73-3-207 - Authorization to practice law; conditions; compensation.
§ 73-3-207. Authorization to practice law; conditions; compensation.
A law student enrolled in a legal internship program or a clinical legal education course is authorized to engage in limited practice in the courts of this state with the following conditions and limitations:
(a) The law student will petition the court and take the oath, as prescribed in this article, and be admitted to limited practice by an order of a judge of a circuit or chancery court, as prescribed in this article, in the district in which the student will practice.
(b) Upon filing the oath and order in the office of the clerk of that court, the law student will be authorized to engage in limited practice in any court in the state subject to any controls and limitations ordered by the judge of the court.
(c) The authority for limited practice by a law student will continue during any regular school terms in which the law student is enrolled in a legal internship or clinical legal education course, including the intersessions between terms. The authority may be revoked by the court granting it for good cause.
(d) A law student may not directly represent clients but may only assist the supervising attorney or clinical teacher in representing their clients. All pleadings and entries of record in courts must be signed by the supervising attorney or clinical teacher.
(e) Law students may appear and participate in trials and hearings in courts if the supervising attorney or clinical teacher is present and supervising the student.
(f) Law students assigned as interns to prosecuting attorneys may assist the supervising attorney before grand juries subject to the same prohibitions and penalties as to disclosure and secrecy as are members of the grand jury.
(g) Law students will be subject to the same standards and rules of professional conduct and ethics and the same rules of discipline as are licensed attorneys.
(h) Law students shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed actual expenses if funds are available for that purpose.
Sources: Codes, 1942, § 8684-04; Laws, 1971, ch. 466, § 4; Laws, 1972, ch. 415, § 1; Laws, 1974, ch. 327; Laws, 1996, ch. 532, § 4, eff from and after July 1, 1996.