Efficiency is a lawyer’s best friend. Below you will find a cheat sheet with information and resources you need to apply for admission to the United States District Courts of North Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States, with links to the various courts’ websites.

Before you begin digging through the requirements, you should verify whether your employer is willing to handle the application process and/or pay the fees on your behalf. Also, you must be a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina (or another state) for three years before you can apply for admission to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Applications

United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (NCED)

United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (NCMD)

United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (NCWD)

To access the “Motion for Admission” form, answer the Admissions Questions and you will receive the form by email.

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (4th Circuit)

Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

Instructions for Admission

If you are applying to a U.S. district court or SCOTUS for the first time, you are required to submit an original certificate of good standing with your application ($5.00 fee per certificate).

Once you are admitted to one U.S. district court, you will not have to follow the complete process for admission to other districts. You will submit your certificate of admission from one of the other districts in lieu of sponsorship and being sworn. However, you will still be responsible for the filing fee for each court.

Filing or Admission Fees

NCED: $218.00

NCMD: $188.00

NCWD: $288.00

4th Circuit: $228.00 (see application link for fee waivers)

SCOTUS: $200.00

See each court’s instructions for sponsorship and admission ceremony requirements.

In the past, the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) and the Wake County Bar Association (WCBA) have organized separate group trips for the SCOTUS swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C. While there is not a trip planned at this time, stay tuned for future NCBA and WCBA opportunities.

E-filing Class and Credentials

After you are sworn-in, you will enroll in a CM/ECF e-filing training class: NCED, NCMD, NCWD. If you are admitted to the NCED first, the training is in person at the Federal Building in Raleigh. If you are admitted to NCMD first, the training is in person at the Federal Building in Greensboro. If you are admitted to the NCWD first, you can take the training online. You only need to take one of the trainings because it will transfer to the other CM/ECF courts. After the training is complete, you must fill out, sign, and mail (or submit online, when appropriate) the following training forms: NCED, NCMD, NCWD, and 4th Circuit. For SCOTUS, register here. The courts will process the forms and send your e-filing credentials via email.

Once you receive the email stating that your CM/ECF account has been created, you will receive information about registering for a PACER account. PACER is the Public Access to Court Electronic Records. This service allows users to obtain case and docket information. See information on fees. You must have a CM/ECF and PACER account.

Recent changes: The Federal Judiciary has developed a Next Generation of CM/ECF (NextGen). This system allows attorneys to use the same account for both e-filing and PACER access in each of the North Carolina Federal District Courts.

Certificates of Admission

You will receive a physical copy of your certificate of admission for each court. The U.S. district court certificates are standard 8.5 x 11 inches. The 4th Circuit and SCOTUS certificates are 11 x 14 inches.

How long does the process take from application to certificate? The process varies for each court. Availability for swearing-in ceremonies and mailing certificates could lengthen the process. Generally, if an applicant is applying for admission to a U.S. district court for the first time, the process may take four to six weeks. If the applicant is already admitted to another U.S. district court, the process may take two to three weeks. The process for the 4th Circuit takes approximately six weeks, and the process for SCOTUS takes approximately two to three weeks.

Once you are admitted to practice in the above courts, it is imperative to note that each court’s rules may vary. Review and become familiar with the local rules, judicial preferences, and other applicable rules and guidance before drafting and filing documents.

NCED: Local Civil Rules, Local Criminal Rules, Judicial Preferences

NCMD: Local Civil Rules, Local Criminal Rules, Judicial Preferences

NCWD: Local Civil & Criminal Rules, Judicial Preferences

4th Circuit: Local Rules, Judges of the Court

SCOTUS: Rules and Guidance

Congratulations! Don’t forget to add your admissions to your resumé and LinkedIn.

The information provided above is a good faith effort to make the process of applying for admission easier for applicants. This in no way absolves an applicant of their duty to research and follow the guidelines set by each court, as some information may not be complete or up to date.

December 20, 2021/by NCBA YLD