Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions

(a) Scope. This rule applies to an attorney who is not a member of the Bar of this Commonwealth but who, after having completed the study of law in a law school approved by the American Bar Association or by the Association of American Law Schools and having been admitted to practice in the highest court of another state, is an employee of an organized public defender program or an organized legal services program in this Commonwealth providing legal assistance to indigent persons.

(b) General rule. An attorney to which this rule applies shall be admitted to practice before the courts of this Commonwealth in all matters in which the attorney is associated with an organized public defender program or an organized legal services program which program is sponsored, approved or recognized by the Kentucky Bar Association. Admission to practice under this rule shall be limited to the matters specified in the preceding sentence. Motions for restricted admission to practice under this rule shall be made by filing one copy thereof with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The motion shall be in writing on a form prescribed by the Supreme Court and shall include or be accompanied by:

(1) A certificate of the highest court or agency of any other state having                jurisdiction over admission to the bar and practice of law stating that the
applicant is in good standing at the bar of such court or in such state.

 (2) A statement signed by a representative of an organized public defender
 program or an organized legal services program showing compliance with            paragraph (a) of this rule.  Any such statement shall also contain and undertaking by the program to notify the Clerk of the Supreme Court immediately whenever the attorney ceases to be an employee of such programs.


(3)  Such other affidavits or materials as shall be deemed necessary by the           Character and Fitness Committee in order to satisfy the Committee of the            applicant’s moral character and fitness to practice before the courts of this            Commonwealth.

 (4) Payment of a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) made payable to the Clerk of the Supreme Court (cashier's or certified check or money order).

(c) Subscription and Action.  The motion for admission shall be subscribed by a member of the bar of this Commonwealth  in good standing.  If the motion and related documents are in proper order the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall enter the name of the applicant upon the docket of persons specially admitted to the bar of this Commonwealth subject to the restrictions of this rule and shall issue an appropriate certificate is evidence thereof. 

(d) Expiration of Admission.  When an attorney admitted under this rule     ceases to be associated in a program as set forth in the motion previously filed, a written statement to that effect shall be filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court by a representative of the public defender program or legal services program.  Admission to practice under this rule shall expire after eighteen months, or when the attorney ceases to be an employee of the program, whichever shall first occur.

(e) Rules Governing the Practice of Law.  Except for Rules 2.110 and 3.030(2), the Rules governing the practice of law shall be applicable to an attorney admitted under this Rule. 


[Adopted effective June 1, 1979; amended effective February 24, 1986; October 1,
1994; March 3, 1998; Amended effective February 1, 2000]

   Last modified: January 12, 2009