Conn. Practice Book § 2-15A (2026)

Sec. 2-15A any state or municipal administrative tribunal, agency, or commission, and shall not be permitted to make appearances in any court of this state, unless the attorney is specially admitted to appear in a case before such tribunal, agency, commis- sion or court. (2) Disclosure. Authorized house counsel shall not represent themselves to be members of the Connecticut bar or commissioners of the Superior Court licensed to practice law in this state. Such counsel may represent themselves as Connecti- cut authorized house counsel. (3) Limitation on Representation. In no event shall the activities permitted hereunder include the individual or personal representation of any shareholder, owner, partner, officer, employee, servant, or agent in any matter or transaction or the giving of advice therefor unless otherwise per- mitted or authorized by law, code, or rule or as may be permitted by subsection (c) (1). Author- ized house counsel shall not be permitted to pre- pare legal instruments or documents on behalf of anyone other than the organization employing the authorized house counsel. (4) Limitation on Opinions to Third Parties. An authorized house counsel shall not express or render a legal judgment or opinion to be relied upon by any third person or party other than legal opinions rendered in connection with commercial, financial or other business transactions to which the authorized house counsel’s employer organi- zation is a party and in which the legal opinions have been requested from the authorized house counsel by another party to the transaction. Noth- ing in this subsection (c) (4) shall permit author- ized house counsel to render legal opinions or advice in consumer transactions to customers of the organization employing the authorized house counsel. (5) Pro Bono Legal Services. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, an author- ized house counsel may participate in the provi- sion of any and all legal services pro bono publico in Connecticut offered under the supervision of an organized legal aid society or state/local bar association project, or of a member of the Con- necticut bar who is also working on the pro bono representation. (d) Registration (1) Filing with the Bar Examining Committee. The bar examining committee shall investigate whether the applicant is at least eighteen years of age and is of good moral character, consistent with the requirement of Section 2-8 (3) regarding applicants for admission to the bar. In addition, the applicant shall file an application and payment 126 of such fee as the committee shall from time to time determine. (A) The application shall: (i) certify that the applicant has read and is familiar with the Connecticut Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys and Chapter 2 (Attorneys) of the Superior Court Rules, General Provisions, and will abide by the provisions thereof; (ii) certify that the applicant submits to the juris- diction of the Statewide Grievance Committee and the Superior Court for disciplinary purposes and authorizes notification to or from the entity govern- ing the practice of law of each state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia in which the applicant is licensed to practice law of any disciplinary action taken against the applicant; (iii) list any jurisdiction in which the applicant is now or ever has been licensed to practice law; and (iv) disclose any disciplinary sanction or pend- ing proceeding pertaining or relating to the appli- cant’s license to practice law, including but not limited to reprimand, censure, suspension or dis- barment, or whether the applicant has been placed on inactive status. (B) The applicant shall file with the bar examin- ing committee: (i) a certificate from each entity governing the practice of law of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or any foreign jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed to practice law certifying that the applicant is a mem- ber in good standing; (ii) a certificate from an organization certifying that it is qualified as set forth in subsection (b) (2); that it is aware that the applicant is not licensed to practice law in Connecticut; and that the appli- cant is employed or about to be employed in Con- necticut by the organization asset forth insubsection (b) (1) (D); and (iii) a recommendation from each of two mem- bers of the Connecticut bar, who have each been licensed to practice law in Connecticut for at least five years, certifying that the applicant is of good moral character and that the applicant is employed or will be employed by an organization as defined above in subsection (b) (2). (2) Certification. Upon recommendation of the bar examining committee, the applicant shall be certified as authorized house counsel in absentia. Upon the administration of the oath taken as authorized house counsel by an official duly quali- fied to administer oaths, the applicant who has taken the oath shall be certified as authorized house counsel in absentia. The applicant shall complete the oath and submit the original affidavit to the bar examining committee within 180 days from the date of certification. The committee shall

