Qualifications
Civil Local Rule 11-1 provides that the Bar of this court consists of attorneys of good moral character who are active members in good standing of the State Bar of California. Attorneys must also certify that they have knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and Evidence, the Rules of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the local rules of this court. Furthermore, attorneys must possess familiarity with the Alternative Dispute Resolution programs of the court and an understanding and commitment to abide by the Standards of Professional Conduct of this court set forth in Civil Local Rule 11-4.
Admission Procedures
Petitions for admission to practice in the Northern District of California must be submitted electronically through CM/ECF, with payment made online via Pay.gov.
⚠️ Please complete all three steps. Registration for ECF access with PACER alone does not complete the admission process.
Step 1: Create your PACER account:
Go to https://www.pacer.gov and create your individual PACER account.
NOTE: Each individual should only have one PACER account. If you have previously created a PACER account, skip to step 2.
Step 2: Register for ECF access to the Northern District of California:
Using your PACER account, request access to e-file in the Northern District of California.
NOTE: If you log into the ECF system and see this image at the top of the page:
you already have ECF access, and you can skip to step 3.
Step 3: E-file a Petition for Bar Membership and pay Admission Fee
After your PACER registration is approved:
- Log in to CM/ECF.
- Navigate to:
Civil > Attorney Admissions > Petition for Bar Membership - Enter all required information directly in the system.
No PDF upload is required. - Pay the admission fee via Pay.gov when prompted.
Step 4: Await Confirmation
Once your petition is reviewed by a deputy clerk (typically within 2 business days), you will receive confirmation of your admission by email.
As provided in Civil Local Rule 11-3, an attorney who is not a member of the Bar of the Northern District of California, but who is an active member in good standing of the bar of another United States court or of the highest court of another state or the District of Columbia, may appear in an action in this district only after he or she has completed the procedures for appearing pro hac vice. (Separate procedures govern pro hac vice appearances at the United States Bankruptcy Court.) In preparation for practice in this court, counsel are advised to familiarize themselves with the Local Rules of the Northern District of California.
Admission Procedures
The application must be submitted electronically in the CM/ECF system with payment made online via Pay.gov. Any pro hac vice application submitted in paper must be accompanied by a cover letter addressed to the Clerk of Court explaining why electronic filing of the application was not feasible.
The application procedure consists of four steps:
- Register as an ECF user.
- Download and complete electronically all portions of the Application for Admission of Attorney Pro Hac Vice; enter your name in the blank in the proposed order space at the bottom of the form. With the exception of applicants admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, a pro hac vice applicant must include a specific court to which he or she is admitted to practice (that is, a specific federal district court or highest state court).Attach a true and correct copy of a certificate of good standing or other similar official document issued by the appropriate authority governing attorney admissions for the relevant bar; the certificate or other document must be dated no more than one year prior to the date of application for admission.On the Proposed Order, do not insert the date.Please check the forms to be sure all fields are correct, complete and readable before e-filing!
- E-file the application in CM/ECF (using Motions - General -> Pro Hac Vice) using the ECF login and password for the attorney who seeks to be admitted, and when prompted pay via Pay.gov. Review our Pay.gov information page before beginning this step.
- Your authorization to practice begins upon the docketing of the judge's order granting your application. There is no specific timetable for this to occur.
- Following admission, all papers submitted for filing shall include the annotation "appearance pro hac vice," immediately following the identifying information required by Civil Local Rule 3-4.
Verifying Admission to the Bar of this Court
To verify your admission, you may check the docket in your case beginning the day after you submit your application and proposed order. Your authorization to practice begins upon the docketing of the judge's order granting your application.
These are excerpted from the Local Rules. All attorneys should familiarize themselves with these rules prior to appearing before the Court.
Civil Local Rule 11-4(a)
Every member of the bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and any attorney permitted to practice pro hac vice must:
- Be familiar and comply with the standards of professional conduct required of members of the State Bar of California.
- Comply with the Local Rules of this Court.
- Maintain respect due to courts of justice and judicial officers.
- Practice with the honesty, care, and decorum required for the fair and efficient administration of justice.
- Discharge his or her obligations to his or her client and the Court.
- Assist those in need of counsel when requested by the Court.
