Attorney Licenses
Legal Licensing in Raleigh, NC
Lawyers in the Tar Heel State need to be licensed by the North Carolina State Bar. Attorneys are also expected to abide by the Bar's Rules of Professional Conduct, and ethical violations may result in lawyers being disbarred or suspended by the Disciplinary Hearing Commission (DHC).
First-time applications and disciplinary hearings can be enormously stressful and complicated matters for attorneys of all ages and every experience level. It is critical to make sure that all procedures are properly followed and cases are best presented in order to achieve the most favorable possible outcomes.
Raleigh Attorney License Lawyer
Do you need help obtaining or retaining your license to practice law in North Carolina? Clifford Law Group provides legal assistance for professionals who are seeking or attempting to protect their law licenses.
Our Wake County lawyer license attorneys help clients throughout Raleigh and such surrounding communities as Cary, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Carrboro, Durham, and Apex. We will give you a complete evaluation of your case as soon as you call (919) 441-1799 to schedule a confidential consultation.
Attorney License Requirements in North Carolina
An aspiring lawyer needs to graduate from an accredited law school and receive his or her Juris Doctor before applying to take the bar exam. Applications for admission to take the North Carolina Bar Examination require applicants to supply information relating to his or her background, including family history, past and current residences, education, and involvement in disciplinary, civil or criminal proceedings.
Applicants also need to submit the following as part of their applications:
- Four Certificates of Moral Character
- A recent photograph
- Two sets of clear fingerprints
- Two executed informational Authorization and Release forms
- A birth certificate
- Transcripts from the applicant's undergraduate schools
- A copy of all applications to take a bar examination or an attorney's examination or for admission to the practice of law that the applicant has filed with any state, territory, or the District of Columbia
- A certificate from the proper court or agency of every state in which the applicant is or has been licensed, that the applicant is in good standing and not under pending charge of misconduct
- Copies of any legal proceedings in which the applicant has been a party
The applicant will also need to pay a fee when filing his or her application. If he or she passes the bar exam, then he or she will officially become a licensed lawyer in North Carolina.
Aggressive Representation
Compassionate Counsel
If you are facing a complex legal matter, it is vital that you retain the immediate representation of Clifford Law Group. The right attorney may make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Make the smart choice – enlist the supportive assistance of our Raleigh natives today.
Licensed Attorney Misconduct in Raleigh
The Rules of Professional Conduct of the North Carolina State Bar are established in Chapter 2 of the State of North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC). Rule 8.4 also lists seven examples of professional misconduct for lawyers.
These include:
- Violating or attempting to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assisting or inducing another to do so, or doing so through the acts of another
- Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects
- Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
- Engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice
- Stating or implying an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official
- Knowingly assisting a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct or other law
- Intentionally prejudicing or damaging his or her client during the course of the professional relationship
Effects of Disciplinary Procedure on Wake County Attorney License
When a lawyer allegedly violates the Rules of Professional Conduct, his or her case will be investigated by the State Bar. The agency receives scores or reports every year from multiple sources that accuse attorneys of misconduct.
The first part of any disciplinary process begins in private:
- The State Bar learns of alleged misconduct
- The State Bar opens an official grievance file
- The matter is investigated by the Office of Counsel, the legal department of the State Bar
- The case is presented to the Grievance Committee of the State Bar for probable cause determination
If there is no finding of probable cause, then the grievance is dismissed and the case is closed. However, a finding of probable cause may lead to one of two possibilities: a complaint is filed with the Disciplinary Hearing Commission (DHC) or, in less serious cases, consensual discipline is offered to the alleged offender.
At this point, the cases become public record. If the consensual discipline is accepted, then the case is closed. However, if it is rejected, then that will also lead to a complaint being filed with the DHC.
The case then moves to a trial before the DHC. The case is dismissed if no violation is found, but a sanction will be imposed if there is a violation. These sanctions may include suspensions or disbarment. An attorney facing any sanction can appeal the DHC decision to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Find an Attorney License Lawyer in Raleigh
If you are an aspiring or practicing attorney in North Carolina who either needs help obtaining a license to practice law or keeping one, it is in your best interest to have your own legal counsel. Clifford Law Group fully understands the struggles that lawyers face when they have criminal records or are facing criminal charges.
Our Wake County lawyer license attorneys help professionals in Orange County, Wake County, and Durham County. We will review your case when you call (919) 441-1799 to set up a free consultation.