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Attorney Admissions Requirements

ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION: A lawyer applying for admission to the bar of this court must be licensed to practice law by the licensing authority of one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States. The attorney shall file an application on a form prescribed by the court, accompanied by payment of the fee set by order of the court. Local Rule 83.1.A,C, S.D. Texas. Download the Application Form. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications and pay the fee electronically by following these instructions.

Each application for admission filed with the clerk shall be accompanied by:

1. Payment of $199.00. Attorneys employed by an agency of the United States, the Federal Public Defender or the Texas Attorney General are exempt from paying the fee.

2. An executed Oath (not more than 30 days old).

3. An attorney who is not licensed by the State of Texas must submit a Certificate of Good Standing (not more than 90 days old) from another Federal Court.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION:

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications and pay the fee electronically by following these instructions.

Applications, including a check in the amount of $199.00 payable to Clerk, US District Court, can also be mailed to:

Attn.: Attorney Admissions
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
P.O. Box 61010
Houston, Texas 77208

Clerk of Court
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Southern District of Texas

APPLICATION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY $199.00, UNLESS EXEMPT,
OR APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED

Renewal

Members of the bar must reapply every five years from the date of admission. There is a $25.00 renewal fee. Attorneys employed by an agency of the United States, the Federal Public Defender or the Texas Attorney General are exempt from paying the renewal fee. The attorney admission records for the Southern District of Texas are maintained in the District CM/ECF database. Renewals can be submitted electronically through District CM/ECF following the renewal instructions found on the Attorney Admissions Membership Renewal Instructions web page. If a member fails to reapply before the expiration of the term, a brief letter explaining the lapse in membership should be submitted upon requesting renewal.

Pro Hac Vice

A lawyer who is not admitted to practice before this court may appear as attorney-in-charge for a party in a case in this court with the permission of the judge before whom the case is pending. When a lawyer who is not a member of the bar of this court first appears in a case, the lawyer shall move for leave to appear as attorney-in-charge for the client using the Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice form. $100 fee for admission pro hac vice is required as of August 1, 2023.

A lawyer seeking to appear pro hac vice should first register for e-filing in the Southern District of Texas. Once the e-filing request has been processed, then the attorney can electronically file the motion and pay the fee. See the CM/ECF NextGen page for information about the registering for e-filing.

District Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice form 

Bankruptcy Motion and Order to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Adversary) 

Bankruptcy Motion and Order to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Main Case)

Change of Address

Attorneys who fail to update their contact information (including email address) may not receive notice of renewal dates, case hearings, trial dates or any other notice generated by the automated systems. Our district is a NextGen CM/ECF court, so all contact information should be updated through the attorney’s individual PACER account under Manage My Account login. Check the appropriate box to apply changes to the Southern District of Texas and submit.