(a) General Rule. The following are members of the bar of the courts of this
Commonwealth and may practice law generally within this Commonwealth:
(1) Persons admitted to the bar pursuant to these rules.
(2) Persons heretofore admitted to practice before any court of record of this
Commonwealth pursuant to former Supreme Court Rules 8 or 9 or corresponding
provisions of prior law and registered under Enforcement Rule 219 (relating to
periodic assessment of attorneys).
(b) Resignation. An attorney who is not the subject of any investigation into
allegations of misconduct may voluntarily cease to be a member of the bar of
this Commonwealth by delivering to the Administrative Office a written
resignation from the office of attorney at law.
(c) Changes in Status Under Enforcement Rules. An attorney admitted to the bar
or issued a limited license to practice law as an in-house corporate counsel,
military attorney, or foreign legal consultant:
(1) may be disbarred, suspended or transferred to inactive status and may be
readmitted or otherwise reinstated pursuant to the Enforcement Rules;
(2) may have such admission to the bar or limited license to practice law
revoked or another appropriate sanction imposed pursuant to the Enforcement
Rules when the attorney made a material misrepresentation of fact or
deliberately failed to disclose a material fact in connection with an
application submitted under these rules that is not discovered prior to the
attorney being admitted to the bar or issued a limited license to practice law.
(d) Certification of Good Standing. Upon written request and the payment of a
fee of $25.00 the Prothonotary shall issue a certificate of good standing to any
member of the bar of this Commonwealth or limited licensed attorney entitled
thereto. The certificate shall be one appropriate for admission to the bar of
the federal courts and other state courts. A certificate of good standing shall
not be issued to a member of the bar of this Commonwealth or limited licensed
attorney who currently is the subject of:
(1) a formal disciplinary proceeding pursuant to Enforcement Rule 208(b)
(relating to formal hearing) that has resulted in a recommendation by a hearing
committee or by the Disciplinary Board for public discipline,
(2) a petition for emergency interim suspension pursuant to Enforcement Rule
208(f) (relating to emergency interim suspension orders and related relief), or
(3) a petition for transfer to inactive status pursuant to Enforcement Rule 301
(relating to proceedings where an attorney is declared to be incompetent or is
alleged to be incapacitated).
Note: If a person’s admission to practice law or limited license to practice law
as an in-house corporate counsel or foreign legal consultant is revoked for a
material misrepresentation or omission, the person will be required to reapply
de novo. Any such persons who are seeking admission to practice law must meet
all of the requirements for admission to the bar, including the taking and
passing of the current bar examination if more than three years have passed
since the prior certificate recommending the person’s admission to the bar was
issued by the Board. At the time of reapplication, the Board will make a
determination as to the applicant’s character and fitness to practice law,
taking into account all of the existing character issues, including the prior
misrepresentation or omission.
