Attorneys admitted in other U.S. jurisdictions may be eligible to practice law in California under limited circumstances through one of several State Bar special admissions programs.
Attorneys licensed in other states may practice in California to a limited extent as in-house attorneys or as legal services attorneys in accordance with the Supreme Court and State Bar rules.
Find out more about the Multijurisdictional Practice program.
An attorney who doesn’t live, work, or conduct regular business in California can petition the court to represent their client under a title called “Pro Hac Vice.”
Attorneys licensed in another state must formally request permission from the court before which they wish to appear on behalf of a client for a particular case.
Find out more about Pro Hac Vice.
An attorney who wants to provide legal help as arbitration counsel in California, but who is not admitted to the State Bar of California, may apply to the Out-of-State Attorney Arbitration Counsel program. Attorneys must be in good standing and eligible to practice before another U.S bar.
Find out more about applying to the program.
A registered foreign legal consultant is an attorney or counselor at law (or equivalent) licensed in another country who has received special certification from the State Bar of California to provide legal advice in California exclusively regarding the law where they are licensed to practice law.
See the application and rules to become a registered foreign legal consultant.
The State Bar's Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program certifies law students to provide legal services under the supervision of an attorney. Find out how to apply.
Under this program, eligible 2020 law school graduates will practice law as provisionally licensed lawyers under the supervision of fully licensed lawyers who meet the requirements of the rule and who agree to assume professional responsibility over the work of the provisionally licensed lawyers.