Eligibility for the student practice act

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Student Practice Certification Process

Clinical Programs

What is the rule?

Formerly known as the 3L Practice Rule, the Student Practice Certification Rule, governed by the NC State Bar, allows law students the opportunity to gain legal experience through practice during law school. The student certification process is detailed in the Rules Governing the Practical Training of Law Students, 27 NC Admin. Code 1C, Sections .0200 through .0207.

The certification applies to law students in one of the following areas:

1. law school clinics,
2. externships (academic credit received) or
3. internships (no academic credit received)

who are working either in a law firm, governmental entity, or organization and will:

1. Provide legal advice or services in matters governed by North Carolina law to eligible persons, or
   1. Eligible persons are defined under the rule as persons who are unable financially to pay for legal advice or services as determined by a standard established by a judge of the General Court of Justice, a legal services organization, government entity, or a clinical legal education program. (Rule .0202(b))

   Student Practice Certification & Internship Paperwork Online Request

   Student practice certifications are processed through the Law School Legal Clinic. To streamline the process, all student practice certification requests and internship paperwork requests should be submitted through our one-stop-shop online platform.

   Students must complete the online form and upload the appropriate documents to the online platform. A list of the documents is available below as well as in the online application. Once the application is submitted, the Dean of Clinical Legal Education will complete the requested law school forms. The forms will be submitted directly to the NC State Bar or to the appropriate employer based on the request.

   The appropriate documents must be completed and uploaded to the online platform. Emailed requests are not accepted. For questions regarding your request, please contact our Legal Clinic Paralegal, Gennell Curry