Rule 1. General Requirements for Admission

A. No person may be admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in this state unless the person:

1. is at least eighteen (18) years of age;

2. is of good moral character and fit to practice law;

3. has designated the Clerk of the Supreme Court as the applicant's agent for service ofprocess for all purposes;

4. has received a juris doctor or equivalent degree from a law school approved or provisionally approved for accreditation by the American Bar Association;

5. has complied with either Rule 6 or Rule 7;

6. has taken the oath and pledge required by Section 27-11-20, North Dakota Century Code; and

7. has paid all required fees.

B. Duty to Cooperate. An applicant has the duty to cooperate with the State Board of Law Examiners (Board) by timely complying with requests, including requests to:

1. provide complete information, documents and signed authorizations for release of information;

2. obtain reports or other information necessary for the Board to properly evaluate the applicant's character and fitness to practice law; and

3. appear for interview to determine eligibility for admission or facilitate the background investigation.

An applicant shall not discourage a person from providing information to the Board or retaliate against a person for providing information to the Board.

An applicant who violates this rule may be denied an opportunity to test or may be denied admission.

C. Continuing Obligation.

1. An applicant has a continuing obligation to update the application with respect to all matters inquired of on the application. This obligation continues during the pendency of the application, including the period when the matter is on review to the Board or the Supreme Court.

2. Whenever a lawyer admitted to practice in this state moves from the address listed in the Board of Law Examiners records or when the name of a lawyer is changed by marriage or otherwise, that lawyer shall within ten days thereafter notify the Board or the Clerk of the Supreme Court, in writing, of that person's old and new addresses or of such former and new names held by that lawyer.

3. A lawyer admitted to practice in this state has a continuing obligation to provide a current e-mail address for the purpose of receiving electronic service under N.D.R.Ct. 3.5, except, any justice, judge or referee may request that their e-mail address not be published in the Lawyers Directory on the N.D. Supreme Court website by contacting the Board of Law Examiners.

[Amended effective August 1, 2001; March 1, 2009; April 1, 2013;April 15, 2013; April 1, 2021.]