We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does "Pro Hac Vice" Mean?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 19,162
Share

The Latin term “pro hac vice” literally means “for this turn.” It is used in a court of law to refer to a situation in which a lawyer is allowed to practice in a specific case despite not being licensed by the regional bar. Most commonly, this situation happens when a lawyer from a different state requests permission to practice pro hac vice because he or she is offering expertise to a case.

When a lawyer wishes to practice pro hac vice, a formal “motion to appear pro hac vice” must be filed with the court, usually by a sponsoring lawyer who has been admitted to the bar in the state or region where the court is located. The application may need to include a statement from the lawyer's local bar, stating that he or she is a member in good standing, and a filing fee may need to be paid for the court to consider the motion.

Filing a motion to appear pro hac vice does not guarantee that the motion will be granted. The court reserves the right to reject such applications, for a wide variety of reasons. Most classically, a lawyer appears pro hac vice either because he or she has just moved to a new state, and plans to apply to the bar but wishes to start practice immediately, or because an out of state lawyer has been retained for his or her skills in a particular type of case.

When lawyers move to new states, they usually try to apply to the local bar as soon as possible, often before they move, to minimize the interruption to their legal practices. Some states also offer bar reciprocity, which means that lawyers from one state can practice in another, or take a shortened version of the bar exam to be admitted to a participating state's bar. It is also possible to take multistate bar exams, which will allow the lawyer to practice law in several states if the exam and background checks are passed.

Commonly, lawyers who appear pro hac vice appear side-by-side with local counsel. The local lawyers are generally more versed in the regional law, and they may be accustomed to working with the judge and courtroom staff. They can ensure that the case runs reasonably smoothly, and that the visiting lawyer does not make any errors which could lead to problems with the trial or verdict.

Share
MyLawQuestions is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a MyLawQuestions researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By aLFredo — On Sep 26, 2011

Pro hac vice seems to be a good exception to the rule of a lawyer being required to pass another bar exam before being able to do their job in a new state.

It makes sense for a lawyer who is thinking of possibly moving around some to take the multistate bar exam in order that he/she would not have to continue to try to get pro hac vice. Also, they would not have to do so many different bar exams this way.

What are the reasons that lawyers get denied for this motion? When are lawyers needed in out-of-state cases? I mean, do they really not have a lawyer in the whole state that qualifies for some cases?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.mylawquestions.com/what-does-pro-hac-vice-mean.htm
Copy this link
MyLawQuestions, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

MyLawQuestions, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.