Connecticut Bar Examining Committee

About Authorized House Counsel

Pursuant to § 2-15A of the CT Practice Book, attorneys who are licensed to practice in jurisdictions other than Connecticut may be permitted to undertake such activities as authorized house counsel in Connecticut without the requirement of taking the bar examination or otherwise seeking bar admission so long as they are exclusively employed by an organization as defined under the rule.

Applicants for certification as Authorized House Counsel (AHC) must satisfy all requirements for certification within one year after the date of properly submitting an application. See Art. IX of the CBEC Regulations. There is no refund of the application fee, even if you do not meet the requirements for certification or withdraw your application.

Filing Fee

The non-refundable fee for an application as Authorized House Counsel is $1,000.00

Qualifications

To qualify as an AHC in Connecticut an applicant must be:

• A member in good standing of the entity governing the practice of law of each state (other than Connecticut) or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia or any foreign jurisdiction in which the member is licensed.
• Employed by an organization as defined in § 2-15A, or will be relocating to Connecticut within three months in furtherance of employment by such an organization.

Qualifying Employment

An “organization” for the purpose of this rule is a corporation, partnership, association, or employer sponsored benefit plan or other legal entity (taken together with its respective parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates) that is not itself engaged in the practice of law or the rendering of legal services outside such organization, whether for a fee or otherwise, and does not charge or collect a fee for the representation or advice other than to entities comprising such organization for the activities of the authorized house counsel. See § 2-15A(b)(2).

Timeline for Filing

An application for AHC status must be filed within three (3) months before or three (3) months after commencement of qualifying employment. See § 2-15A(b)(1)(D). If such an individual files an AHC application more than three (3) months after commencing such employment, the application will be accepted and processed, and an explanation for the late filing must be provided with the application. A referral may be made to the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel for possible investigation for the unauthorized practice of law.

Authorized Activities & Limitations on Representation

An authorized house counsel, as an employee of an organization, may provide legal services in the state of Connecticut to the organization for which a registration pursuant to subsection (d) is effective. However, such activities and representation are limited pursuant to § 2-15A(c), and applicants are cautioned to carefully review these provisions.

Connecticut AHC Requirements

Individuals certified as authorized house counsel in Connecticut must comply with the annual client security fund fee pursuant to Practice Book § 2-68 and § 2-70, and must register annually with the Statewide Grievance Committee in accordance with § 2-26 and § 2-27(d).

Termination, Withdrawal, or Transfer of Registration

Authorization to perform services under this rule shall cease upon the earliest of the following events:

• termination or resignation of employment with the organization for which registration has been filed*
• withdrawal of registration by the authorized house counsel;
• the relocation of an authorized house counsel outside of Connecticut for a period greater than 180 consecutive days; or
• the failure of authorized house counsel to comply with any applicable provision of § 2-15A.

Notice of one of the events set forth above must be filed with the Bar Examining Committee by the authorized house counsel within 30 days after such action. Failure to provide such notice by the authorized house counsel shall be a basis for discipline pursuant to the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Upon receipt of the notice, the Bar Examining Committee shall forward a request to the Statewide Bar Counsel that the authorization under § 2-15A be revoked.

*If an authorized house counsel begins new employment with another organization within 30 days of the termination or resignation from the organization for which they are registered, authorization to perform services under this rule may transfer to the new employer upon filing a new certification of employer organization with the Bar Examining Committee.