Article IV - Mandatory Course for New Admittees

Section 1. Mandatory Course

Pursuant to an order of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals of February 24, 1994, any attorney admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia after July 1, 1994, must complete the Mandatory Course on the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice within twelve (12) months of admission to the Bar. The District of Columbia Bar shall offer the course at least six (6) times a year.

Section 2. Suspension for Failure to Complete the Mandatory Course on the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice

If a member admitted after July 1, 1994, regardless of status, has not completed the Mandatory Course on the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice (“Mandatory Course”) within ten (10) months of admission to the Bar, the Secretary, or his/her delegate shall send forthwith to the member notice (“10-month notice”) that the member is not yet in compliance, and that unless the member completes the Mandatory Course by the conclusion of the 14th month after the month of admission t the Bar, the membership of such member shall be, and is, automatically suspended pursuant to this Section. If the member has not completed the Mandatory Course within twelve (12) months of admission to the Bar, the Secretary or his/her delegate shall send forthwith to the member notice (“12-month notice”) that the member is not in compliance, and that unless the member completes the Mandatory Course by the conclusion of the 14th month after the month of admission to the Bar, the membership of such member shall be, and is, automatically suspended pursuant to this Section. In the event of suspension, notice shall be sent to the member. The Secretary or his/her delegate shall notify the clerks of the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court of the suspension. [Amended September 15, 2020]

Section 3. Reinstatement

Any member suspended pursuant to Section 2 above for failure to complete the course on the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice shall be reinstated by the Chief Executive Officer upon (i) submission of a written request for reinstatement; (ii) submission of certification of completion of the course on the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice; (iii) payment of any due but unpaid dues and late fee; (iv) payment of a reinstatement fee of $50.00; and (v) submission of a statement that the member is not suspended, temporarily suspended, or disbarred by any disciplinary authority. [Amended June 9, 2010]

Section 4. Retroactive Reinstatement

In an appropriate case, the Board of Governors may reinstate an attorney to membership under Section 3 above retroactively, as of the date of suspension. An appropriate case for purposes of this section shall be only an instance in which the suspension resulted from error or omission on the part of the Bar. In such case, the reinstatement fee referred to in Section 3 may be waived. [Amended September 15, 2020]

Section 5. Section 5. Form of Notice; Deadlines

The 10-month notice and 12-month notice hereunder sent to a member shall be sent to the member’s preferred email address contained in the member’s official Bar record. The 14-month notice of suspension hereunder sent to a member shall be sent in writing by first class mail and by email to the member’s preferred addresses in the member’s official Bar record. If a notice sent by first class mail is postmarked later than the date of the notice, the date of the postmark shall control. The deadline for a date hereunder that may fall in that given year on a weekend or District of Columbia holiday shall be the next regular business day. [Amended September 15, 2020]