Civil Local Rule 11-4(b)
The practice of law before this Court must be free from prejudice and bias. Treatment free of bias must be accorded all other attorneys, litigants, judicial officers, jurors and support personnel. Any violation of this policy should be brought to the attention of the Clerk or any Judge for action under Civ. L.R. 11-6.
The Court's standards of professional conduct are enforced by the court with the assistance of the court's Standing Committee on Professional Conduct (Civil Local Rule 11-6(c)), a committee of attorneys whose members also serve as the court's Advisory Committee on Professional Conduct. The Standing Committee chair may be contacted in care of the Clerk of the Court.
These Guidelines for Professional Conduct are adopted to apply to all lawyers who practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Lawyers owe a duty of professionalism to their clients, opposing parties and their counsel, the courts, and the public as a whole. Those duties include, among others: civility, professional integrity, personal dignity, candor, diligence, respect, courtesy, cooperation and competence.
These Guidelines are structured to provide a general guiding principle in each area addressed followed by specific examples which are not intended to be all-encompassing.
Every attorney who enters an appearance in this matter shall be deemed to have pledged to adhere to the Guidelines. Counsel are encouraged to comply with both the spirit and letter of these Guidelines. Nothing in these Guidelines, however, shall be interpreted to contradict or supersede any Order of the Court or agreement between the parties. The Court does not anticipate that these Guidelines will be relied upon as the basis for a motion; rather, it is the Court’s expectation that they will be followed as Guidelines.
These Guidelines should be read in the context of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (including, specifically, Civil Local Rule 11-4), the standards of professional conduct required of members of the State Bar of California, and all attorneys’ underlying duty to zealously represent their clients. Nothing in these Guidelines should be read to denigrate counsel’s duty of zealous representation. However, counsel are encouraged to zealously represent their clients within highest bounds of professionalism. The legal profession must strive for the highest standards of attorney behavior to elevate and enhance the service to justice.
The Court gratefully acknowledges its reliance on the Santa Clara County Bar Association’s Code of Professionalism.
A lawyer should always be mindful that the law is a learned profession and that among its goals are devotion to public service, improvement of the administration of justice, and the contribution of uncompensated time and civic influence on behalf of persons who cannot afford adequate legal assistance.
A lawyer should work to achieve his or her client’s lawful and meritorious objectives expeditiously and as economically as possible in a civil and professional manner.
For example:
- A lawyer should be committed to his or her client’s cause, but should not permit that loyalty to interfere with giving the client objective and independent advice.
- A lawyer should advise his or her client against pursuing positions in litigation (or any other course of action) that do not have merit.
A lawyer should understand and advise his or her client that civility and courtesy in scheduling meetings, hearings, and discovery are expected as professional conduct.
For example:
- A lawyer should make reasonable efforts to schedule meetings, hearings, and discovery by agreement whenever possible and should consider the scheduling interests of opposing counsel, the parties, witnesses, and the court. Misunderstandings should be avoided by sending formal notice after agreement is reached.
- A lawyer should not arbitrarily or unreasonably withhold consent to a request for scheduling accommodations.
- A lawyer should not engage in delay tactics in scheduling meetings, hearings, or discovery.
- d. A lawyer should try to verify the availability of key participants and witnesses before a meeting, hearing, or trial date is set. If that is not feasible, a lawyer should try to do so immediately after the meeting, hearing, or trial date is set so that he or she can promptly notify the court and opposing counsel of any likely problems.
- A lawyer should (i) notify opposing counsel and, if appropriate, the court as early as possible when scheduled meetings, hearings, or depositions must be cancelled or rescheduled, and (ii) provide alternate dates for such meetings, hearings, or depositions when possible.
Consistent with existing law and court orders, a lawyer should agree to reasonable requests for extensions of time when the legitimate interests of his or her client will not be adversely affected.
For example:
- A lawyer should agree to reasonable requests for extensions of time or continuances without requiring motions or other formalities.
- Unless time is of the essence, a lawyer should agree as a matter of courtesy to first requests for reasonable extensions of time, even if the requesting counsel previously refused to grant an extension.
- After agreeing to a first extension of time, a lawyer should consider any additional requests for extensions of time by balancing the need for prompt resolution of matters against (i) the consideration that should be extended to an opponent’s professional and personal schedule, (ii) the opponent’s willingness to grant reciprocal extensions, (iii) the time actually needed for the task, and (iv) whether it is likely that a court would grant the extension if asked to do so.