© Copyrighted by the Secretary of the State of the State of Connecticut SUPERIOR COURT—GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 2-16 cause notice of such certification to be published in the Connecticut Law Journal. (3) Annual Client Security Fund Fee. Individu- als certified pursuant to this section shall comply with the requirements of Sections 2-68 and 2-70 of this chapter, including payment of the annual fee and shall pay any other fees imposed on attor- neys by court rule. (4) Annual Registration. Individuals certified pursuant to this section shall register annually with the Statewide Grievance Committee in accord- ance with Sections 2-26 and 2-27 (d) of this chapter. (e) Termination or Withdrawal of Regis- tration (1) Cessation of Authorization To Perform Services. Authorization to perform services under this rule shall cease upon the earliest of the follow- ing events: (A) the termination or resignation of employ- ment with the organization for which registration has been filed, provided, however, that if the author- ized house counsel shall commence employment with another organization within thirty days of the termination or resignation, authorization to per- form services under this rule shall continue upon the filing with the bar examining committee of a certificate as set forth in subsection (d) (1) (B) (ii); (B) the withdrawal of registration by the author- ized house counsel; (C) the relocation of an authorized house coun- sel outside of Connecticut for a period greater than 180 consecutive days; or (D) the failure of authorized house counsel to comply with any applicable provision of this rule. Notice of one of the events set forth in subsec- tions (e) (1) (A) through (C) or a new certificate as provided in subsection (e) (1) (A) must be filed with the bar examining committee by the author- ized house counsel within thirty days after such action. Failure to provide such notice by the author- ized house counsel shall be a basis for discipline pursuant to the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. (2) Notice of Withdrawal of Authorization. Upon receipt of the notice required by subsection (e) (1), the bar examining committee shall forward a request to the statewide bar counsel that the authorization under this chapter be revoked. Notice of the revocation shall be mailed by the statewide bar counsel to the authorized house counsel and the organization employing the authorized house counsel. (3) Reapplication. Nothing herein shall prevent an individual previously authorized as house counsel to reapply for authorization as set forth in subsection (d). (f) Discipline 127 (1) Termination of Authorization by Court. In addition to any appropriate proceedings and discipline that may be imposed by the Statewide Grievance Committee, the Superior Court may, at any time, with cause, terminate an authorized house counsel’s registration, temporarily or per- manently. (2) Notification to Other States. The statewide bar counsel shall be authorized to notify each entity governing the practice of law in the state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, in which the authorized house counsel is licensed to practice law, of any disciplinary action against the authorized house counsel. (g) Transition (1) Preapplication Employment in Connecti- cut. The performance of an applicant’s duties as an employee of an organization in Connecticut prior to the effective date of this rule shall not be grounds for the denial of registration of such applicant if application for registration is made within six months of the effective date of this rule. (2) Immunity from Enforcement Action. An authorized house counsel who has been duly reg- istered under this rule shall not be subject to enforcement action for the unlicensed practice of law for acting as counsel to an organization prior to the effective date of this rule. (Adopted June 29, 2007, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008; amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009; amended June 22, 2009, to take effect Jan. 1, 2010; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013; amended June 26, 2020, to take effect Jan. 1, 2021; amended June 10, 2022, to take effect Jan. 1, 2023; amended June 9, 2023, to take effect Jan. 1, 2024; amended June 12, 2025, to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.) HISTORY—2026: In subdivision (e) (1) (A), ‘‘(C)’’ after ‘‘(1)’’ was deleted and replaced with ‘‘(B) (ii).’’ COMMENTARY—2026: The change to this section cor- rects a citation to a reference in the rule. Sec. 2-16. —Attorney Appearing Pro Hac Vice An attorney who is in good standing at the bar of another state, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, may, upon special and infrequent occasion and for good cause shown upon written application on one of the fol- lowing forms prescribed by the chief court admin- istrator, form JD-CL-141, Application for Permission for Attorney to Appear Pro Hac Vice in a Court Case, or, form JD-CL-142, Application for Permis- sion for Attorney to Appear Pro Hac Vice before a Municipal or State Agency, Commission, Board or Tribunal, presented by a member of the bar of this state, be permitted in the discretion of the court to participate to such extent as the court may prescribe in the presentation of a cause or appeal in any state court or a proceeding before any municipal or state agency, commission, board

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