Rule 718: Temporary Permit to Practice Law

(a)   Eligibility. An applicant for admission to the Kansas bar under Rule 716 or Rule 717(c) may apply for a temporary permit to practice law if the applicant is eligible under Rule 708.

(b)  Required Documents and Fee. An applicant under this rule must submit the following:

(1)  an application submitted and accepted through the Attorney Admissions office’s online portal;

(2)  the contact information for the supervising attorney who will provide the certification required under subsection (c)(3); and

(3)  the fee under Rule 707(a)(5).

(c)   Supervising Attorney. An applicant with a temporary permit may only practice law under the supervision of a licensed attorney. 

(1)  Full Responsibility. The supervising attorney is fully responsible for the applicant’s practice of law under the temporary permit.

(2)  Qualifications. The supervising attorney must meet the following qualifications:

(A)  be a Kansas attorney who is registered as active under Rule 206;

(B)  be in good standing; and

(C)  be regularly engaged in the practice of law or be a justice or judge supervising court staff.

(3)  Certification. The supervising attorney must certify the following on a form provided by the Attorney Admissions office:

(A)  the supervising attorney meets the qualifications in subsection (c)(2); and

(B)  the supervising attorney is professionally responsible for the applicant’s practice of law.

(4)  Withdrawal of Certification. A supervising attorney must immediately submit written notice to the Attorney Admissions office and the applicant if the supervising attorney withdraws the certification.

(d)  Issuance; Effective Date. The Supreme Court issues a temporary permit to practice law in its discretion. The permit is effective the date of the court’s order.

(e)   Duration of Permit.

(1)   Withdrawal of Bar Application. If the applicant withdraws the application for admission, the temporary permit is revoked on the date of the withdrawal.

(2)   Withdrawal of Supervising Attorney. If the supervising attorney withdraws the certification provided under subsection (c)(3), the temporary permit is inactive until a new supervising attorney provides certification.

(3)   Reopening of Character and Fitness Investigation. If the admissions attorney reopens the investigation into the applicant’s character and fitness qualifications, the temporary permit is revoked on the date of the notice informing the applicant that the investigation has been reopened.

(4)   Effect of Examination. The following provisions apply when an applicant is seeking admission under Rule 716.

(A)   If the applicant does not achieve a passing score on the bar examination, the temporary permit expires on the date the results of the examination are announced.

(B)   If the applicant achieves a passing score on the bar examination, the temporary permit expires upon admission to the Kansas bar under Rule 726.

(C)   If the applicant does not take the bar examination, the temporary permit expires on the first day of the examination.

(5)   Concurrent Application. For an applicant seeking admission under Rule 717(c), the temporary permit expires when any of the following circumstances occur:

(A)   the applicant receives notice that the Attorney Admissions office did not receive the applicant’s Uniform Bar Examination score within seven days of official release of the score and the applicant fails to cure;

(B)   the applicant receives notice from the Attorney Admissions office that the applicant did not achieve a passing score; or

(C)   the applicant is admitted to the Kansas bar under Rule 726.

[History: New rule adopted effective July 1, 2022.]