- A lawyer should be committed to the notion that the strategy of refusing reasonable requests for extensions of time is inappropriate, and should advise clients of the same.
- A lawyer should not seek extensions or continuances for the purpose of harassment or extending litigation.
- A lawyer should not condition an agreement to an extension of time on unfair or extraneous terms, except those a lawyer is entitled to impose, such as (i) preserving rights that could be jeopardized by an extension of time or (ii) seeking reciprocal scheduling concessions.
- By agreeing to extensions, a lawyer should not seek to cut off an opponent’s substantive rights, such as his or her right to move against a complaint.
- A lawyer should agree to reasonable requests for extensions of time when new counsel is substituted for prior counsel.
The timing and manner of service of papers should not be calculated to disadvantage or embarrass the party receiving the papers.
For example:
- A lawyer should not serve documents, pleadings, or motions on the opposing party or counsel at a time or in a way that would unfairly limit the other party’s opportunity to respond.
- A lawyer should not serve papers so soon before a court appearance that it inhibits the ability of opposing counsel to prepare for that appearance or to respond to the papers if permitted by law.
- A lawyer should not serve papers (i) simply to take advantage of an opponent’s known absence from the office, or (ii) at a time or in a manner designed to inconvenience an opponent.
- A lawyer should serve papers by personal delivery, facsimile transmission, or email when it is likely that service by mail, even when allowed, will prejudice the opposing party.
- A lawyer should serve papers on the individual lawyer known to be responsible for the matter at issue and should do so at his or her principal place of business.
- A lawyer should never use the mode, timing, or place of serving papers primarily to embarrass a party or witness.
A lawyer should be punctual in communications with others and in honoring scheduled appearances.
For example:
- A lawyer should arrive sufficiently in advance of trials, hearings, meetings, depositions, or other scheduled events so that preliminary matters can be resolved.
- A lawyer should promptly notify all other participants when the lawyer will be unavoidably late.
- A lawyer should promptly notify the other participants when he or she is aware that a participant will be late for a scheduled event.
Written materials submitted to the court should always be factual and concise, accurately state current law, and fairly represent the parties’ positions without unfairly attacking the opposing party or opposing counsel.
For example:
- Facts that are not properly introduced as part of the record in the case should not be used in written briefs or memoranda of points and authorities.
- A lawyer should avoid denigrating the intelligence, ethics, morals, integrity, or personal behavior of the opposing party, counsel, or witness, unless such matters are at issue in the proceeding.
A lawyer should at all times be civil, courteous, and accurate in communicating with opponents or adversaries, whether in writing or orally.
For example:
- A lawyer should not draft letters (i) assigning a position to an opposing party that the opposing party has not taken, or (ii) to create a “record” of events that have not occurred.
- A lawyer should not copy the court on any letter between counsel unless permitted or invited by the court.
A lawyer should conduct discovery in a manner designed to ensure the timely, efficient,cost effective and just resolution of a dispute.
When propounding or responding to written discovery or when scheduling or completing depositions, a lawyer should be mindful of geographic or related timing limitations of parties and non-parties,as well as any relevant language barriers, and should not seek to use such limitations or language barriers for an unfair advantage.
A lawyer should promptly and completely comply with all discovery requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
For example:
As to Depositions:
- A lawyer should take depositions only (a) where actually needed to learn facts or information, or (b) to preserve testimony.
- In scheduling depositions, a lawyer shall follow the requirements of Civil Local Rule 30-1, should be cooperative in noticing depositions at mutually agreeable times and locations and shall accommodate the schedules and geographic limitations of opposing counsel and the deponent where it is possible to do so, while also considering the scheduling requirements in the litigation.
- A lawyer representing a deponent that requires translator services or other special requirements shall promptly advise the noticing party of such requirements sufficiently in advance of a scheduled deposition so that counsel may seek to reasonably accommodate the deponent. A lawyer should be respectful of any translation or other special requirements that a particular deponent might have and should not seek to take unfair advantage of such requirements during a deposition.
- When a deposition is scheduled and noticed by another party for the reasonably near future, a lawyer should ordinarily not schedule another deposition for an earlier date without the agreement of opposing counsel.
- A lawyer should only delay a deposition if necessary to address legitimate scheduling conflicts. A lawyer should not delay a deposition for bad faith purposes.
