Supreme Court Rule 202 governs special admissions to the Virgin Islands Bar. All attorneys specially admitted under this Rule are at all times subject to the direction and control of the moving instrumentality, department or agency. In accordance with the Rule 202(a), any person employed or about to be employed as an attorney by the Government of the Virgin Islands, its branches, departments, agencies and instrumentalities, the United States, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands or VIVA for Children, Inc., may be admitted specially without written examination and only for the purposes of such employment. Upon application as required pursuant to, said applicant may be admitted provided that the Supreme Court determines that the person meets the qualifications of regular active admission except for having passed the Virgin Islands Bar examination; and is (1) admitted to practice in the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States and (2) is otherwise professionally, morally and ethically qualified for admission to the Bar of the Virgin Islands and the admission of such person would be in the best interest of the Territory. In accordance with Supreme Court Rule 202(b), in every case, the burden shall be upon the person seeking admission pursuant to this rule to establish to the satisfaction of the court his or her qualifications for admission. In accordance with Rule 202(c), the moving agency or instrumentality is required to immediately notify the Court of the termination of the attorney's employment.
Qualifications for Special Admission
In accordance with Rule 202(b), the following are necessary for the Court's consideration of an Application for Special Admission:
- An Application by motion by the hiring authority
- Applicant's declaration demonstrating his or her qualifications for admission
- Current Certificates of Good Standing bearing the original seal of the highest court from each jurisdiction to which he or she is admitted. (A Certificate of Good Standing from a bar association in and of itself is not sufficient for a Special Admission.)
- A Dean Certificate Form evidencing compliance with V.I.SC.T R. 202(b)
- An Official Transcript issued directly to the Director of Bar Admissions from the law school where the attorney seeking special admissions received their JurisDoctorate Degree.
Applicants for Special admission must satisfy the same education and fitness requirements as any other applicant seeking permanent regular active admission to the Virgin Islands Bar. Please note that the Court requires the submission of such other information as might be deemed necessary to satisfy itself as to the attorney's fitness to practice specifically before the courts of the Virgin Islands.
National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) Request for Preparation of a Character Report
An applicant must complete the online version of the National Conference of Bar Examiners Character and Fitness Report Application at https://www.ncbex.org/character-and-fitness.
- Log into or create an NCBE Account to complete the NCBE online application.
- After completing and finalizing the NCBE online application, a checklist will display with access to a PDF of your application and additional instruction for signatures and mailing.
- The entire NCBE application must be electronically filed with the Office of Bar Admissions within twenty-four (24) hours of the acceptance of electronic filing of the Virgin Islands Bar Admission Application.
- The original executed hard copy of the document must also be conventionally filed with the Office of Bar Admissions within seven (7) days of the electronic submission of the e-document.
The Term of a Specially Admitted Attorney
Consistent with Supreme Court Rule 202(b)(2), after a complete application for special admission is filed with the Supreme Court, the applicant may be employed as an attorney by the petitioning agency or instrumentality on a provisional basis not to exceed 120 days; provided, that
(i) an individual may not serve as an attorney for the petitioning agency prior to the date the application for special admission is actually filed and docketed with the Supreme Court, the Office of Bar Admission provides the agency and the applicant with notice that the applicant is eligible to practice on a provisional basis, and the applicant executes the oath of office for the provisional period;
(ii) an applicant authorized to practice on a provisional basis under this Rule must serve all parties, as well as the judicial officer presiding over the case, with a copy of the notice advising that the applicant is eligible to serve as an attorney for the agency on a provisional basis;
(iii) no applicant for special admission who has failed the Virgin Islands Bar Examination may practice law on a provisional basis under this Rule; and
(iv) the Supreme Court, by order, may rescind an applicant’s provisional permission to practice law while his or her application is pending if the Court or the Committee of Bar Examiners determines that the applicant has failed to prosecute his or her application in a timely manner, or that a substantial question exists as to whether the applicant is a person of good moral character or otherwise satisfies the requirements for special admission under this Rule. Failure of an applicant to take the required oath or affirmation within sixty (60) days of notification by the Supreme Court of his or her application being approved shall result in the application being dismissed for failure to prosecute.
For purposes of this rule, an application for special admission is complete when the Office of Bar Admissions provides notice to the applicant and the petitioning agency that the application has been accepted and that the applicant is eligible to begin practice on a provisional basis. The Office of Bar Admissions will serve a copy of the notice to all justices, judges, and magistrate judges of the Virgin Islands, the clerks of the Supreme Court and the Superior Court, and the Virgin Islands Bar Association.
Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 202(c) a special admission automatically terminates when the individual who has been specially admitted pursuant to said rule: ceases to be employed by the petitioning agency or instrumentality or fails to remain in good standing in each jurisdiction of admission, or as provided in the Court's Rule.
The Court may terminate any special admission for cause or in the interest of justice, consistent with due process.
Additionally, in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 202(d), the special admission provided by this rule shall expire after two years unless, on or before the last day of the eighteenth month of the attorney’s two-year term, the specially-admitted attorney files a complete application for regular admission by examination and sits for the required portions of the Virgin Islands Bar Examination, files a complete application for admission by UBE score transfer, or files a complete application for admission by motion, including payment of all attendant fees. A specially-admitted attorney who timely complies with this rule shall have his or her special admission extended for one year, and thus may practice for no more than three-years as a specially-admitted attorney.
An Attorney serving as a specially admitted attorney on the effective date of Supreme Court Rule 202, who was specially admitted under prior versions of this rule, or under any previous provision of Virgin Islands law allowing the special admission of government attorneys shall refer to Supreme Court Rule 202(e) for additional information governing the term of their admission.
Classification of Specially Admitted Attorneys
A person specially admitted under this Rule shall be classified as an active member of the Bar of the Virgin Islands in accordance with Rule 202(c), with all the responsibilities and privileges thereof, but shall not be considered a regular member of the Virgin Islands Bar or hold himself out as such. The moving agency in accordance with the Court's Rule is required to immediately notify the Court of the termination of the attorney's employment.
An attorney specially admitted shall not hold himself out as a regular member of the Virgin Islands Bar, and must promptly notify the Court in writing of the termination of the employment upon which the special admission was based.
Upon receipt of said notification, the Court shall enter an order vacating the special admission, provided however, that the Court may also terminate any special admission for cause or in the interests of justice and consistent with due process.
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Hours:8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Director of Bar Admissions
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Phone: 340.774.2237
Fax: 340.774.2258
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Mailing Address
P.O. Box 590
St. Thomas, VI 00804
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Physical Address
No. 161B Crown Bay
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI 00802
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