You are here

Attorney Admissions

Registering for Attorney Admission and E-File Registration in PACER

  1. If you do not have a PACER account, create a PACER account at: https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
    Note: Use office address, phone number and email when registering, as the information provided will appear on docket sheets when you make an appearance in a case.
  2. Complete one of the following forms:
    • Motion for Admission by Sponsoring Attorney
      Note: The Sponsoring Attorney noted on the form is required to appear at the admission ceremony and make an oral motion.
    • Statement of Eligibility to Participate in Group Attorney Admission Ceremony
      Note: This form is used by attorneys who are scheduled to participate in an upcoming admission ceremony at the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. The Sponsoring Attorney noted on the form is required to appear at the admission ceremony and make an oral motion. If you do not have a Sponsoring Attorney and wish to have the SDWV court attorney make the motion, insert "Court Attorney" as the Sponsoring Attorney.
  3. Register for Attorney Admission Ceremony using these instructions.

Fee For Admission to Practice

The fee for permanent attorney admission to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia is $199.00. See LR Civ P 83.1 and LR Cr P 44.1.

Local Rules for Attorney Admissions and Visiting Attorney Admissions

Fee For Admission to Practice as Visiting Attorney

The fee for a visiting attorney to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia is $50.00 per appearance. The attorney shall be permitted to appear as a Visiting Attorney in a particular case in association with a Sponsoring Attorney and the Sponsoring Atorney shall file the Statement of Visiting Attorney form available on this Court’s website. See LR Civ P 83.6 and LR Cr P 44.6. [Note: A motion to appear pro hac vice is no longer necessary.]

In addition to the district court visiting attorney fee, the visiting attorney is also responsible for the payment of the West Virginia State Bar pro hac vice fee imposed by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. This fee is payable to the West Virginia State Bar and is not payable to the Clerk of the District Court. The fee must be paid to the West Virginia State Bar prior to the filing of the Statement of Visiting Attorney form with our Court.

The address and contact information for the West Virginia State Bar is:
2000 Deitrick Boulevard
Charleston, WV 25311
Phone: 304/553-7220
http://www.wvbar.org