- A lawyer should not ask questions about a deponent’s personal affairs or question a deponent’s integrity where such questions are irrelevant to the subject matter of the deposition.
- A lawyer should avoid repetitive or argumentative questions or those asked solely for purposes of harassment.
- A lawyer representing a deponent or another party should limit objections to those that are well founded and necessary for the protection of his or her client’s interest. A lawyer should remember that most objections are preserved and need be made only when the form of a question is defective or privileged information is sought.
- Once a question is asked, a lawyer should not coach the deponent or suggest answers, whether through objections or other means.
- A lawyer should not direct a deponent to refuse to answer a question unless the question seeks privileged information, is manifestly irrelevant, or is calculated to harass.
- A lawyer should refrain from self-serving speeches during depositions.
- A lawyer should not engage in any conduct during a deposition that would not be allowed in the presence of a judicial officer.
As to Requests for Production of Documents:
- A lawyer should limit requests for production of documents to cover only those documents that are actually and reasonably believed to be needed for the prosecution or defense of an action. Requests for production of documents should not be made to harass or embarrass a party or witness, or to impose an inordinate burden or expense on the responding party.
- A lawyer should not draft requests for production of documents so broadly that they encompass documents that are clearly not relevant to the subject matter of the case.
- In responding to requests for production of documents, a lawyer should not interpret the requests in an artificially restrictive manner in an attempt to avoid disclosure.
- A lawyer responding to requests for production of documents should withhold documents on the grounds of privilege only where appropriate.
- A lawyer should not produce documents in a disorganized or unintelligible fashion, or in a manner calculated to hide or obscure the existence of particular documents.
- A lawyer should not delay producing documents to prevent opposing counsel from inspecting documents prior to scheduled depositions or for any other tactical reason.
As to Interrogatories:
- A lawyer should use interrogatories sparingly and never use interrogatories to harass or impose undue burden or expense on the responding party.
- A lawyer should not read or respond to interrogatories in a manner designed to ensure that responses are not truly responsive.
- A lawyer should not object to interrogatories unless he or she has a good faith belief in the merit of the objection. Objections should not be made for the purpose of withholding relevant information. If an interrogatory is objectionable only in part, a lawyer should answer the unobjectionable portion.
Motions should be filed or opposed only in good faith and when the issue cannot be otherwise resolved.
For example:
- Before filing a motion, a lawyer should engage in a good faith effort to resolve the issue. In particular, civil discovery motions should be filed sparingly.
- A lawyer should not engage in conduct that forces opposing counsel to file a motion that he or she does not intend to oppose.
- In complying with any meet and confer requirement in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable rules, a lawyer should speak personally with opposing counsel or a self-represented party and engage in a good faith effort to resolve or informally limit all applicable issues.
- Where rules permit an ex parte application or communication to the court in an emergency situation, a lawyer should make such an application or communication only where there is a bona fide emergency—i.e., when the lawyer’s client will be seriously prejudiced if the application or communication were made with regular notice. This applies, inter alia, to applications to shorten an otherwise applicable time period.
It is important to promote high regard for the legal profession and the judicial system among those who are neither lawyers nor litigants. A lawyer’s conduct in dealings with nonparty witnesses should exhibit the highest standards of civility and be designed to leave the witness with an appropriately good impression of the legal profession and the judicial system.
For example:
- A lawyer should be courteous and respectful in communications with nonparty witnesses.
- Upon request, a lawyer should extend professional courtesies and grant reasonable accommodations, unless doing so would materially prejudice his or her client’s lawful objectives.
- A lawyer should take special care to protect a witness from undue harassment or embarrassment and to state questions in a form that is appropriate to the witness’s age and development.
- A lawyer should not issue a subpoena to a nonparty witness for inappropriate tactical or strategic purposes, such as to intimidate or harass the nonparty.
- As soon as a lawyer knows that a previously scheduled deposition will or will not go forward as scheduled, the lawyer should notify all applicable counsel.
- A lawyer who obtains a document pursuant to a deposition subpoena should, upon request, make copies of the document available to all other counsel at their expense even if the deposition is canceled or adjourned.
A lawyer should not communicateex parte with a judicial officer or his or her staff on acase pending before the court, unless permitted by law or Local Court Rule.
