Limited Admission for Military Spouse Attorneys under Rule 430, SCACR
The purpose of this rule is to allow military spouse attorneys to obtain a limited certificate to practice law to represent clients before a court or administrative tribunal in South Carolina.
Electronic Communications
All information and announcements are posted on the Office of Bar Admissions' webpage at scbaradmissions.sccourts.org. Applicants are expected to regularly visit this webpage to review the announcements and information posted there. Applicants are also required to maintain a current email address and mailing address on their personal bar application account and to
regularly read all mail from the Office of Bar Admissions, whether sent electronically or by the postal service. Applicants must ensure that emails from the Office of Bar Admissions are not filtered as spam and should add noreply@scbaradmissions.sccourts.org to their email address book.
Application for a Limited Certificate of Admission for Military Spouse Attorneys
An attorney desiring a limited certificate of admission to practice law shall file an application with the South Carolina Supreme Court Office of Bar Admissions accompanied by a certificate of good standing from each jurisdiction in which the attorney has been admitted to practice law. Applicant will also need to upload a copy of their United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card evidencing marriage to the active duty service member and a copy of the active duty service member orders.
General Requirements for a Limited Certificate of Admission for Military Spouse Attorneys
A limited certificate of admission to practice law in South Carolina will not be granted unless the applicant meets the following requirements.
- Is at least twenty-one years of age;
- Is of good moral character;
- Has received a JD or LLB degree from a law school which was approved by the Council of Legal Education of the American Bar Association at the time the degree was conferred;
- Has been admitted to practice law in the highest court of another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States;
- Is a member in good standing in each jurisdiction where they are admitted to practice law;
- Has not been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law and is not the subject of any pending disciplinary proceeding in any other jurisdiction;
- Is the dependent spouse of an active duty service member of the United States Uniformed Services as defined by the Department of Defense and the service member is on Permanent Change of Station orders stationed in South Carolina;
- Has never failed the South Carolina Bar Examination;
- Is physically residing in South Carolina;
- Has completed the Course of Study on South Carolina Law specified by Rule 402(c) of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules; and
- Has completed or has registered for and will attend within the first year of practice an Essential Series Course administered by the South Carolina Bar.
