What Does it Mean to be an Attorney in Good Standing?

What does it mean to be an attorney in good standing?
Member in good standing is the status assigned to a member of an organization when he or she has remained current on organization dues and payments.

A lawyer who is in good standing is one who is admitted to practice law in a given jurisdiction and has not had their license to do so revoked or suspended. Additionally, the attorney complies with all rules and guidelines related to the practice of law, including those pertaining to professional and ethical conduct.

An attorney must fulfill specific obligations, such as finishing required continuing legal education courses and paying all required fees, in order to keep good standing. Lawyers who don’t comply with these rules risk being put on probation or perhaps having their license to practice law revoked.

To practice law in Iowa, an attorney needs to receive an Iowa certificate of admission. For any attorney wishing to practice law in Iowa, the Iowa Supreme Court must grant them with this certificate. A three-year Iowa certificate of admission to practice law must be renewed in order to keep one’s status in good standing.

In a similar vein, in order to practice law in Delaware, a person must first get a certificate of good standing from the Delaware Supreme Court. The certificate is given out by the Supreme Court Clerk and is good for a year. The certificate must be renewed by the attorney every year to keep it in good standing.

Depending on the state, different procedures can be followed to get a certificate of good standing. The procedure might take weeks or even months in some regions. For instance, in Delaware, obtaining a certificate of good standing may take up to three weeks.

In conclusion, having a successful legal profession requires being an attorney in good standing. It denotes that the attorney complies with all rules and regulations governing the legal profession and has fulfilled all qualifications necessary to practice law in a specific jurisdiction. To remain in good standing and go on practicing law in those states, you must obtain an Iowa certificate of admission or a Delaware certificate of good standing.