within a U.S. state, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia;
(4) is licensed to practice law and in active status in a U.S. state, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia;
(5) is employed and practices law exclusively as house counsel for a non-governmental corporation, its subsidiaries or affiliates, an association, a business, or other legal entity whose lawful business consists of activities other than the practice of law or the provision of legal services;
(6) is either (A) a bona fide resident of the State of Utah or (B) house counsel for an employer located in Utah;
(7) has provided an affidavit signed by both the Applicant and the employer that the Applicant is employed exclusively as house counsel and that Applicant has disclosed to the employer the limitations on House Counsel’s license of practicing under this rule;
(8) is of good moral character and satisfies the requirements of Rule 14-708;
(9) has presented satisfactory proof both of admission to the practice of law and that the attorney is licensed in good standing in all jurisdictions where currently admitted;
(10) has a proven record of ethical, civil and professional behavior and has never been delicensed or resigned with discipline pending, or their equivalent, in any jurisdiction, and is not currently subject to lawyer discipline or the subject of a pending disciplinary matter;
(11) has received a passing MPRE score; and
(12) has complied with the oath and enrollment provisions of Rule 14-716 and paid the licensing fees required for active status.
(c) Timing of application and admission. An application under this rule may be filed at any time but the Applicant must be able to demonstrate that the Applicant satisfies the requirements of this rule as of the date the application is filed.
(1) The processing of the application and the character and fitness investigation require a minimum of four months to complete.
(2) Upon approval the Applicant must comply with the provisions of Rule 14-716 concerning licensing and enrollment fees.
(3) An attorney licensed as House Counsel must pay annual license fees which are equal to the fees required to be paid by a licensee of the Bar on Active status.
(d) Unauthorized practice of law.
(1) It is the unauthorized practice of law for an attorney not licensed in Utah to practice law in the state except as otherwise provided by law.
(2) An attorney who complies with the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) may provide services to an employer in Utah while the application is pending as long as the application is filed within six months of the out-of-state attorney accepting a house counsel position.
(3) An attorney who provides legal advice to the attorney’s employer but is not an active licensee of the Bar or licensed as House Counsel pursuant to this rule may be referred for investigation for the unauthorized practice of law.
(e) Continuing legal education requirement. House Counsel must pay the designated filing fee and file with the MCLE Board by July 31 of each year a Certificate of Compliance from the jurisdiction where House Counsel maintains an active license establishing that House Counsel has completed the hours of continuing legal education required of active attorneys in the jurisdiction where House Counsel is licensed.
(f) Subject to disciplinary proceedings. An attorney licensed as House Counsel will be subject to professional discipline in the same manner and to the same extent as Bar licensees, is subject to discipline by the Supreme Court as delegated by rule, and is otherwise governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Rules of Discipline, Disability, and Sanctions, other applicable rules adopted by the Supreme Court, and all applicable statutory provisions.
(g) Notification of change in standing.
(1) House Counsel must execute and file with the Licensing Office a written notice of any change in House Counsel’s membership status, good standing or authorization to practice law in any jurisdiction where licensed.
(2) House Counsel must execute and file with the OPC a written notice of the commencement of any formal disciplinary proceedings and of any final disciplinary actions taken in any other jurisdiction.
(h) No solicitation. House Counsel is not authorized by anything in this rule to hold out to the public or otherwise solicit, advertise, or represent that House Counsel is available to assist in representing the public in legal matters in Utah.
(i) Cessation of activity as House Counsel. A House Counsel license terminates, and House Counsel will immediately cease performing all services under this rule and will cease representing that the attorney is acting as House Counsel upon:
(1) termination of employment with the qualified employer as provided in paragraph (b)(6);
(2) termination of residence, or the maintenance of an office in the State of Utah as provided in paragraph (b)(5);
(3) failure to maintain active status in a U.S. state or U.S. territory or the District of Columbia, or to satisfy the Bar’s annual licensing requirements, including compliance with mandatory continuing legal education requirements as provided for in this rule; or
(4) completion of any disciplinary proceeding in Utah or any other jurisdiction, which warrants suspension or termination of the House Counsel license.
Lack of notice to House Counsel from the Bar of the cessation of the House Counsel license is not a defense for continuing to practice as House Counsel after an event listed in paragraphs (i)(1) to (i)(4).
(j) Reinstatement after temporary lapse in license. An attorney whose House Counsel license is terminated pursuant to paragraph (i)(1), (i)(2), or (i)(3) will be reinstated to practice law as a House Counsel if within six months from the termination the attorney is able to demonstrate to the Bar that the attorney:
(1) has transferred to inactive status in accordance with paragraph (k); or
(2) has secured employment with a qualified employer and has provided the required verification of employment pursuant to paragraph (b)(7);
(3) has established a residence or maintains an office for the practice of law as House Counsel for the employer within the State of Utah; and
(4) has active status in a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia and has complied with the Bar’s annual licensing and MCLE requirements for House Counsel.
(k) Inactive status. House Counsel who is not currently practicing may transfer to inactive status under Rule 14-203(a)(4). Doing so will prevent the lapse of the license as long as the inactive status is maintained.
(1) Inactive House Counsel may return to active status upon demonstration of compliance with requirements (j)(2) through (j)(4) and payment of the necessary fees in accordance with Rule 14-203(b).
(l) Notice of change of employment. House Counsel must notify, in writing, the Licensing Office of the termination of the employment pursuant to which the House Counsel license was issued.
(m) Full admission to the Utah State Bar. A House Counsel license will be terminated automatically once the attorney has been otherwise admitted to the practice of law in Utah as an active licensee of the Bar. Any person who has been issued a House Counsel license may qualify for full licensure by establishing by clear and convincing evidence that the attorney:
(1) has applied as an Attorney Applicant or Motion Applicant by filing a Complete Application; any application must be filed in accordance with the filing deadlines set forth in Rule 14-707(b);
(2) has successfully passed the Bar Examination under Rule 14-704, has transferred a passing UBE score under Rule 14-712, or qualifies for admission under Rule 14-705; and
(3) has complied with the provisions of Rule 14-716 concerning licensing and enrollment fees.
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