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What does corporate status registration
mean?
An attorney registered for corporate status may perform legal services
in Ohio solely for a nongovernmental Ohio employer as long as the attorney is
a full-time employee of the nongovernmental Ohio employer. A corporate attorney
may not practice before any court or agency in Ohio on behalf of his or her employer
or any person except himself or herself, unless granted leave of the court or
agency.
Who qualifies for corporate registration?
An attorney who is admitted to the practice of law in another state or in
the District of Columbia, but not in Ohio, and who is employed full-time by
a nongovernmental Ohio employer may register for corporate status by completing
a Certificate of Registration
and a Corporate Questionnaire
and paying the applicable registration fee. Corporate registration is effective
and may be renewed biennially only as long as the attorney is employed full-time
by a nongovernmental Ohio employer.
Who does not qualify for corporate
registration?
An attorney admitted to the practice of law in Ohio is not
eligible for corporate status registration. Furthermore, corporate registration
does not apply to an attorney admitted to the practice of law in another state
or in the District of Columbia, but not in Ohio, who is employed by, associated
with, or a partner in an Ohio law firm. Until such attorney is admitted to the
practice of law in Ohio, the attorney shall not practice law in Ohio, hold himself
or herself out as authorized to practice law in Ohio, or practice before any nonfederal
court or agency in Ohio on behalf of any person, except himself or herself, unless
granted leave of the court or agency. The law firm may include the name of the
attorney on the letterhead only if the letterhead includes a designation that
the attorney is not admitted in Ohio.
Are corporate status attorneys
required to comply with continuing legal education requirements?
Yes.
Please contact the Commission on Continuing Legal
Education for additional information.
What if I fail to register
for corporate status?
If you are admitted to the practice of law in another
state or in the District of Columbia, but not in Ohio, and you perform legal services
in Ohio for your employer and you fail to register for corporate status or you
do not qualify for such registration, you may be referred for investigation of
the unauthorized practice of law and you are precluded from applying for admission
without examination.
How do I notify the Office of Attorney Services when I am no longer eligible for
corporation registration?
An attorney registered for corporate status
shall promptly notify the Office of Attorney Services in writing upon termination of full-time employment with the Ohio employer.
How do I apply for corporate registration?
An attorney wishing to apply for corporate status registration must complete
a Certificate of Registration
and a Corporate Questionnaire
and submit both forms, along with the applicable registration fee, to:
Office of Attorney Services
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, Ohio, 43215-3431
Where can I obtain additional information
about corporate registration?
Please refer to Gov.
Bar R. VI, Sec. 3, or contact the Office of Attorney Services by telephone
(614.387.9320) or e-mail.
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