The Georgia Supreme Court's student practice rule, effective August 15, 2015, potentially permits both 2L and 3L students to represent clients (under supervision) as if admitted to practice in a broad range of settings, including all government agencies, private firms representing clients pro bono, and nonprofits who assist low or moderate income individuals. Under the terms of the rule, certification is independent of the court or supervisor. It also placed on the law schools the burden of determining which of its students are "prepared" to engage in such practice.
Emory certifies all 2Ls and 3Ls, once they complete our ethics and professionalism self-study module.
**Note for students applying for certification to work in a Georgia district attorney's/solicitor general's office: some offices may require you to also obtain a dean's certificate because the Georgia Third-Year Practice Act for prosecutors' offices remains on the books (and is not superseded by the Georgia Supreme Court rule). In that case, you should first apply for Student Practice certification using this form, and as soon as you obtain the Student Practice Certificate under the Rule, request the dean's certificate from the registrar's office via email. Your office will then get you sworn in under the Act. (See this webpage for more details.)
Deadlines
The Bar has requested the law schools submit registrations in bulk and will only process them between the first and fifth day of the month, so requests must be submitted by the 30th of April or May for summer; the 30th of July - October for Fall; and by the 30th of November, December - February for Spring.
Certificates are processed once a month during the first week of every month. It typically takes 3-5 business days after the Registrar submits the requests for the Registrar to receive the certificates back from the Bar. You will be notified as soon as they have been received by the Registrar.
Student Practice Certification Request