For example:
- Even where applicable laws or rules permit an ex parte application or communication to the court, a lawyer should make diligent efforts to notify the opposing party or a lawyer known to represent or likely to represent the opposing party before making such an application or communication. A lawyer should make reasonable efforts to accommodate the schedule of an opposing party or his or her counsel to permit them to participate in the ex parte proceedings.
A lawyer should raise and explore the issue of settlement and alternative dispute resolution in every case as soon as the case can be evaluated.
For example:
- A lawyer should always attempt to de-escalate any controversy and bring the parties together.
- A lawyer should not falsely hold out the possibility of settlement as a means for terminating discovery or delaying trial. In every case, a lawyer should consider whether his or her client’s interest could be adequately served and the controversy more expeditiously and economically disposed of by arbitration, mediation, or other form of alternative dispute resolution.
- A lawyer should advise his or her client at the outset of the availability of alternative dispute resolution.
- A lawyer involved in an alternative dispute resolution process should participate in good faith, and should not use the process for purposes of delay or other improper purposes.
A lawyer should conduct himself or herself in trial and hearings in a manner that promotes a positive image of the legal profession, assists the court in properly reviewing the case,and displays appropriate respect for the judicial system.
For example:
- A lawyer should be punctual and prepared for all court appearances.
- A lawyer should always deal with parties, counsel, witnesses, jurors or prospective jurors, court personnel, and the judge with courtesy and civility.
- A lawyer should only make objections during a trial or hearing for legitimate and good faith reasons. A lawyer should not make such objections only for the purpose of harassment or delay.
- A lawyer should honor requests made by opposing counsel during trial that do not prejudice his or her client’s rights or sacrifice a tactical advantage.
- While appearing before the court, a lawyer should address all arguments, objections, and requests to the court, rather than addressing them directly to opposing counsel.
- While appearing in court, a lawyer should demonstrate sensitivity to any party, witness, or other lawyer who has requested, or may need, accommodation as a person with physical or mental impairment. This will help foster full and fair access to the court for all persons.
A lawyer should not seek an opposing party’s default to obtain a judgment or substantive order without giving that opposing party sufficient advance written warning to allow the opposing party to cure the default.
A lawyer should avoid even the appearance of impropriety or bias in relationships with judicial officers, arbitrators, mediators, and independent court-appointed experts.
For example:
- When a lawyer is assigned to appear before a judicial officer with whom the lawyer has a social relationship or friendship beyond normal professional association, the lawyer should notify opposing counsel (or a self-represented party) of the relationship.
- A lawyer should disclose to opposing counsel (or a self-represented opposing party) any social relationship or friendship between the lawyer and an arbitrator, mediator, or any independent court appointed expert taking a role in the case, so that the opposing counselor party has the opportunity to object to such arbitrator, mediator, or expert receiving the assignment parties.
All matters should be handled with due respect for the privacy rights of parties and non-parties.
For example:
- A lawyer should not inquire into, nor attempt to use, nor threaten to use, facts about the private lives of any party or other individuals for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage in a case. This rule does not preclude inquiry into sensitive matters that are relevant to a legitimate issue, as long as the inquiry is pursued as narrowly as is reasonably possible and with due respect for the fact that an invasion into private matters is a necessary evil.
- If it is necessary for a lawyer to inquire into such matters, the lawyer should cooperate in arranging for protective measures designed to ensure that the private information is disclosed only to those persons who need to present it as relevant evidence to the court.
Lawyers should conduct themselves with clients, opposing counsel, parties and the public in a manner consistent with the high respect and esteem which lawyers should have for the courts,the civil and criminal justice systems,the legal profession and other lawyers.
For example:
- A lawyer’s public communications should at all times and under all circumstances reflect appropriate civility, professional integrity, personal dignity, and respect for the legal system. This rule does not prohibit good faith, factually based expressions of dissent or criticism made by a lawyer in public or private discussions having a purpose to motivate improvements in our legal system or profession.
- A lawyer should not make statements which are false, misleading, or which exaggerate, for example, the amount of damages sought in a lawsuit, actual or potential recoveries in settlement or the lawyer’s qualifications, experience or fees.
- A lawyer should not create a false or misleading record of events or attribute to an opposing counsel a position not taken.
- A lawyer should not fail or refuse without justification to respond promptly by returning phone calls or otherwise responding to calls and letters of his or her clients, opposing counsel and/or self-represented parties.
- A lawyer who is serving as a prosecutor or defense counsel should conduct himself or herself publicly and within the context of a particular case in a manner that shows respect for the important functions that each plays within the criminal justice system, keeping in mind that the defense of an accused is important and valuable to society as is the prosecution.
- A lawyer should refrain from engaging in conduct that exhibits or is intended to appeal or engender bias against a person on account of that person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability, whether that bias is directed to other counsel, court personnel, witnesses, parties, jurors, judges, judicial officers or any other participants.
A lawyer should clearly identify for other counsel or parties all changes that a lawyer makes in documents.
Attorney discipline in the Northern District of California is governed by Civil Local Rules 11-6 and 11-7. Pursuant to these rules, an attorney's good standing as a member of the bar of the court of this district may be challenged by means of reciprocal discipline (that is, the attorney has been disbarred, suspended or placed on disciplinary probation by any other court) and as a consequence of conduct while practicing law in this court. By application of the processes provided for by Rules 11-6 and 11-7, an attorney who has been a member of the bar of this court may become ineligible to practice in this court.
By Order of the Chief Judge dated September 1, 2012 the authorized duties of the Chief Judge under Civil Local Rule 11-7 are delegated to the Discipline Liaison Judge (currently District Judge Haywood Gilliam).
For questions about CM/ECF registration and account setup, please visit our Registration Instructions for Attorneys page.
To verify an attorney's status with the State Bar of California visit the State Bar's Attorney Search page.
Under Civil Local Rule 11-1(f), any member in good standing of the bar of this court may obtain a Certificate of Good Standing by presenting a written request to the Clerk of Court and paying the prescribed fee. Requests must be submitted through the court's Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system.
Step One: Log into ECF. Click on the "Civil" menu, then click on "Attorney Admissions." Select the "Request Certificate of Good Standing" event and click "Submit."
Step Two: Enter the requesting attorney's name, state bar number, and other required information and click "Submit."
Step Three: Click "Submit."
Step Four: Select either (1) "I have already paid the filing fee" or (2) "I have not yet paid the filing fee and would like to proceed using pay.gov." and click "Submit" to either submit an already-paid request, or to make an online payment at pay.gov.
The Northern District of California provides attorney lounges in the San Francisco (18th floor), Oakland (4th floor) and San Jose (1st floor) courthouses for the use of attorneys practicing in the court, i.e., attorneys currently admitted to practice in the Northern District of California and those with a current pro hac vice order.
Non-attorneys, including unrepresented parties, may not use the attorney lounges unless they have received written permission from the judge presiding over their case to use the lounge on specified dates and at specified times, for a case currently pending in the district. The non-attorney must be able to produce the written order upon request when using the attorney lounge.
The court's attorney lounges are open during regular building hours.
San Francisco 18th Floor
- Daily newspapers
- Wireless internet
- Private telephone rooms
- Beverage vending machines
- Private conference rooms
- Lactation room
Oakland 4th Floor
- Daily newspapers
- Wireless internet
- Private telephone rooms
- Fax machines
- Private conference rooms
- Lactation room
San Jose 1st Floor
- Daily newspapers
- Wireless internet
- Fax Machine
- Private telephone rooms
- Beverage vending machines
- Private conference rooms
As part of the Ninth Circuit library system, and according the Local Rule 77-7, the courthouse library for the Northern District of California primarily serves judges and court staff. The library also provides limited service to other federal agencies, and state and local courts. Attorneys admitted to practice in this court may use the library by appointment only. For more information, visit the Ninth Circuit Library’s website.
San Francisco:
450 Golden Gate Avenue, 18th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 436-8130
A law student can become certified to represent a client in the Northern District of California under the supervision of a member of the bar of this court with the approval of the assigned judge. The criteria are set forth in Civil Local Rule 11-9. Please read the rules thoroughly before submitting an application.
Application Forms:
- Student Practice Application (must attach a document establishing eligibility--please read rule and form for details)
- Certification by Supervising Attorney
These may be submitted to the Clerk's Office by email to admissioninfo@cand.uscourts.gov or by mail to:
United States District Court
Office of the Clerk/Attorney Admissions
450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36060
San Francisco, CA 94102-3489
Email questions to admissioninfo@cand.uscourts.gov, or call the Attorney Admissions Deputy Clerk at 415-522-2060.